In the bathroom, Beck disposed of the condom and dimmed the lights. Then filled the whirlpool tub, adding herbal bath gel, before returning to the bedroom to find Heavenly sprawled on her stomach now, eyes closed. She still floated far away. Beck simply smiled as he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the tub. She didn’t stir, but when he lowered them through the cloud of bubbles and the swirling hot water met her blistered flesh, Heavenly’s eyes popped open with a long, pained hiss.
“Easy. I know it burns, but I put some oils in the water. They’ll help,” he promised as he settled her between his spread legs and cradled her in his arms.
He stared down at his soaring beauty, so precious and pure, and gently brushed errant curls from her face. Beck had known before tonight that he loved her, but jesus…Heavenly now owned every piece of his heart.
She’d been made for him.
“Talk to me,” he whispered in her ear.
After all, his brave girl had taken every lash he’d dished out, and he hadn’t gone easy on her. She’d taken his pain with a level of trust and strength that had melted his fucking heart. Best of all, he’d broken through her walls and she’d purged some grief. He wasn’t naive enough to think she wouldn’t have more over time, but he’d cracked her barriers. She knew now how to let go. It was a start.
When she didn’t respond, he began to worry. An unsettling remorse crept in. Had he taken her too far?
“Heavenly?” he prompted.
Still nothing.
He clutched her tighter, rocking her gently. “Oh, baby. I’m sorry.”
“What?” Her lashes fluttered open and she lifted an unfocused gaze up at him. “No. It was…amazing.”
She closed her eyes again.
Letting out a relieved breath, Beck filled his palm with the bath gel, then glided his hands up and down her boneless limbs, caressing her and bringing her even closer, reveling in her tiny moans of delight.
“Feels good,” she murmured.
“I enjoy pampering you.”
“You’re good at it.” A lethargic smile tugged her lips. “You’re also good with a belt.”
“Probably too good.” When guilt tried to worm its way in again, he began washing her hair, relieved when she groaned in pleasure. “Don’t ever think that the only way you can make me happy is to let me give you pain.”
“I don’t. And I wouldn’t like the sting of your belt every day…but once in a while would be all right.
“Once in a long while. I honestly don’t want to give you pain on a regular basis.” Beck had to scoff at himself. “It’s ironic. In the past, that’s all I ever did. But I’d rather touch you with my heart than my belt.” He brushed his lips over her ear. “I’m sorry for taking you harder than I intended.”
“Don’t be. You gave me a way to understand you. I needed to know if I was capable of giving you what you want and need in order to decide anything about my life…my future. But you also gave me a way to start mourning. Thank you.”
Beck closed his eyes. Fuck, she humbled him. He couldn’t lose her.
Of course, she was still weighing her options. Obviously, what he and Seth had done for her so far hadn’t fulfilled her promises to Abel. But maybe in time she’d see they could—and actually give their future a chance.
Beck cupped her chin and tilted her head back. As he rinsed the shampoo from her long, pale mane, he teased the seam of her lips with his tongue. Heavenly turned and lifted her heavy arms, threading her fingers behind his neck and welcoming him in. He cupped her breasts and thumbed her beaded nipples as their tongues tangled and swirled.
Ignoring his stirring cock—and the war that would ensue once Seth got home and got a look at Heavenly’s ass—Beck glided conditioner through her hair.
“Have you talked to Seth about his kink yet?”
“Uh-huh. On Sunday night, when you had to rush to surgery.”
“And?”
“At first, he was reluctant. But eventually, he shared it with me.”
Beck tensed. Had Seth led her down his dark path? “And?”
“We had a really good time.”