Liam came back to the hotel well after dark, utterly spent from the day. He collapsed face-first on the bed, not even protesting the babying when she took off his shoes for him. She removed his socks, and he did not hold back the gratuitous moans of pleasure when she began rubbing his bare feet. “Oh, I missed you.”
“What? Did no one rub your feet over there?” She ached for him, but was not sure what the protocol was on how soon to wait for a good make-out after the death of a loved one.
When she rolled him over to take off his shirt, she saw the exhaustion on his face that could not be denied. Slowly and delicately, she worked his shirt off.
Molly could not help herself. She massaged his calves as he groaned, then moved to his thighs, relaxing him more thoroughly than he had been in days. She swallowed as she salivated for the kisses and caresses they had been abstaining from so they could both heal properly.
After a half-hour massage, Molly went into the bathroom and turned on the large Jacuzzi bathtub, filling it with hot water.
She went to the bed where Liam’s hand was on his chest. “Did you want to take a bath? It might relax you.”
He palmed his own heartbeat, amazed at the thudding. “Relax me? You’re worried about me being relaxed after that?” He reached out, missing her hand on the first try and grabbing it on the second. “You are exactly what I needed tonight. Thank you. Can you wake me when the tub’s ready? I’m beat.”
“Sure.” Molly got out fresh boxer briefs for him to change into after his soak and laid them on the sink. She watched his chest move up and down until the tub filled, and then gently kissed him awake. She led him into the bathroom, turning her head as he unbuckled his pants.
She made to leave, but Liam caught her wrist. “Stay,” he begged. “It’s been too long a day without you.”
Molly swallowed hard, nodding as she sat on the lid of the toilet, keeping her eyes averted until after he completely disrobed and relaxed into the warmth. “Do you want to tell me about your evening?”
He opened his eyes and frowned at her lack of nudity. “Aren’t you getting in?”
“No. The bath is for you.”
“I’ve got news for you, Moll. Men don’t generally take baths unless there’s promise of a naked woman.”
Molly shifted uncomfortably. “My bruises still haven’t faded all the way on my ribs. You’re leaving in a couple days. I don’t want you to remember me all banged up like that. It’s a legitimate concern, Liam. I want the first time you see me naked to be a good thing, not a horror show.”
“Your body, your call.” He relaxed into the bubbles. “This is nice. Thanks.”
“Of course.” Molly turned off the overhead light and flicked on the floor illumination so he could really let go of his day. She sat on the edge of the tub, flirting with her daring. “How was your evening with your family?”
Liam traced the slope of her wrist as he spoke, the romantic light endearing him to her. “It was good. Man, do those kids know how to wrestle. Kinda proud of Warren for teaching them so well. Though, that could’ve been Jess, to be fair. She’s always been pretty scrappy.”
“Taught by the best.”
“You know that’s right.” He kissed her palm, not sure how he got so lucky as to be loved by someone like her. “Jess and I nailed down a week for me to go visit her and the kids upstate in February. Does the second week work for you? That’s when the kids have their break.”
Molly looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. “What are you talking about? Did she say she wanted me there? I’m sure she was hoping to spend time with her brother.”
Liam observed the way her face glowed in the low light. “She insisted you come. What’s your excuse now?”
“I… Liam, we haven’t talked about what’s going to happen after you leave.”
“And we don’t need to. I’ve had a long day, and I don’t have it in me to make it through that conversation.”
Shame instantly flooded Molly. “You’re right. I’m so sorry. That was insensitive.”
He turned on the jets and sighed as one hit a knot on his lower back. “We’ve got the walkthrough tomorrow for the orange grove property. That’s exciting.”
Molly nodded. “If you don’t feel up for it, you don’t have to come.”
“I’m up for it. Never owned property before. Lived in dorms, then shared apartments. Been living out of a suitcase for the past… too long.”
He often made comments that confused Molly. The one about him being a homeowner creased her brow, but she said nothing. They were not to talk about serious things tonight, so she wrote it off as yet another slip of the tongue. “Any chance you might get assigned to one team?” she asked. “That might be easier on you than being shuffled around as they need you. Traveling that much sounds brutal.”
“It never bothered me until I met you and realized that wasn’t what I wanted.”
“Then what do you want?” she asked, trying not to look down into the water as the bubbles began to disperse in the hot water.
“Isn’t it obvious? I want you.”
Her eyes were closed as she scolded him. “You’re being difficult on purpose. What sort of job do you want?”
“I like the medical field, and you know I love being courtside at the games, but travel season is rough. I wasn’t kidding about not wanting to leave you in two days.”
Molly traced from his chin to his collarbone. “See, I thought you were serious when you said you didn’t want to have this conversation tonight. I don’t want to think about you leaving until the very last second. I don’t think I could take it right now.”
“Fair enough.” He continued to trace the lines in her palm in languid slow sweeps. “Molly?”
“Yes,” she breathed. “Whatever you want, the answer’s yes.”
“If I promise to be really gentle and not hurt your ribs, can we make out in the bed?”
Molly stood abruptly and reached for the towel, holding it open for him and turning her head to the side, blushing. Once the towel was secured around his waist, she glanced over at him, smiling at the lust in his eyes. She had been waiting for that look. She despised the pity or concern he often took in her injuries with, and refused to make out in the bed with him until they were on equal terms.
Liam took her hand and laid her on the bed without bothering to change into more than his boxer briefs. How he wanted to ravish her, to make her arch and moan for him, but he knew her injuries were too much for mattress acrobatics. Instead of attacking her with all the lust in his body, he started with her lips, gently working them at the slow pace that made them both forget the rest of the world. It was the most she could do, what with all her injuries, but the simple connection offered significant healing powers on both ends, heating and soothing in their sore spots that needed extra care. Liam tangled his legs through hers and ended their night together by making up for lost time.