Page 31 of Invisible Scars
Jonah opens his eyes and looks at me through the mirror with a raised eyebrow.
“You sticking around to enjoy the view, Doll?”
I shrug. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”
Jonah’s head drops to his chest with a suppressed smile, then he turns to face me again.
“You’re welcome to join me, you know.” He taps under my chin with his knuckle.
“Seriously, Joe?” I roll my eyes with a sigh.
“There probably won’t be any orgasms involved, but that way, you can make sure I don’t doze off and drown.”
“Keep it up and I may just drown you myself.”
“Come on, Eff, cut the crap.” Jonah tugs me closer, undoing the first button of my blouse. “You’ve had your hands all over me since we walked in here, shamelessly fondling me.”
“I wasn’t fondling you,” I huff, taking a step back. “I was trying to comfort you.”
“Well, sitting in the tub with you willdefinitelycomfort me.” He undoes his belt. “And, as much as I’d like to fuck you mindless again, that’s not on the agenda right now.”
“So, this is your bratty, insufferable way of telling me you don’t want to be alone?” I ask, crossing my arms and tilting my head, daring him to say otherwise.
“Exactly.” Jonah smiles ruefully. “So, what do you say? You joining me or what?”
* * *
JONAH
Even in the limited space of my bathtub, Effie somehow fits perfectly. She insisted on sliding into the tub behind me, despite my attempt to pull her into my lap, so now I’m sprawled in my extra-large tub, my back against her chest as I’m nestled in her arms.
“Any better?” Effie asks, her fingers stroking through my hair.
“Yeah.” I plant a kiss against her arm that’s all but cradling my head. “Soaking my leg in hot water helps with the pain.”
“And the cuddles help with the rest?”
I turn my face up to look at her. Effie’s sunshine hair is in a high bun, which she made me swear on my mother’s life I won’t get wet, and her sapphire eyes are gazing down at me with care and worry.
“Yes, Effie,” I say with a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Thecuddleshelp with the rest.”
“Let me in on the joke, Joe.”
“No joke. I’m just too exhausted to dwell on how far out of my comfort zone this entire scenario is.” I face forward again, settling back into Effie’s embrace and resting my hands on her knees.
“You’re allowed to need comfort,” she says in an almost admonishing tone, her fingers resuming their soothing strokes through my hair. “You’re only human.”
“Trust me, I am all too aware of my mortality right now.” Effie’s fingers freeze for a short moment, but it’s enough to tell me she isn’t as unaffected by my pain as she tries to pass on.
After a few minutes of silence, Effie’s hand moves to my chest and her hold tightens around me.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“As long as you don’t expect me to answer.” I know I’m being rude and short with her, but I set a clear boundary on questions about my injury, and as much as I need the comfort of her presence, it isn’t at any cost.
“WhyDoll?” I’m caught so off guard by her question that I laugh.
“It’s been almost a year, Effie. What took you so long to ask me that?”
