I place the change of clothes on the vanity and kneel. Placing my palms on either side of her thighs. "Do you want me to send them away?"
Denielle shakes her head. "It's time they know."
I carefully untangle the terrycloth from her, grabbing the dry clothes. "Do you need help?"
Denielle gives me a small smile. "No, thank you." After pausing, she adds, "Would you give me a moment?"
My chest constricts, and my gaze automatically finds the still-filled tub.
Denielle places her hand on my jaw, her skin cold as ice. Gently forcing me to focus on her, she emphasizes, "I'll be right out. I promise." A wave of goose bumps erupts on my arms.
I watch her carefully, trying to find a hint of deceit in her features. Her other palm also touches my cheek, and she leans in, never breaking eye contact. Right before her mouth meets mine, my eyes close of their own volition. Her lips are as equally chilled as her touch, but the soft caress ignites a fire in me I've only ever experienced with her. The kiss is over too soon.
Her thumbs swipe over my bottom lip, and I blink.
"I'll be right out."
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
MARCUS
While Denielle gets dressed,I change out of my wet jeans in the walk-in closet. Not having a dry alternative for my upper body, I enter the room shirtless. No one bats an eye. Everyone's thoughts are occupied elsewhere. Denielle exits the bathroom not long after I settle on the bench seat at the foot of her bed.
Jenn and Ethan have positioned themselves on either side of the door, arms behind their backs—a maneuver that seems almost rehearsed, as if they've stood like this many times. Lilly curls herself into Rhys's side on the couch, her phone in hand with the baby monitor on display.
Denielle hesitates in the doorway. All eyes are on her, yet she doesn't look at anyone but me. I can only imagine how uncomfortable she is. I stretch my hand in her direction, gesturing for her to come over. She bridges the distance in fast strides, and I turn her to settle between my legs. The seat is not deep, but I want her as close as possible. Seemingly needing the same, Denielle melts against my chest. Once again, the surreal thought of,This is where she belongs, reverberates through my mind.
My arms cross in front of her midsection, and Denielle rests her hands on top of mine, interlacing our fingers. For the first time since walking into the house tonight, I feel lighter.
Lilly's eyes drop to our joined hands, and a small smile toys with her lips.
"I owe you an apology," she begins, and her fingers tighten around mine. "And an explanation."
Rhys cocks his head, meeting my eyes, before dropping his gaze to her. "Explanation, yes. Apology, no. We're worried. We care for you, D."
Denielle's shoulders hunch slightly. "I know."
I can't see her face, but having learned her mannerisms, she either chews on the inside of her cheek or her bottom lip.
"OK, uh…" She inhales deeply before blowing out a breath. "I have haphephobia."
What the hell—?
I measure everyone's reaction. Everyone but Jenn displays equal expressions of confusion. Jenn doesn't give anything away. I know what it is, but I've never actually met anyone with the…condition.
It all begins to make sense.
Denielle must see as well that half of the occupants in the room don't know what it means. "Haphephobia is also called fear of touch."
Lilly's hand latches onto Rhys's forearm, her jaw locked.
Rhys's brows sit near his hairline. "I've touched you since the first day we met." Rhys peers at Lilly. "I mean…you know, not touchedtouched, but…you know." His awkwardness—something you rarely get to see on the guy—results in a collective chuckle.
"It doesn't work the way you think." The amusement in Denielle's voice thaws the last bit of ice in my veins. "At least not for me."
"Are you sure you want to talk about it?" Lilly probes carefully.
"Yes. It's time that someone outside of my family knows the truth. I don't want to hideitanymore."