“Shower,” I repeated.
Her excited eyes stared at the empty porcelain in the corner. “Then the bath?”
“Yes. You’d better start filling it up now. I think it might take a while.” I looked around. “I’m not even sure where the drain plug is.”
“You’ve never used it?”
Wrapping my arms around her, I shook my head. “Nope. The tub and I have never been close. In fact, the tub and I will be virgins, meeting for the first time.” Nudging her hair away, I brushed my mouth over her ear. “Will you be gentle with us, Sprite?”
“I’ll do my best.” She cleared her throat. “You never, ah, I mean—”
I knew what she was asking. “I’ve only been in the house for about eight months. I built the clinic first.” I tightened my grip on her. “You are the first and only woman I have ever had here, aside from my sister or mother.”
Diffused color rushed over her cheeks as she smiled. “Oh.”
She looked pleased.
I only meant for the shower to warm and clean us. That was all. But as I watched her tilt her head to rinse out the shampoo, back arching, pushing out her breasts, making them look so perky—so inviting—that tiny circle of freckles beckoning, any and all ideas of what should happen in the shower became what was about to happen in the shower.
The soap I held fell out of my hand when I stepped forward, one arm going around her waist as I drew her to my body. My mouth closed around one pink, tempting nipple, pulling and teasing the flesh with my tongue and teeth.
Avery whimpered as her hands grasped my shoulders for support. The softest, sweetest, sexiest sound I had ever heard.
Without a thought, I’d lifted and pinned her against the wall, my cock already surging, every molecule of my being, wanted to be inside her.
Avery gasped as the cold tile pressed into her back, and I braced my arm against the wall, struggling to hold her up. My mouth met hers in a series of frenzied, messy kisses, noses bumping, teeth hitting, and lips sliding as we grappled and slipped in the wet.
“Fuck,” I muttered. “This looks so much easier when I watch porn. They never seem to have gravity issues.”
Avery started to giggle, light, gasping little puffs of laughter, as I tried to stay upright, now laughing myself.
“Not the most romantic thing to say, I guess, eh, Sprite?”
She pulled me closer, her legs tighter, and I groaned as my cock slid, rubbing against her wet folds.
“Jesus, Avery. I want you so damn bad again, but I’m afraid if we continue this here, one of us is gonna end up needing a new hip.” I thrust forward warily, testing out my balance, cursing as my feet slipped on the smooth bottom of the shower floor. “I think I need to install a bench in here.” Then I groaned at the thought of what I could do to her while sitting on said bench. What she could do to me. “Fuck sake!” I growled. “That mental image is not helping me right now.”
Her giggles became outright laughter as her head fell back against the tile. “A shower virgin as well, Daniel?”
“Yep.”
She shifted and I slipped deeper, her heat surrounding me. I flicked my tongue against her ear. “I bet the tub is roomy. Less dangerous. Maybe we can work up to the shower.”
Her arms locked around my neck. “Bath. Now.”
I shut off the water.
The tub was damned slippery too, but we figured it out. With less chance of hip replacement surgery, we were more adventuresome. I showed Avery my wet version of a bucking bronco, while she grasped tight to the sides of the tub, riding me hard, crying out my name. Water splashed over the edge of the tub, creating a large puddle on the floor, spreading toward the door. I didn’t care about that or anything else. Only the woman riding me as I groaned and cursed, straining upward to bury myself as far inside her as I could, my hands like vices as I gripped her hips and shouted her name.
I held her after, the warm water swirling around us. I made a mental note to pick up some frothy stuff women liked, so I could lure her back in here again soon, and to call the contractor who built the house and have a bench installed in the roomy shower. When I spoke the thoughts aloud, Avery informed me you could buy non-slip bath mats. I decided I needed to pick one of those up tomorrow—maybe we could retry the shower porn. I was certainly willing to give it a go.
When we were finally out and drying, she discovered my other tattoo. Inked on my shoulder blade, the Celtic tree of life was a blaze of color. Her touch was light as she ran her fingers over the ink, then pressed her lips to it. I slipped a shirt of mine over her head and tucked her beside me in my big, cozy bed, urging her to sleep for a while. She had to be exhausted. I knew I was, and I happily slept for a short while with her beside me.
Now awake and holding her, I teemed with emotions. I had never experienced so many feelings for one person. What I had thought was a good relationship with Karen had nothing on what I already felt for Avery. I wanted to share everything—every part of my life with her. I could see her beside me, making my house our home, filling up the empty hours with her presence. I knew how much my parents, my mother especially, would adore her. I knew Caitlin was looking forward to getting to know her more. She had always liked Karen, my whole family did, but Avery fit me effortlessly. I had a good feeling she’d fit in with my family the same way, and with her parents so far away, Avery needed that, as well.
I traced my finger over her cheek, tucking a curl behind her ear. I should be scared of how strongly I already felt for her. But I wasn’t. It felt right. I knew she also felt something intense for me. We wouldn’t have made love, otherwise. I had told her there hadn’t been anyone since I broke it off with Karen over a year ago, and she admitted she hadn’t been in a serious relationship for over two years. From the little she had told me, it didn’t sound as if she had much luck with any of her previous partners. I planned to change her views on relationships.