Page 66 of Rebellious

“Maybe, but you listen, so…” I arch my brows.

“So you’re saying I’m the fool for indulging you.”

I grab the oatmeal off the counter. “Not at all.” I head to the tub, turning the water to a lukewarm temperature.

“What are you doing?” she finally says as I pour the grounded oats into the water. “I hope you don’t think I’m going to sit in that muddy water. I’d rather burn.”

“It’s not dirt I’m pouring in the water,” I correct.

She comes closer, sitting on the edge of the tub. “Sure looks like dirt to me.”

I stir the water with my hand. “It’s oatmeal.”

“Ha!” She scoffs. “That’s even worse. I’m not sitting in a tub of breakfast food.”

I wipe my hands on my pants. “You can do it willingly or I can help you.”

She stands, placing her hands on her hips. “I wish youwouldforce me into that tub,” she dares.

“Asp.” I huff, tossing my head back. “Why must you be so fucking difficult?”

“Uh, because it’s food and we have aloe in the medicine cabinet.”

I rake a hand through my hair. “I plan to use that too. Can you just trust me this once?”

That seems to settle her for a moment. “I always trust you.”

I nod. “Then let me help you. Let me make sure you aren’t in pain tonight.”

I can see my words settling around her. “I could take an aspirin and promise you the same thing without sitting in mud.”

“Aspen!” My patience is thin. I don’t like her being in pain. Especially when I didn’t think about bringing sunscreen to keep her shoulders from burning.

“Okay.” She holds her hands up. “I’ll get into your mud bath if…”

I groan dramatically. I knew she would negotiate. “If what?”

A smile, slow and seductive, tugs along her mouth, flashing her white teeth. “You get in with me.”

“Fine,” I agree quickly. I’d do anything to soothe her burns, regardless of how awkward it might be for me.

“Fine?” She rears back. “No argument? No rules about how I can’t check if you’re hard?”

“I’m pretty sure I’ll be hard,” I answer flatly.

She moves forward, sliding her hands up my chest. “How do you know? What if this apple-hued skin turns you off?”

I swallow, focusing on the pressure her hand is putting on my chest. “Because I’m already hard,” I admit. “And you haven’t even removed the towel.”

The smile on her face has completely obliterated her earlier insecurity. “Can I check then? You know, since there’re no rules and all?”

My heart speeds up. This is not how this is supposed to go. “I think maybe we should get you in the tub.”

Her hands drift to my waistband. “I think maybe I want to take care of you instead.”

I’m going to come before she gets my pants down.

“Tell me what you want to do to me, Bennett. There’s no rule stopping you.” She gets in my face, nose to nose. “Take what you want.”

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