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I can tell she wants to wallop me, but she resists. Instead, she asks, “It can be ready in five minutes?”
“Yes. If you’d like a hot bath.”
“I do,” she replies. “I’m going to get my comb. I’ll be back in a moment.”
When she leaves, I begin pumping the water by hand. Once it starts to flow, I check the temperature and nod. It’s a bit too hot, but I have a bucket of cool water set to the side, so it will do the trick.
When Scarlett returns a few moments later, clad in a dressing gown and combing out her hair, the tub is nearly half full.
She stops next to me. “The tub looks big enough for two.”
I stop working the pump as I straighten to stare at her. “Are you inviting me to join you?”
“I am. I need help washing my back.” The vixen bites her bottom lip as she looks up at me with wide, dark blue eyes. She’s in no way innocent, but I enjoy her efforts to project it. It makes it even more satisfying to corrupt her.
As she finishes combing the snarls out of her hair before piling it on top of her head, I check the temperature once more. It’s a bit too hot, so I add cold water. When I turn around, I nearly drop the half-empty bucket on my foot. Scarlett stands before me, her curvy body bare. The only thing she wears is a secretive smile. I can't tear my gaze away as she walks to the tub, stopping within arm’s reach.
She hums to herself as she dips her fingers into the water, clearly satisfied with the temperature. Her hand lands on my arm, holding me lightly as she steps into the tub.
I still haven’t moved when she releases me and sinks down into the water.
“Aren’t you getting in?” she asks. Her question is laced with humor as she stares up at me.
It breaks me out of the trance caused by the sight of her. I strip off my clothes in quick, efficient movements and join her in the water within moments.
A light laugh slips over my skin like a physical touch.
“I was told I had a job in this tub,” I say.
She laughs again and turns her back to me when I reach for the soap. I work a good lather in my hands and begin washing her, starting with the back of her neck and working my way down. My cock hardens as I touch her smooth, water-slicked skin. I work my way over her entire body, running my soapy hands down her arms, over her back and plush ass.
When her back is clean, I lather up my hands again and slide them over her shoulders and chest. She sighs and moves to lean back against me, letting her hands rest on my bare thighs. The soft mound of her ass nudges my cock, and I shift away slightly.
Tonight, I want to bathe her and hold her. Woo her.
“Stay still,” she murmurs, moving back again.
The rigid length of my erection is cradled between her cheeks as I smooth my hands down over her breasts. Her nipples grow hard beneath my touch, but I don’t tug or stroke them as I want. Instead, my palms wander lower, over her belly and down to her thighs. Scarlett’s head leans back onto my shoulder, and she spreads her thighs as I glide my soapy hands back up, drifting to the incredibly soft skin of her inner thighs. Her hips lift slightly as I slide my fingers over her pussy, cleaning her gently.
“Hmmm.” The sound is part moan, part sigh, but completely content.
When she’s completely clean, I rest my hands on her hips, holding her close as I lean my cheek against the top of her head. After a moment, her fingers trail up my leg, and she starts to lean forward. I hold her still, releasing one hip to wrap my fingers around her wrist.
“Not tonight, Little Red. I want to hold you.”
She settles back into me, her body going limp. “You’re trying to win me over, aren’t you?” she murmurs. She sounds drowsy and sweet. Exactly what I hoped she would feel when I offered her the tub.
“That’s not why I said it.”
Scarlett sighs again. “I know. It’s the reason it’s working.”
A chuckle vibrates in my chest as I wrap my arms around her waist. My goal was to truly help her relax tonight, not bed her, but it seems those intentions are still helping me achieve my goal of convincing Scarlett she belongs here.
With me…
… and Conall.
Chapter Seventeen
