“You saved you,” I remind her, dipping my head so I can press my mouth to her throat, her pulse throbbing beneath my lips. “You’re your own hero, wife.”
She angles her head so her gaze meets mine, her eyes wide and so damn serious. “No one ever believes in me. Or thinks I’m capable of taking care of myself. Until you.”
“You’re the strongest woman I know.” I kiss her, my lips lingering on hers.
“Even stronger than your mother?” She smiles and I pull away slightly so I can look at her.
I’ve barely thought about my mother since Charlotte and I got married, and that’s a freaking first. We used to talk on the phone a couple times a week. I’d accompany her to lunch or dinner, and I’d always return to the compound for the weekend.
Well, mostly.
Now it’s as if I’ve forgotten all about her, and while that makes me feel like a shit son, I can’t focus on that right now. Not when I have my naked wife wrapped up in my arms while sharing a bath with her.
“I stand by my original statement,” I say solemnly.
Charlotte’s eyes sparkle with unshed tears. “I don’t feel very strong right now, when all I want is for you to take care of me.”
“Strong women need to be taken care of too.” I reach toward the edge of the tub, where various bottles of shampoo, conditioner and bodywash sit. “Want me to wash your hair?”
“You’d do that for me?” She sounds shocked.
I would do anything for her. Just to make her feel safe. Just to see her smile. But I can’t say that.
Not yet.
Chapter Nine
Charlotte
After I dousemy hair with water until it’s completely soaked, Perry starts to shampoo it, his fingers massaging my scalp. I tilt my head back and close my eyes, the tension melting from my body as he keeps rubbing, the shampoo frothing up. His hands slip around my head, his thumbs sliding down the back of my neck, pressing deep, rotating circles and I can’t help it.
A moan leaves me.
“Sexy little wife,” he murmurs. “Likes having her head massaged.”
“Maybe you should wash my hair all the time,” I suggest, keeping my eyes closed. His touch is making my entire body tingle, which I didn’t expect, considering what I’ve gone through the last few hours.
But facing something awful also reminds you how good your life is, and how you should hold it close.
He grabs the cup I found earlier and starts to rinse the shampoo out of my hair. “We could probably work out a deal if that means we take a shower together every night.”
I like the idea of that—far too much. Perry and I naked in my big shower—or his, since they basically match. Our hands wandering as we soap up each other’s bodies. Touching, stroking, driving each other out of our minds.
The low throb between my legs intensifies.
I’m still thinking about what he admitted to me earlier—how I’m the only one he’s been with in the Chevelle. That surprised me. From what I’ve seen, Perry had a reputation with the ladies. But maybe none of them were special enough to take in the Chevelle.
Until me.
It’s probably silly to put so much importance on that little fact, but I can’t help it. That car means a lot to him. Like it’s his precious baby.
Perhaps I mean a lot to him too.
Keeping my head back and my eyes tightly closed, I sit still as Perry continuously pours water over my head, getting all the shampoo out. “You need to condition it too,” I tell him.
I can tell he’s checking out the various bottles before finding the matching conditioner. “So demanding, wife.”
“I think you like it.”