Page 69 of From West, With Regret

Insanely wealthy but surrounded by warmth and… normalcy.

The complete opposite of the home I had with Heath.

I’m wiggling my toes against the heated tile when I feel West come up behind me. He turns off the water once it’s filled, then his tall, hard frame presses against my back, and a flurry of flutters rage in my stomach.

I’m grinning stupidly as he slips his hands around my waist, slowly undoing each button of my makeshift coat-dress.

His mouth hits the shell of my ear, and my legs immediately become Jell-O. “I have a truth to tell you.” He pops one button, then drifts his hands to the next.

I shiver, closing my eyes and resting my head back against his hard chest. I hum. “I love your truths.”

He smiles against my ear. “I like you in this better than that dress you were wearing.”

“You didn’t like the dress?”

He chuckles, and the heat from his breath makes my heart pound erratically. “Oh, that dress took my breath away. But this…” Another button pops free. “Seeing you in something that is mine, makes me feral for you.”

“Feral?” I laugh, unable to control the giggling coming from my chest. I cover my mouth, stifling my outburst.

West’s hand wraps around mine, pullingit down. Cold air hits my stomach as his fingers trail down my skin and over my belly button ring.

“I love your laugh. Don’t ever feel like you need to hold it back for me.”

West’s confession hits me hard. I love how his compliments spark what I thought were dormant nerves throughout my entire body. With every praise and comment he makes, my chest crackles with electricity. Heath hated my laugh. As far back as the day I woke up in the hospital, with no memory of my past, I was convinced I was born with a broken heart. But West makes me feel like I’m not as broken as I thought I was. He’s the glue filling in the creases and gaps now.

I spin in his arms as he slips his sport coat over my shoulders, so I’m standing in front of him completely exposed, though he doesn’t make a move to take me.

His eyes simply search my face.

I reach up and begin unbuttoning his shirt. My gaze falls to his neck, and I feel a twinge of disappointment.

“Where’s your necklace?” I ask, running my hand over his collarbone and chest where the silver chain usually rests.

“I never wear my jewelry when I bathe.”

“Oh.” I hold back my frown. I can’t explain the pull I have toward his necklace.

Once I have all his buttons free, I slip my hands over his chest, shoving his shirt off his torso. My palms graze over the curves and ridges of his muscles, and I drag my nails over the black ink, taking in every tattoo. Moving to his buckle, I remove his pants and black boxer briefs. He steps out of them, never breaking eye contact.

“I was disappointed I didn’t get to see you in the car.” My attention dips to his body, but he lifts my chin back up with his fingers.

“You’ll have plenty of chances to seeme.” He presses his lips to mine. Warm, soft lips send warmth down to my center. I’m sore from the assault West gave to the space between my legs. The bath will give it much needed relief, but I can’t help wanting West between them again.

I yelp when he breaks away and lifts me into his arms.

Water splashes over the top of the tub when he steps inside, his grin making me melt.

He sets me down into the water. The heat stings my skin, but it feels amazing.

I stand nearly knee-deep in the water when West sits down, sliding backward until his back hits the far end of the tub. He reaches up and holds his hand out for me. I take it, and he spins me around. Placing his hands on my hips, he pulls me down to sit in front of him, between his legs. The water is now up to my shoulders as I lean against West’s chest. His erection presses into my back as I rest my head back on his chest. We sit like this for several moments before he grabs a washcloth draped over the edge of the tub. He gestures for me to sit up as he submerges the cloth beneath the water. I feel the absence of our skin-to-skin contact, but he’s quick to remedy that when he begins cleaning me, starting with my aching shoulders.

I run my hands over the surface of the water, like I did in the pool at Holt’s apartment. I feel the swelling, pounding ache between my legs evaporate, and I moan, letting West know what he’s doing is soothing not only my body, but my soul. Then I crack my eyes open and look around his bathroom again.

“Your apartment isn’t what I was expecting. Then again, it is.”

West chuckles. “I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment.”

“You should.” I smile, raising my legs to bring my knees to my chest.

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