Page 69 of Love Potion

Bane shakes his head as his eyes heat. “No, and you can pretty much count on it.”

“I hope I do too.”

“There’s zero pressure here, Jerr.”

“I know.”

Looking him right in the eye, I bend slightly to remove my underwear. He holds my gaze, not looking at any other part of me as he takes his off too. The bathroom fills with steam while we stand quietly before each other, then he offers his hand, and I take it, stepping into the shower with him.

He walks under the shower spray and the jets massage my tired back muscles, relaxing me even more. I drape my arms over his shoulders, mentally convincing myself that this is all actually happening.

“Let me take care of you, Jerr,” Bane whispers. “Let me do all the things I’ve wanted to do for so long.”

“Okay, but I have one request.”

“Whatever you want, sweet thing.”

“I want to suck you.”

He visibly shivers. “You can do whatever you want to me.” Bane slides his hands down my back to rest on my waist. “First, I’m gonna wash you.”

“Can I wash you too?”

“Yep.”

He grabs the bodywash and pours some into his hands, rubbing them together to make suds. My breath catches when he presses his hands to my chest.

“I can’t count all the times I’ve thought about us,” Bane confesses. “All the times I’ve wanted to slip into the shower with you, or the bath in Seattle. Do you remember how I’d sit on the toilet and talk to you while you soaked?”

I nod. “Of course.”

“I wanted to get in there and wash your hair or rub your back. I just wanted to touch you and be close.” He chuckles. “I sound like a stalker.”

“No. I wish I’d noticed it. Maybe I did, but I convinced myself it was just wishful thinking. I kept hoping you’d find someone amazing and fall in love so I could…” I shake my head. “Sounds ridiculous now.”

“So you could what, Jerr?”

I’m quiet for a few seconds while I collect my thoughts. “There’s always been a part of me that wanted more with you, but I shoved it so far down I almost forgot. If you met someone and fell in love and got married, moved into your own place, I’d have to let it go once and for all.”

His fingers swirl over my nipples, leaving a nice sensation in their wake.

“And now you know why I never did. I was waiting to be the man you deserved.”

“You always have been. In a way, I guess we’ve been together all along, haven’t we?”

He nods. “We sure have.”

“No one I’ve ever dated has treated me as well as you do. For not being a boyfriend, you sure have been a boyfriend.”

“I was auditioning for the role.”

I laugh softly. “I’m really happy, Bane.”

“So am I, gorgeous.”

He moves his hands behind me and washes my back, slowly sliding them down to my ass. I nod, holding his gaze, hoping he knows he can touch me anywhere. I want him to. I want tofeelthings.

“This okay, Jerr?”

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