Fast Burn (Body Armor #4)(40)
The possibility twisted his guts.
And thinking of possibilities...had someone gotten to her? Was he stupidly waiting for her and she was already—
He tried the doorknob, felt it turn and half opened the door, keeping his gaze averted from the tub.
The large mirror on the opposite wall made the effort useless.
Ah, hell.
Arrested by the sight, Brand went still, barely even breathing.
Lying boneless in the tub, hair pinned up in a soft, messy way, eyes closed and not enough bubbles left in the water to conceal her, Sahara dozed. The waterproof earbuds explained why she hadn’t heard his knock.
One hand rested limply over her belly, the other draped the edge of the tub. She had her right leg stretched out, her left slightly bent. The water, edged with small bubbles, lapped around her shoulders, her pale breasts and the tops of her thighs.
In his mind, he’d pictured her naked many times, but his imagination hadn’t done her justice.
His blood pumping hot and fast, he turned away from the mirror to face the tub.
An erection strained the front of his jeans.
What to do? He couldn’t let her continue to doze in the bath. She needed to be in a bed. She needed real, restful sleep.
What she didn’t need was him coming on to her tonight.
Would she be embarrassed if he woke her? Who knew with Sahara?
Either way, he still had to do it.
Glancing around the glamorous bathroom, he saw her wet toothbrush on the side of the sink, the towel she’d set out...but no clothes. She’d already put away her things, so he left her long enough to go to his own bag, took out a clean T-shirt, then stopped in the bedroom and turned down the bed.
As prepared as he could be, he returned to the bathroom.
She hadn’t moved.
The situation sent heat throbbing through him. He’d wanted plenty of women, and had had plenty of them, too. He’d experienced convenient attractions and mind-numbing lust.
He’d never known anyone like Sahara. He’d never before dealt with the things she made him feel.
Mind made up, he set aside the shirt, then crouched beside the tub.
God, she was beautiful. And so fucking sexy.
He smiled, because she was also autocratic.
Seeing her like this, though, with her makeup gone and her face utterly relaxed, was a revelation. Her lashes—paler without the mascara—rested on her damp cheeks. The heat of the tub had flushed her skin. Tendrils of golden-brown hair clung to her neck and shoulders.
No woman could be more appealing than her.
“Sahara?” He brushed his knuckles over her dewy cheek. “Come on, baby. Wake up.”
Shifting, she drew in a deeper breath through her nose, then settled again with a sigh.
Brand fought the urge to look anywhere other than her face. “Sahara.” He cupped her cheek. “Honey, you need to wake up.”
Her eyes popped open, so blue and definitely dazed. “Brand?” She frowned, then removed the Bluetooth earbuds. “What are you—”
A second later, realization hit and her eyes flared.
Forestalling any panic, Brand stood and opened the towel. “Time for bed.”
Bemused, she sat up, her gaze glued to his.
Poor choice of words. “I had no idea what you sleep in, so I just brought you one of my shirts.” He waited, showing extreme control by not looking at her body.
Still visibly confused, she stood. “I usually sleep naked.”
Water sluiced down her body, and Brand knew he was starting to sweat.
“I’m sorry I passed out.” A yawn cut her off as she stepped out of the tub and into the towel. “I’m more tired than I realized.”
“Even superheroes need rest every now and then.” He wrapped the towel around her.
She reached for the edges of the towel and started to step away.
Voice low and rough as gravel, Brand said, “Let me.”
Their gazes held, until she shrugged. “This is so odd. Not at all how I planned things.”
Yeah, not even in the same universe as his plans either. “I want to take care of you, Sahara. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it yourself. Doesn’t mean you’re weak.” He opened the towel again to begin drying her. “Just means I want to.”
Nervous fingers tucked a wet lock of hair behind her ear. “No one’s ever—”
“Good.” He kissed her forehead. “Now just relax.”
She smiled lazily. “No problem with that. I think I was out for the night. If you hadn’t woken me, I might’ve still been there in the morning.”
Had she done that before? Given the hours she kept, it wouldn’t surprise him.
He dried her as quickly as he could, yet when he glanced at her face, her eyes were closed again, her head lolling. “Hang on, honey.”
Keeping one hand on her elbow, he reached for the T-shirt and tugged it on over her head.
Standing passively, for once not trying to take over, she murmured, “It doesn’t bother you that I’m naked.”
She didn’t say it as a question, but rather a statement, so he replied the same way while feeding her arms through the sleeves. “Doesn’t seem to be bothering you either.”
“Tomorrow I might be embarrassed.” Sleepily, she slumped against him. “Promise you won’t ever tell anyone.”