“Even more stunned to see me in person, though he hid it well. I know he feels slighted that I didn’t trust him with my plans, but I also know that, were the shoe on the other foot, he would have likely done the same. Amano was smart enough to set it all up flawlessly. The only regret I have is that he didn’t tell you from the beginning.”
“You can’t obsess over that, Dane. He did what needed to be done. We all have. And we’ve pulled through. Although … I do feel bad that Mikaela doesn’t know.”
He was quiet a few moments, then told me, “As much as I hate how this has affected her—and I know she orchestrated my memorial service—I can’t tell her just yet. Not that I don’t trust her completely. She’s just so … exuberant. I wouldn’t want her to accidentally blurt out that I’m alive. Or let it slip to Brizio.”
“I understand. In the long run, all that will really matter to her is that you are, indeed, alive.”
He kissed my temple.
Setting aside the sponge, he reached for a tube of sugar scrub. “What’s this?”
“Exfoliates the skin.”
“Huh.” He removed the lid and squirted a little onto the pad of one finger, inspecting it.
I found his curiosity about all my girly stuff endearing. He’d grilled me endlessly as we’d cuddled in bed this morning, our legs tangled, our fingers entwined. He’d wanted to know all about how I felt in general and as a result of being pregnant. Had a number of questions about the baby and an infinite list of potential dos and don’ts he thought he should know about. It was really very sweet and charming. Such a nice change of pace from the dark and tragic drama we’d been embroiled in.
Beyond the fact that his inquisitiveness and genuine concern touched my heart, it had felt so fantastic to finally share all of this with him. We even talked baby names, but nothing jumped out at us as a definite possibility.
The only subject we hadn’t broached was where we’d live after all was said and done with the indictments. The fortress was growing on me, as long as I didn’t give too much thought to the look of the high-voltage wall. It wasn’t as though our friends would find the impenetrable security out of the ordinary, knowing what we’d been through. Well, Meg and Sean would. Then again, perhaps not, since Meg’s father was a global communications tycoon who had employed his own level of security to keep his family safe.
I assumed that was why Kyle hadn’t wigged too much over all the gates and guards and even a watchtower. He’d been exposed to Meg’s family before he’d ever met me.
Still, I hadn’t lost any love for the creek house, despite being away from it for so long. In fact, I missed it. So I wasn’t sure where we would reside in the future. For all I knew, Dane might want to leave Sedona completely. There was no Lux to bind him here.
As I considered this, and leaving Kyle and my dad, Dane gently rubbed some of the sugar scrub on my shoulders and over my chest, using the sponge. My eyelids drifted closed as the slightly grainy, partially creamy texture worked its magic on my skin. The light vanilla aroma mixed with the lavender to create a lovely scent, and I inhaled deeply. I was thoroughly relaxed, though acutely aware of Dane.
His muscles and presence surrounded me. His heat felt soothing against my lower back, which ached a little from the previous evening’s exertions. He left feathery kisses along my throat as my head rested against his shoulder. I felt his erection and grinned.
“You can’t seriously want me again,” I softly joked. I’d lost count of the number of orgasms I’d had in the past forty-eight hours.
“Of course I want you again.” His sexy voice rumbled against my neck. “The question is, do you want me?”
“That never has been, nor will it ever be, a legitimate question. Certainly not one worth posing.”
He chuckled. “I always have enjoyed your bit of sass, Mrs. Bax.”
“I’ve always enjoyed how hot you get for me.”
“More than you know.” He stroked lower to my breasts. The water only reached the top of my rib cage, since I’d complained it’d take half the day to fill the enormous tub and I’d been itching to get in.
He swept the sponge over my already pebbled nipple as his teeth tenderly bit my throat. I moaned at the sensations he evoked. His mouth on my skin turned me on as much as the tiny granules he rubbed against the taut peak, making it tingle.
“Feel good?” he whispered as he shifted the sponge to my other nipple.
“Awesome.” I sighed. “They’re very sensitive and the sugar adds friction.”
He tossed aside the sponge and squeezed more of the scrub onto a palm and rubbed his hands together. Liquid heat flared through my veins before he even touched me—the mere thought of what he was about to do excited the hell out of me.
He cupped my full, aching breasts and massaged gently. “You always worry too much about your figure, but honestly, baby, you pregnant is the sexiest damn thing.”
“I have a lot of competition,” I noted. “I see how women look at you. Gorgeous women.”
Mikaela.
“None more gorgeous than you.”
He carefully rolled my puckered nipples between his fingers and thumbs. The sugar was a delicious stimulant, sending shock waves to my core. I writhed against him, pressing my thighs together as my pussy throbbed.