Page 55 of The Red Zone
“We’re done for the night, baby. Let me clean you up.”
The gentleness in his voice nearly made tears well in my eyes. In all the years of my life, October was the least likely person that I could’ve expected to be stroking foamy soap over my skin and washing it away when I was too tired to do it myself.
There was something about it that made a fathomless longing unfold in my chest ache. The way that he was lathering my hair with shampoo, taking his time like there was nothing in the world that he’d rather be doing. I let him massage his fingertips through my scalp in circular motions and I swear the feeling from it was almost the equivalent of having an orgasm. Although, there wasn’t a single ounce of sexual intent in the way he washed my skin or rinsed my hair. This outwardly ultra-masculine man had a soothing, tender side of him I don’t think I’d ever noticed before—quite frankly, never knew existed.
“You did such a good job for me tonight.” His voice was low as he whispered against my ear.
“Happy to oblige.” I stuck out a thumbs up before lulling my head back against his shoulder.
A deep laughter rumbled from his chest that brought a smile to my lips.
I liked this.
I liked us. Together.
“I’m serious. Every time I thought you were too tired to continue, you’d surprise me by taking another one… and another one,” he praised, kissing along my jawline and my stomach filled with butterflies. I could listen to him talk like this all night.
“Keep going,” I taunted.
“And the way you kept going, taking me so well, even when you thought you couldn’t handle any more.” His breath against my ear sent chills skating down my skin. “I’m so proud of you.”
I was too drained to confirm, but I think one of the tears that had welled in my eyes slipped down my cheek.
Never in my life would I have guessed that October would be this attentive after sex—especially with me. Maybe it was heartless of me to assume he was going to be the kind of guy who got his and left, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was wrong.
Completely wrong.
October rinsed the conditioner out of my hair just as the water was starting to get cold. He got out first, drying off and throwing on the sweatpants that were on the counter before patting my body dry and wrapping the towel around me to carry me into the bedroom. He set me on top of the comforter on my side of the bed, but I made a jump up, abandoning my towel, heading straight for the door before he even had time to step away.
“Where are you going?” He tugged at my elbow, urging me to sit back down.
“My clothes are in the main house.”
“So, you’re just going to walk out there naked for anyone to see?”
“Why not? If they’ve been paying attention, they’ve already seen more than enough of me.” I hinted toward our endeavors from the last few weekends.
Plus, sometimes it was fun to just be careless and free. My next-door neighbor, Rita, was in her late eighties and she’s mentioned to me on more than one occasion that her bed time is six o’clock sharp. The house on the other side of me had been for sale for a few months now with no offers, so unless there were squatters that I didn’t know about, it wasn’t like anyone had caught on.
“Not a chance. Stay there. You’re wearing one of my t-shirts.”
October walked over to the closet and pulled out an old maroon shirt with his college football team logo printed on the front.
“I have a confession,” I said as he slipped that shirt over my head and pulled my arms through the holes.
“You can tell me anything, March.” There was that low, gentle voice of his again. He really had to stop doing that because every time he did it made my insides melt.
“I… kind of like wearing your clothes. Not to be rude, but I think they look better on me than they do on you.”
“In that case, I have a confession too…”
I hummed, urging him to keep going, but cut him off before he had the chance to speak. “Are you finally going to admit that you have a crush on me?”
“Not yet.” My eyes might’ve been half open at this point, but I could hear the smile in his tone. “But I am willing to agree that you look good wearing my t-shirt.”
“I have another confession,” I added. Maybe it was stupid of me to blurt out my feelings like this, but, at this point in life, I just didn’t care anymore. I was tired of harboring old resentment toward him. “I don’t hate you… anymore, at least.”
October stood there in silence, but I decided to keep going.
