Chapter 103 - 105
A bath, my first one since—forever!
Even with waterproof dressing, I couldn’t, but now I can.
The warmth of the water wraps around me as I recline in the bath, my head resting against the cool edge of the tub. My eyes are closed, the steam curling gently around me, the faint scent of lavender in the air. The water laps softly against my skin, the surface glittering with a layer of bubbles that floats up to my neckline.
When I open my eyes, the faint shape at the edge of my vision sharpens, and I startle slightly. It’s Vance, leaning casually against the doorway, his shoulder pressed to the frame. His gaze flicks to mine, calm yet intent, grateful for the bubbles shielding me.
"Um... I don’t even have words right now," I mutter, instinctively sinking deeper into the water. "Should I just say what we both know I’m thinking?"
"That I should join you?" he teases, his lips curling into an amused smile.
My flat stare is enough to earn a chuckle, his eyes dropping to the floor in playful surrender before lifting again, his expression softening into something serious.
"I just wanted to make sure you didn’t drown or something."
"In a bath?" I quip, raising an eyebrow.
He steps closer, reaching for the soap bottle perched on the edge. "I just wanted to make sure that if you needed me, I was here this time."
"This time?" I echo, frowning slightly. "You’ve been here from the start, even when you didn’t want to be."
He doesn’t respond right away. Instead, he sits on the edge of the tub, rolling his sleeves up in such a provocative way. The cloth in his hand disappears into the water, soaking up its heat before he wrings it out. His free hand gently guides me forward, and I comply, leaning slightly as the damp cloth presses against my back.