Page 38 of His Surrender
“I…” A lump wedged in my throat. “I told you I don’t do relationships.”
“I know,” he said, his voice so low I almost didn’t hear. “Like I said, I’m a magnet for heartbreak. I attract the wrong men.” His thumb smoothed across my lips before he stepped away. “I fall for them too.”
I snatched hold of his hand before he went too far, drawing him back to me. I stood from the couch and stepped as close as our bodies would allow, bringing his hand up to my cheek. His blue eyes fell to my lips and lifted again. His breaths turned heavier. I wanted to kiss him, to take him to that bedroom and fuck him senseless.
Normally, I wouldn’t have hesitated, but I did that night. He’d been through too much.
“I’m bad for you,” I whispered before kissing his palm and letting his hand fall away. “So fucking bad for you.”
“And I’m a glutton for punishment,” he said, moving his face closer. I felt his breath on my lips, and my body tingled from head to toe with the urge to close that agonizing gap between our mouths. “I know the apple is poison, yet I can’t help but take a bite anyway.”
He wasn’t the first man to call me toxic.
I was sure he wouldn’t be the last.
“Maybe you have to go through a few poison apples in order to get to the one that’s just right,” I said, touching his jaw before taking a step back. Putting distance between us before I did something stupid, like kiss him and drag him farther into my messed-up world. “According to the fairy tale, a prince will be waiting for you at the end of all this.”
“I don’t want a prince,” he said with a frown. “But a cocky blond with an ego problem doesn’t sound too bad.”
I smiled, even though my chest felt tight. I could never be what Remi wanted me to be. I might have feelings for him, but that didn’t change who I was—who Andrew made me become.
“Come on,” I said, reaching for his hand.
“Where to?” His palm slid against mine, and our fingers linked.
I led him down the hall and into the bathroom before approaching the bathtub and turning on the water. Once it was hot, I used the stopper and started filling the tub.
“You’re running a bath?” he asked, tilting his head. “Why?”
“Thought it’d be nice,” I said, glancing up at him before standing. “Do you have any candles?”
Remi laughed. “For a guy who is anti-romance, you sure have some romantic ideas.”
“Do you have candles or not?”
He left the room and returned moments later with two Hawaiian-scented candles, their wicks barely burned, and a lighter.
“Thanks.” I lit them and sat both of them on the tub, one on each end. “Now take off your clothes.”
“What’s all this for, Jay?” His confusion was beginning to transition to irritation. “You’re making my head spin. First you say you don’t do relationships, and now you’re—”
“You’ve just been through something pretty damn traumatic,” I interjected, cutting him off. “Whether it’s fully sunk in or not, you were almost assaulted. A hot bath and candles will help you relax. Please just shut up and let me take care of you.”
The crease in his brow deepened. “You want to take care of me?”
“Yes.”
Please don’t ask me why.
“Okay.” He finished unbuttoning his shirt—which had been unbuttoned halfway when I came in—and took it off before pulling off the undershirt.
My gaze dropped to his bare stomach, spotting the light dusting of hair I had enjoyed running my fingers over when we’d fucked. He tested my self-control even further when he unzipped his jeans and tugged them down his legs.
Averting my eyes from him, I saw the tub was almost full and turned off the water.
“This is weird,” Remi said, standing in just his boxers. “I’ve undressed in front of people before, but when I’m the only one getting naked, it’s kind of awkward.”
I stepped toward him, caressing the top of his shoulder. God, his skin was so warm. “I can turn around if you want me to.”
