“No, sweetheart. This is about relaxing.” He picked up the bath bomb. “Have you tried a bath bomb before?”
She tilted her head back and squinted at him in confusion. “A what?”
Good. He wasn’t the only one left in the dark. He showed her the pink orb that was topped with a small layer of purple and adorned with a flower resting in his palm.
“A bath bomb,” he repeated, “they are supposed to be awesome.”
Cayla eyed it suspiciously. “It smells good.” She inhaled the scent. “Jasmine.”
“Let’s see what it does,” Dex suggested as he reached over her and let it roll out of his palm into the tub.
Cayla jumped and started to giggle as the water and the ball began to fizz.
“It’s effervescent!” she marveled. “Oh, look! It’s turning the water pink, Dex!”
The excitement in her voice made the corners of his mouth tip up into a smile. He would happily buy her one hundred of them just to make her happy. Dex put his fingers to work massaging her scalp as she lathered up with one of the soaps he’d purchased. Cayla hummed her contentment.
“Better?” Dex asked as his fingers started to work on her neck and shoulder.
“Much.” Her purr shot through him. He tamped it down, opting to remain a comforting presence. “This soap is amazing. Is it from the same place?”
“Yes.” Dex was mesmerized by the bubbles sliding over her slick skin. “Lush.”
Cayla tilted her head back to see him. “I thought they made make up,” she said thoughtfully, “Why do you have all of these things?”
Dex explained his shopping trip and intentions for splitting up the products.
“These two things were for me?”
“Yes.” Dex pointed at the pink glittered gift bag on the counter. “And the other items are in that gift bag,” he informed her as he secured her hair at the top of her head. He gently pushed her forward. “Give me the soap, let me wash your back.”
Dex rubbed the soap in a circular motion with is palms. Its silky surface yielded an amazing lather. His soapy hands glided over her back, massaging as he went. Cayla’s low moan drove Dex to his feet quicker than he intended. He neede
d to put distance between him. That moan was so reminiscent of one of the moans he’d elicited from her previously while doing incredibly naughty things to her body, that it instantly killed his good Samaritan. The good guy was gone. Only the horny bastard was left behind. Dex needed to regain his control.
“Finish up here. I’ll get you a robe,” he suggested tightly during his retreat.
Dex took a few deep breaths once he exited the bathroom. He stood in his closet a moment before grabbing a robe off its hanger. After refocusing, he returned to find Cayla putting the detachable shower head back on its hook. She’d used it to rinse herself while draining the tub. The droplets of water glistened as gravity pulled them down her body. Dex turned away, placing the robe on the counter with far more precision than necessary. In his peripheral, he could see her dry one foot before stepping out of the tub then repeating with the other foot. She wrapped the towel around her body.
“What’s wrong, Dex?” He didn’t miss the confusion in her voice.
He turned to face her before answering, “Nothing. I’m just being gentlemanly.”
Cayla moved into his space, catching his eyes with hers. “Who told you to do that?”
The heat in her gaze was unmistakable. “Cayla…” Dex warned as her towel-covered breast pressed against his linen shirt.
“Don’t you think I deserve a happy ending to my day?” The way she emphasized “happy ending” made him harder.
Dex’s last strand of resistance dissolved when Cayla placed a soft kiss on his neck.
Chapter 18
Cayla felt Dex’s muscles stiffen underneath his dress shirt. She’d been in a constant state of arousal since her tears had dried up. Their ability to disagree even when they weren’t trying amazed her. The moment she craved his usual boldness was the time he’d decided to be a gentleman. His sweetness was endearing, but she wanted his touch to help her forget about her failing career. She wanted her mind to be void of everything but pleasure. She needed him.
Dex stared down at her with his hands still resting in the pockets of his slacks. His heart pounding under her hands was the only sign that she affected him. The heat from his body seeped through her palms and warmed her entire body. In that moment, she wanted Dex more than she wanted anything.
They were a breath away from each other. It wouldn’t take much to kiss his lips and taste him the way she craved, but she didn’t know how to be the seductress. It’s a role she’d never had to play. Right now, she was too fragile to put herself out there completely just for him to turn her down. Not with the day she’d had. A rejection right now would surely kill what was left of her self-esteem.