Page 124 of Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places
“What else does that include?” He laughed. “Because I was thinking I could undress you…”
Her stomach flipped and she stared at him wide-eyed. Being naked in front of Maverick didn’t feel like a big deal. Him taking her clothes off, though? Big deal. Huge. Massive. In her mind, taking a shower together wasn’t inherently sexual unless there was a choice to make it that way. Letting him undress her was definitely achoice.
“Or not,” he amended softly, holding up his hands. “Can I ask for one thing?”
“Okay?”
“I’ll wait in the bedroom. You go in first.” He gently stroked down her arms. “Tell me when you’re ready. Face front and don’t turn around.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s what I’m asking for. You can trust me.”
Lucky undressed quickly, neatly folding and setting everything on top of the hamper. In the shower, she concentrated on how soothing the hot water felt on her tense muscles and took a few moments to check in with herself. Old habits and fears died slow painful deaths. She wanted to do this. She wanted to be there. This wasn’t too much. She felt comfortable saying otherwise.
“Ready!” She did as requested, not turning around when she heard him step in behind her.
“All good?”
“Yep.”
“Tell me if it’s not.”
“I will,” she said, smiling because she trusted him.
Maverick reached past her, wetting a washcloth. She gasped, surprised as he began washing her back. Using gentle circular motions, he skillfully moved across her shoulder blades and down the curve of her spine.
Lucky closed her eyes, allowing herself to relax and revel in the feeling of being cared for. No one had ever done this for her before. She never even would’ve thought to ask. It just didn’t seem like something she’d be into. She’d been wrong—this felt indulgently marvelous. He placed one hand on her hip to keep her steady as he neared her lower back. His touch became firmer, movements more like a massage. Her happy sigh suspiciously resembled a moan.
“Still okay?” he whispered.
Hoping to make him laugh, she wiggled her ass right as he reached it and was rewarded with a low chuckle.
Unable to stop smiling, she asked, “Are you feeling shy?”
He snorted. “No.”
“Embarrassed?”
“No.”
“Then why can’t I turn around?”
“Because you’re not attracted to me.”
She didn’t mean to laugh but the disbelieving cackle had a mind of its own. “Oh, yes, I am. What are you talking about?”
“Not sexually.”
She scoffed. “That one doesn’t count.”
“Why not?” The sincerity in his tone caught her off guard.
“Because it’s not something I can change, Maverick. I’m attracted to you in all the ways that matter to me. Would you like me to list them? Because I absolutelywill.” She turned around before he could stop her. “Stop being so—oh,wow.” Not wanting to be rude, she forced herself to look him in the eye, cheeks burning like hellfire. “That is definitely not little. Yeah.”
“This is so strange.” He laughed and then clarified, “Not bad. Just different than what I’m used to. You’re very…calm right now.”
Personally, she would’ve gone withstartled, but a win was a win. She noticed he was also keeping his eyes on hers. “So are you.”
