When he was satisfied with the temperature of the water, he handed her a glass of wine and then took the platter in hand and perched on the edge of the tub.
Tenderly he offered her a bite of sandwich and then followed it with a small hunk of cheese. After she took a sip of wine, he slid a grape between her lips and listened to her low hum of appreciation as the sweet fruit burst onto her tongue.
He was content to see to her needs. He wanted her well rested and satisfied. He w
anted her to feel safe and provided for. Like she was the only woman in the world who mattered to him.
She sipped lazily at the wine and yawned before shaking her head when he offered another piece of fruit.
“Had enough?”
“Yes, thank you. I feel so unbelievably spoiled right now. ”
He smiled and stroked his hand over her cheek. “That’s precisely how I want you to feel. Always. Cherished and pampered beyond measure. ”
She sighed and leaned back, closing her eyes as she rested her head against the rim.
“Tired?”
“Mmm-hmm. ”
“If you’ll finish your bath, I’ll dry you off and we’ll go to bed. ”
Her eyes popped open. “Only if you’re ready. It’s early yet. ”
Her worry brought another smile to his face. “I can see you’re tired, dolcezza. I have no wish to exhaust you. I can think of nothing better than to go to bed and have you wrap your sweet body around mine. ”
He stroked his finger down her arm and lingered over the silver cuff at her wrist. Seeing his brands of possession at her wrists fired a raw, primitive instinct deep within his soul.
No modern man should feel this possessive of a woman. And yet he did. He couldn’t muster one iota of regret for it either.
She was his. Utterly and completely his.
He looked up to see her also looking at the jewelry on her wrists. He continued to stroke one finger over the cool metal.
“Do you like them?”
“I love them,” she said huskily. “The sentiment is beautiful, Max. I swear you have a poet’s soul. ”
The obvious appreciation in her voice warmed him through. He loved showering her with things. Anything to make her happy, to make her look at him like he held the world in his hands.
He had so many plans for them. He wanted to take her places she hadn’t yet been. He wanted to experience the joy in her eyes when she saw the sunset in a new part of the world.
They were truly two halves of a whole. Two drifters. Restless. Free-spirited. Never content with the same routine.
“What are you thinking?”
He blinked and realized she was staring thoughtfully at him. Then he smiled. “I was imagining taking you places you’ve never been and watching the sunsets together. ”
Her eyes instantly glowed and her smile was so radiant it lit up the entire room. “There’s no one I’d rather be with than you, Max. ”
“It’s a damn good thing,” he growled playfully.
She laughed and reached for the soap at the end of the tub. “Give me a few minutes to wash and then I’ll get out and you can haul me to bed. I’m not entirely certain I can walk. ”
“I’ll go turn back the sheets, and then I’ll be back with a towel. Take your time, dolcezza. There’s no hurry tonight. ”
Callie watched him go and then heaved a huge sigh of contentment. Her body ached. No doubt about it. Muscles she didn’t even know she had were sore. Her bottom throbbed. She was so tired she was about to fall over, but she’d never felt more happy and alive in her life.
She scrubbed soap over her body, rising up from the water to get all the girl parts and then quickly sinking down into the hot water when chill bumps danced their way across her skin.
When Max returned with a huge, plush towel, she was eager to get dried off and warm again. She stepped from the tub and into the towel he promptly wrapped around her, his arms going around her as well.
For a long moment he hugged her tight as the towel soaked up all the moisture. Then he carefully rubbed over her skin, making sure to dry every inch. By the time he finished, cold was the last thing she felt.
She was heated from the inside out. Flushed. Flames stoked. Even as her knees trembled with fatigue, she yearned for Max. Wanted his touch. His kiss. His possession all over again.
When she was dry, he tucked his arm underneath her legs and lifted her into his arms as he strode toward the bedroom. The covers were turned back, and he slid her onto the mattress before promptly pulling the covers up to her shoulders.
He puttered around for a moment, undressing and turning off the bathroom lights. He left the lamp on his side burning and then climbed into bed beside her.
As soon as he lay down, she snuggled into his arms. He held her and stroked his palms up and down her sides, over her curves, her hips, her breasts, like he couldn’t get enough of touching her.
She nuzzled into his neck and kissed him just below the ear. “Love you. ”
“Love you too, dolcezza. ”
“There’s so much I want to share with you,” she said wistfully.
He pulled away and stared curiously at her. “Like what?”
“My home. The mountain. All the places that are so special to me. As much of a roamer as I am, my heart will always be on that mountain. It’s a place I can always return to and know that I’m loved and accepted no matter what. ”
“I can’t wait for you to share it with me. I’m looking forward to seeing the things you most cherish. ”
“I’ll take you to Callie’s Meadow. It’s where I was born. ”
He went still against her and his hand stopped its progress over the swell of her hip. “It sounds like a beautiful place.”