Tied with Me (With Me in Seattle, #6)(34)

He runs one big hand down my back to my ass and back up again before sighing and whispering against my hair, “I don’t want to go, little one. I want to take care of you.”

I begin to shake my head no, but he chuckles quietly.

“Just relax and let me take care of you. Let go. I’m going to help you get rid of this headache.”

It suddenly occurs to me that just having him here with me has helped. Who knew that a good, firm hug could ease a headache?

Matt kisses my hair and gently pushes me back onto the bed before marching into the attached bathroom. I hear water running in the tub and soft music begins to play, which must be coming from Matt’s phone, before he walks back into my bedroom and pulls my shirt over my head. He undresses me slowly, careful not to jostle my head as the smell of jasmine fills the air.

“You used my bubble bath,” I whisper.

“I like it,” he replies calmly. His hands are warm but don’t travel my skin the way they normally would when he has me naked. Instead, he’s comforting.

Loving.

He leads me into the bathroom, and I’m surprised to see candles flickering around the room. The bathtub is my favorite part of the apartment. It’s a large old-style claw-foot tub set against the wall and is currently full of water and bubbles. I step inside and lower myself into the fragrant water, sighing with relief as I lean back against the white porcelain.

“Water too hot?”

“Mmm,” I murmur.

“Is that a yes or no?” he asks with a laugh.

“Feels good,” I reply. My eyes slide closed, and I float weightlessly. The pain behind my eyes begins to fade.

“Can I get you something to drink?” he asks quietly.

“No, thank you,” I whisper. “You can join me, though.”

“No, this is just for you, baby. Relax. I’ll be back.”

I open one eye to see him walk out of the bathroom and shut the door behind him to keep the warmth in the bathroom. I sigh and sink down lower into the hot water. It is a bit too warm, but it feels fantastic.

I’ve never trusted someone enough to take care of me. I would have said that I don’t need someone to take care of me. And, truth be told, I don’t. I can take care of myself just fine, thank you very much.

But having someone around to pamper me a bit, just because he can, isn’t a bad deal at all.

“How are you feeling?” Matt joins me, kneeling beside the tub.

“Better.” I grin at him and raise a wet hand to cup his cheek. He turns his face and plants a kiss to my palm. “Thank you.”

“We’re not done yet,” he replies, his clear blue eyes smiling.

“We’re not?”

He shakes his head and holds his hand out for mine, pulling me out of the cooling water. He wraps a towel around my shoulders and dries me off, then leads me back into the bedroom, where he’s lit more candles.

“Lie on your stomach,” he instructs me, pointing to the center of the bed.

I shrug and climb up onto the bed, smiling at Matt’s groan. “You okay?”

“You did that on purpose,” he growls.

“Did what?” I look back over my shoulder and bat my eyelashes innocently.

“Stuck your ass and beautiful * in the air for me to see,” he replies.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I giggle, lie on my stomach and sigh in contentment when Matt’s oil-coated hands begin to knead my shoulders. “Oh God.”

“Not too deep?” he asks.

“You can go deeper,” I reply and melt under his touch. Instead of flaring to life in lust, my body settles, calms under Matt’s magical touch. “You’re good at that.”

“Just breathe deeply and enjoy,” he murmurs.

Being the object of a pampering Matt is perhaps the best thing I’ve ever experienced. My already relaxed muscles from the hot bath relax further, loosening until I’m simply a pile of mushy goo on the sheets.

“You’re going to make me drool,” I mutter.

“I hope that’s a good thing.” He chuckles.

“You have amazing hands,” I reply as he finishes rubbing my shoulders and backs away so I can sit up.

“Here.” He tugs the covers up over me as I snuggle down into my bed, yawning deeply.

“Are you leaving?” I ask with a frown. I don’t want him to go.

“I’d like to sleep here with you, if that’s okay.”

I grin and pull the covers back in a silent invitation. “I think it’s perfectly okay.”

A smile spreads over his handsome face as he strips down to his boxer-briefs. I never tire of seeing his perfect body. A flare of recognition flows through me as my eyes travel the length of him.

“If you keep looking at me like that, sweetheart, I’ll have no choice but to f*ck you until we both pass out, and I’ve already made up my mind to simply cuddle you tonight, so be good.”

“I’m always good.” I grin.

Matt laughs as he climbs between the cool pink sheets with me and pulls me up against him, my head resting on his chest. “Did you have fun tonight?”

“I did.” I grin, thinking of the banter between Matt and his brother, how the girls accepted me so readily. “They were really nice to me.”