Page 96 of Give & Take

RAPH: Great. Can I join you?

My stomach does the kind of move I imagine it might when launching into orbit.

But before I can respond, Raph writes again.

RAPH: Not in the bath. Just to talk.

I let out another breath, disappointment cooling me slightly. I shouldn’t be disappointed. This is much smarter.

What if he wants to set boundaries this time? Especially because I invited him to trample all over mine? What if?—

“You can say no.”

The voice startles me so much I slosh wine into the bath. I set the glass down, hand trembling.

I drop down into the bubbles. “Raph? What are you doing?” My heart patters against my ribs.

“I brought a chair.”

I let out a laugh of disbelief. “Oh, okay, you brought a chair. So… you want to just come on in and hang out with me naked?”

What the hell am I doing? Didn’t I want this? It’s like I’m trying to sabotage myself. One last shove to keep the door to my heart—to my desires—firmly closed.

Raph’s voice comes through the door again. “Lana, that’s ridiculous. Why would I be naked?”

I cover my eyes with my hands, fighting a laugh.

“I mean I could be, if you want me to.”

“Raph!”

“Lana, I promise no funny stuff. Unless you want funny stuff. Like jokes. And other stuff.”

I’m laughing audibly now.

“I’m coming in. Say no.”

I don’t say no.

The door pops open a crack.

I cover my face with my hands, embarrassed. “Come in.”

“That’s not the part people usually cover up when they’re naked, Sunshine.”

I throw a tuft of bubbles at him. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You’re the one wearing only bubbles.”

I do a surreptitious check that the bubbles are doing their job. Thankfully, they’re still thick and cover the whole length of the tub.

Raph, true to his promise, has brought a kitchen chair up here. He twirls it around as if it weighs nothing, and settles on it next to the tub, facing me. His eyes trail from my face downward, over the bubbles to where my toes stick out at the other end. He can’t see anything, but suddenly I’m sure he’s picturing what’s under there. When his eyes land back on my face, his eyes seem to darken as he takes in my flushed cheeks, my slightly parted lips.

I swallow, shifting in the tub as I try to relieve the heaviness that’s settled in my lower half.

Except Raph’s eyes move to the bubbles again. I’ve lifted a knee. We both watch as a glossy drip of bubbles slides down my thigh.

“Lana—” he says. Croaks, more like.

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