Chapter 304 Chapter 304 KASMINE.
The bathtub was filled with hot water, roses, and fragrances that smelled like the start of a sin. Jasmine, vanilla, the faintest trace of musk. It clung to my skin, soaked into my hair, and curled into my lungs.
I was cradled between his thighs, my back resting flush against his chest. I could hear the frantic beating of his heart, like he was about to do something forbidden.
His palm glided across my shoulder, slick with lather from the shower gel. He was taking his time, dragging his hand along the slope of my neck, down my collarbone, across the curve of my breast like he was memorizingall over again.
It felt like he was worshipping. Like he'd sinned, and this was his penance- servingwith patience he barely had.
I had noticed earlier today that he had my exact hair products in his bathroom but I hadn't even had the tyet to process it or to wonder why.
But I was done processing things for now. I deserved a little rest.
My eyes fluttered closed, and I let myself lean back, my damp head resting just beneath his chin, leaving my neck exposed to him. I felt his breath catch against my skin-just a small hitch-and then a kiss followed. It was featherlight and trembling, and it landed right there beneath my ear.
He was quiet, but I felt the words he didn't say settle into my bones.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtA shudder leftwhen his hand slipped lower, gliding slowly down my stomach.
My breath snagged at the way he moved, like he was terrified this would be the last the touched me, and he wanted it to matter.
He was strippingof all resistance.
The ache in my chest turned into something raw that madewant to turn around and sob against his mouth. Because as broken as this was, as twisted and wrong as so much of it had been... this was the man I kept forgetting lived underneath all the chaos. The man who loved so fiercely it broke him.
He reached for the loofah again, but his hand hesitated on my waist.
"Kasmine..." His voice was hoarse. "You don't want to stay. I know. But you're here. And I'm holding you. So I'm going to pretend- for just a little while-that I haven't lost you." My throat tightened. My chest felt like it might crack open.
"I just need... I need to take care of you. Lettake care of you, please." I turned slightly, just enough to glance up at him, and God, the look in his eyes- those deep green irises that had once terrified-were soft. So open I could barely stand it.
His lips were parted, his expression carved from grief, devotion, and love so deep it didn't know how to be anything else.
"Kester..." I whispered.
But he didn't letfinish.
His hand slid up my throat, slowly cradling my jaw as he leaned in. Cur lips met with the gentleness of something broken. His mouth moved over mine like he knew he didn't deserve forgiveness but would give everything to earn a piece of it anyway.
1/3 Chapter 304 I melted.
I kissed him back.
There was no point pretending anymore.
The mate bond wrapped around my ribcage and squeezed until I couldn't breathe.
His hand slid lower.
God.
Lower.
Down past my ribs, my navel, dragging through the thin layer of water that lapped at my hips. My breath hitched-caught in my throat when his fingers brushed the top of my mound. He pressed his hand down, cuppinggently without moving.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmI moaned softly into his mouth.
And that was all the permission he needed.
His fingers moved, ministering slow strokes through my folds, partingopen.
My center pulsed against his hand with a need so raw it almost hurt.
My legs shifted, spreading wider without even meaning to. His touch was maddening. It was barely there and barely enough. It was just a teasing pass over that aching bundle of nerves that ached harder each second.
His middle finger traced through my folds slowly, like he was savoring every reaction he got.
And he kept kissing me.
God, the way he kissed me. Tongue deep, ravenous, tasting every part of my mouth like he was making up for all the days we lost. Like he needed to drinkin or die trying. My hips arched into his hand without shame.
"Kester..." I whimpered into his mouth.
His hand slid lower again, his fingers finding my entrance and dipping just inside before pulling back out, slic and slow, I swear the heat of the bath could have boiledalive and I wouldn't have noticed.