Blyssful Lies (The Blyss Trilogy 2)

After the task of washing me is complete, I watch him as he grabs the bottle of shampoo and squirts a large glob into the palm of his hand. I can’t help it; I giggle.

He arches a brow, looking at me with wry amusement. “What’s so funny?” A small smile wants to play on his lips, I can tell, but he holds it back.

“You must not do this very often, do you?”

“What? Take a bath?”

“No, goofy,” I roll my eyes, “wash a woman’s hair.”

He shakes his head. “No, that’s one thing I can honestly say I’ve never done before.” He stops to regard me, tilting his head to the side. “Why?”

I gesture to the soap heaping over the palm of his hand, which is running through his fingers and dripping into the tub. “Because that’s probably enough shampoo for a horse.”

I watch as his lips twitch with mirth. “Just lay back, Rapunzel, with your long hair.”

I comply willingly, with a little giggle. He’s careful to support my neck while gently working the soap over the tender places at the back of my skull. Despite the fact I’m in a tub of warm water, his touch sends shivers down my spine. As he washes my hair, his face is so close to mine it allows me to seriously take stock of his handsome features up close and personal. He’s focusing so intently on his task, trying to keep the shampoo out of my eyes, it allows me to gaze into his mystical eyes and roam over his stark jawline. His face is showcasing a couple days’ worth of stubble, and my fingers itch to touch the sharp hairs. The look is extremely sexy on him, and it takes my breath away.

I can see the thick, corded muscles in his neck strain as he holds the weight of my upper body, being careful not to let my back touch anything. I close my eyes briefly, enjoying his massaging fingertips as they dance over my scalp. I inhale the fresh, fruity scent of the shampoo and grin. “Mmmm, the shampoo smells so delicious I could almost eat it.”

Travis lightly laughs and replies, “Yeah, you can thank Stryker for that one. He had one of his girls pick out clothes and all the other things you women require to survive. Stryker’s here now, so you can personally thank him for bringing you all this stuff when we’re done.” Travis pauses, looking down on me, locking his gaze with mine. “He may not be related, but he is my family. There’s nothing we don’t do for each other.” Travis then grabs the handheld shower wand and turns on the water again, testing the temperature. Once he gets the water just right, he rinses off the shampoo, careful to avoid my eyes.

As my head rests back, I gaze out through the skylight above. It looks to be a warm, sunny day, and for some reason, I have the innate urge to feel the sunshine on my skin.

When Travis is finished rinsing my hair, I touch his large bicep to get his attention. “Travis, I can’t thank either one of you enough. I know I’m on repeat here, but you both are sacrificing so much to help me out. I’m not sure if I can ever repay you guys for everything.”

“No need to repay. Just get better.”

Once I do get better, I will find a way to repay them. Changing the subject, I ask curiously, “Is this your place, or Stryker’s?”

“A few buddies and I went in together and built this cabin. We all share it, using it for a getaway, an oasis of sorts.”

“Did you guys do the decorating?”

“You’re a curious little thing, aren’t you?” He pauses to grin at me. “But to answer your question, Stryker was dating a girl at the time who was an interior designer. We gave her a budget to stay within, and this is what we wound up with.” He pauses a moment, looking into my eyes with playfulness. “Why do you ask? Do you like it?”

I nod. “Just curious, but yes, I love the décor and the colors.” I wonder if I’m overstepping my bounds, but I just gotta ask, “Does Stryker have a girlfriend now?”

Travis shakes his head. “No, he’s not ready to settle down yet. Let’s just say he enjoys playing the field.”

He grabs a dry cloth to wipe my face, and when he's done, a small smile emerges from my face. He returns my smile and it warms my heart. “What are you thinking about now?”

“Do you...do you enjoy playing the field?” I ask warily.

He doesn’t hesitate to answer me. “I only want to play in your ballpark, sweetheart.” He playfully taps the tip of my nose with his finger, leaving behind a dollop of bubbles. “I’ve had plenty of time to get that out of my system. You are the only one I want to see when I close my eyes at night, and you’re the first thing I think of when I wake up every morning.”