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We’d shared a shower, but it differed from taking a bath. Abe’s tub—or our tub, whichever—was bigger than most I’d been in, but it was still a close fit for both of us to sit in. I didn’t mind so much though because I enjoyed being near him. Had we been in any sort of hurry, it would have been a challenge to get clean and rinsed.
Luckily, we were in no rush at all.
After I caught my breath and returned to Earth from what we’d done in the kitchen, I sat up and stretched my arms and back and spun around to the other side of the tub to face him. My messy bun had fallen apart, so I quickly put it back up into a tighter one.
“So how do you do this?” Abe asked and lifted his hands out of the clear water. His body was somewhat distorted where it was submerged, but he was so big and lanky that his legs were bent along the sides exposing most of him to me.
In kind, with no bubbles to arrange for modesty, I was bare to him too. He wasn’t shy about it, so I didn’t even let shame or self-consciousness enter my mind. What was the point? After what we’d shared at the island in the other room, what did I have to hide?
He’d seen all of me and probably more.
“A bath?” I asked. Of all things to know more about than someone else.
“Yeah. How does this go?”
“You haven’t taken a bath?”
He made a fist in the water and squeezed it so it shot water at me. “Not since I was a kid.”
“You’ve never had a bath with a woman before?” I wasn’t jealous, but I liked when we did things for the first time together. This could be another one of those.
“Nope. Never showered with one either.” He shrugged and then rearranged my feet to flank his hips instead of where they were between his legs. “Safety first,” he explained. “Now tell me all I need to know about baths.”
I chuckled, loving his lightheartedness. There were so many things that felt out of control, but in moments like the one we were having he could erase my stress with that lopsided, scruffy half-grin of his. “I suppose it depends on what kind of bath you’re having. Is this a soak or a bath bath?”
“I have no clue. What’s the difference?”
“Well, they have two completely different sets of goals. One is mostly for relaxation and peaceful, quiet time. One is for getting clean.”
He seemed to think on that and squinted at me before answering, “Because I’m curious, explain the bath bath, please.”
“It’s mostly all business and much quicker. First, I wet my hair under the clean water and lather it with shampoo. Then I rinse it with this.” I angled my arm above my head where I’d put a small white hobnail pitcher I’d found at a resale shop. “I pour clean water from the faucet over my head. Then I use conditioner and wash my body. If I need to shave, I let some water out and do that. Then I rinse my hair and body with clean water again and I’m done.”
“Simple enough. And this soak you mentioned?” His arms perched on the sides made his biceps look massive. He was such a man and seeing him in the tub like that charmed me. He seemed to be okay with it though, relaxed as he was against the porcelain opposite me.
“Those are my favorite. I rarely wash my hair when I take a soak bath, but I do wash up. If I have to shave, I do that first and then run brand new water. Then I might use some bubble bath that smells good or a use some bath oil. Sometimes a bath bomb.” All of which I kept in a wicker basket on the open, bottom shelf of the vanity. “All that is over there.”
As soon as my words left my mouth, he was standing and slumping over the side to reach the container with my soaking things. When he sat back into the water, it sloshed side to side almost making the contents splash over the sides.
He studied the things, and after digging around he lifted a small bottle of bath oil I’d found at a local gift shop near the grocery store.
Abe read the label out loud. “Eucalyptus. Soothing essential oils for a calming bath. Castor seed and safflower oils.” Impressively, with one hand he unscrewed the dropper enough to lift it and give it a sniff. “I’ve smelled that on you before. I like it.”
That didn’t surprise me at all because it was earthy without being too flowery or sweet. He tightened the cap, dropped it in the basket, and lifted a round bath bomb. It was wrapped in plastic, so he didn’t get much when he took a whiff. “Rosehip, huh?”
“I think that one is sparkly,” I warned. I didn’t mind, but I couldn’t imagine he’d like it.
He tossed it back into the square basket and brought the oil back out before setting the container on the floor beside the tub. He read the back of the bottle and then pulled the dropper out and squirted it in the water twice. I usually only did one, but there were two of us.
Like always, I moved my arms through the water to mix it around and instantly the room was filled with the fresh scent.
“Grab your soap and come over here, please,” he said. When I did, he added, “And turn around.”
Sitting between his legs, he opened the bottle I’d had on the shelf, poured it into his hands, and then began rubbing my shoulders with his slippery fingers. It felt nice, and soon I noticed my neck rolling, side to side.
I doubted my shoulders and back were all that dirty, but I didn’t even care. When his hands began to move to my front, I reclined on him and let him rub me all over. It was sensual, but it didn’t feel like he was initiating anything. It was sweet the way he tended to me.
He kissed the back of my head and eventually, we were just lying in the warm water together. Soaking, and it was so utterly relaxing.
“I went to the bank today. In the morning, I’ll write you a check for your money.”
I hadn’t been worried about it. “I just cash it like last time?”
“That’s right. And there’s a property the bank owns that might be a great spot for my shop and store.”
It was big news and had me flipping over in his arms to face him.
“Really? Are you going to buy it?” I couldn’t keep the enthusiasm out of my voice.
He blinked and remained calm. “It needs some work, and I still have to walk through it and everything. I only looked through the windows, but it could work out. I want you to go look at it with me.”
In every way, he was so special and different from any man I’d ever known. It was unheard of for a man to rely on his wife for business decisions back home. I was humbled and honored that he wanted to share the experience with me.
“I don’t know much,” I admitted. I’d certainly go for support though.
“Well, you’ve seen where I’m working now. So you might have some thoughts on it.”
“Sure.” I slid up his chest and gave him a quick kiss. “Are you excited? That’s your dream, isn’t it?”
“I want to be excited, and I am. I guess I’m just cautious. Nothing is ever done until it’s done. And I’d hate leaving the Griers when they need me.”
He was such a good man.
“Abe, they’ll be happy for you.”
He nodded, knowing I was right. “It’s a big step. I might be working longer hours. What if I get in there and then it all goes south?”
“What if it doesn’t?”
There hadn’t been many times in my life when I’d felt needed, valued. And although I’d only known Abe a short amount of time, he didn’t often show insecurities. I’d always thought he simply didn’t have any. The way he spoke confidently about what he believed, his morals, his work ethic. How he seemed so sure of himself made him tough to me.
But there in that tub, hearing such a strong man voice such unfounded doubt made me look at him in a new light. He’d been my hero. My guide. My friend. Now he was my lover and my partner. It was only fair that I be willing to step up when he needed someone to lean on.
I felt an overwhelming sense of pride that he’d chosen me, wanted my opinion, needed my support.
He didn’t reply and his hands continued to stroke up and down my back.
“If this is your dream, I’ll do whatever it takes to help you. You’ve done so much for me, and I love you. Of course I’ll go with you and I’ll learn and do whatever you need me to because I want to.” I meant every word. “I want you to be happy.”
“You make me happy.”
My heart could have burst.