BATH AND BUBBLES
LUKE
Jess and I walked back to our house, her body tucked under my arm where she belonged. My arm draped over her shoulders, and I pressed a kiss to her temple, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. The night air was cool, but her warmth against me was all I needed.
“See? It wasn’t that bad,” she said softly, her voice laced with a teasing edge. “She’s really nice, actually. Just didn’t handle anything… really well.”
I grunted but said nothing.
Jess nudged me with her elbow. “Come on. She told us everything. About your shoulder, building the boat, Josh getting sick, and the journals…”
My jaw tightened. “Guess she told you everything, then.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Jess sighed.
Hearing her tone, I stopped walking and turned to face her. The moonlight caught her features, illuminating the furrow of her brow and the slight pout of her lips.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice softer now.
She looked up at me, her eyes glistening with emotion. “I wish you would have told me,” she whispered, her voice so quiet it was almost carried away by the breeze.
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I blinked, caught off guard by her words. For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. Then, I cupped her cheek, my thumb brushing against her soft skin.
“Jess, babe, understand this,” I said, my voice steady. “That whole time I was on the island, I was thinking of you. There’s nothing to tell because it all brought me back to you—that’s it.”
Her lips parted, and I could see the way my words sank in, softening her expression.
“I don’t need to process anything or make peace with what happened,” I continued, my thumb moving to trace the curve of her jaw. “I found my peace the moment I got to hold you again.”
Mleaned in, kissing her slowly, deeply. Her body melted against
mine like she was made to fit there, her hands gripping my shirt as if to ground herself.
When I lifted her off the ground, she let out a startled squeal, her arms wrapping around my neck. “Luke! Put me down! I’m pregnant!”
“Not a chance,” I said, shaking my head as I held her closer. “You weigh nothing, Jess. Let me take care of you.”
Her protests turned into laughter, and I carried her through the house, straight to our bedroom. Gently, I placed her on the bed, brushing her hair out of her face as she gazed up at me with wide, trusting eyes.
“Stay here,” I murmured, my lips brushing her forehead before I turned and walked to the bathroom.
I turned on the water, adjusting the temperature until it was just
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right, and watched as steam began to fill the room. The sound of the water was soothing, starkly contrasting the storm of emotions swirling in my chest. When the tub was full, I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the warm water.
“Jess,” I called softly.
She appeared in the doorway, her eyes roaming over me with a mixture of shyness and something deeper. Wordlessly, she let me help her out of her clothes, her movements hesitant but trusting.
When she stepped into the tub, I guided her to sit in front of me, letting her body slide down until her back rested against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close, her wet hair sticking to my skin as the warmth of the water surrounded
- us.
We just sat there for a while, the world outside fading away. I kissed her shoulder, letting the quiet moment settle between us.
“You’re safe,” I murmured against her skin. “With me, you’re always safe.”
She tilted her head back, looking up at me, her eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite put into words. I leaned down to kiss her again, slowly and deeply, pouring every ounce of love and gratitude into that kiss.
My arms snaked around her body, and Jess leaned back, eyes closed and breathing shallowly. “Luke… I ….” she murmured, but I shushed her. Stop worrying–you are the most beautiful thing on this planet and thin. I mean, nothing would ever make me think otherwise.“I whispered in her ear as my fingers inched closer to her inner thigh. I shifted so my arm could reach her
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thing, lifting it up and hooking it over the bathtub.
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“Just relax and enjoy.” I smiled against her head, and Jess did exactly that – melting into my touch as I massaged her inner thigh and skimmed my palms over her breasts.
“These… might just be my new favorite thing about you being pregnant,” I teased, circling a taught nipple and enjoying the sound of Jess moaning. When my fingers reached her sensitive bundle of nerves, she shifted beneath my palm, angling her hips for me to get better access, and then I made sure Jess found her release.
