“Stop saying it’s nothing.”
“An asshole at school. It’s done.” I could feel my voice shaking, my eyes brimming. I wasn’t going to cry, not in front of him. And I didn’t want to talk about this, about how frightened I’d felt just a few minutes ago when Billy texted. About how exhausted I was. I just wanted to screw someone who wouldn’t ask questions. I wanted to go to sleep and wake up and pretend none of this had happened. Tomorrow would be a new day.
“I hope he looks worse than you do.”
I laughed bitterly, choking back tears. “I took his clothes and his phone and wallet when I left. I threw them in the trash.” It seemed stupid that was all I had done.
“Good girl,” he said. Then I felt tears roll down my cheeks, hot against my skin, and I couldn’t stop them. It was like a dam bursting, and I couldn't stop crying, and then his arms were around me, pulling me against his chest, my face pressed to him as I sobbed. His lips on the top of my head, he stroked my hair, silent. I cried until I had nothing left, until I was leaning against him, depleted.
He would think I was an idiot, some weak immature little girl running away from her douchebag boyfriend. I sniffed, trying to stop the snot from running down my face. I was completely humiliated. That was twice today I’d cried, the second time in years. And the second time in front of him. Blaze. It was mortifying. I covered my nose with my finger. Gross.
“I’m not usually like this.”
“It’s fine,” Blaze whispered, still holding me.
“I think I got snot on your chest.”
“It’ll wash off.”
“I’m a mess.” I sniffled again. I had to look horrific. Puffy eyes, snotty nose, bruised neck-totally attractive. I bet this guy was really glad he had turned around and come back here for this.
“Beautiful,” he said. He kissed my forehead, then my temple, then my cheekbone, his finger under my chin, tilting my head up. I closed my eyes, too ashamed to look at him. “Open your eyes.”
Forcing my eyes open, I looked at him, the intimacy almost too overwhelming. It was funny how I could feel intimate with him, this total stranger whose real name I didn’t even know, as if he knew me.
“You’re beautiful,” he said again. He kissed my earlobe, then behind my ear, then the side of my neck, gently, tenderly, down to the places I knew were bruised. I tensed up, his touch bringing Billy’s image to my head. He stopped, taking my hand.
“Come on,” he said. “Your water is getting cold.”
I nodded mutely, following him to the bathroom, where I blew my nose. “Attractive, right? I bet this is exactly what you were hoping for when you came here tonight.”
“More than what I’d hoped for,” Blaze said. He kissed me again, and I melted into him. I didn’t want to think anymore. “Here,” he said, guiding me toward the tub as he slipped off his boxers. He was hard as a rock already and he looked at me sheepishly as he saw glance down at his cock. “Sorry,” he said. “I can’t help it. Even with snot dripping out of your nose, you’re still hot.”
“You sure you don’t want to go in -”
“Hush,” he said. “Get in the tub. I’m getting in with you. I can’t guarantee I won’t stick it to you while we’re in there, but…”
I laughed. “A biker who likes a bubble bath?”
“Shut up and get inside.”
I stepped in, and he slid behind me, pulling me down to rest on him, my back against him. He wrapped his arms around my chest, and I could feel his hardness pressing against my ass cheeks, and heat radiated through my belly. I wriggled against him, against his stiffness, and he stopped me.
“No,” he said. “Not yet.”
I lay back, my head on his chest, listening to his breathing and to the music on the stereo. I closed my eyes, not moving. I wanted him to take me, to erase my embarrassment about what had just happened, to demonstrate that I was still attractive. It wasn’t rational, and I knew it wasn’t the healthiest thing ever. But that’s what I wanted. I forced myself to relax, to ignore the throbbing of my *, to focus on the warmth of the water. I needed to avoid thinking about having his cock inside me.
I felt Blaze stir, reaching for a bath sponge and bringing it slowly down my arms, first one then the other. His breath was on my ear, and I inhaled sharply as he brushed the sponge over the tops of my mounds, then pushed it into the water, circling my breasts. He touched his hand to my nipples, and they hardened. I moaned softly, my * beginning to tingle in the warmth of the water. I could feel him beneath me, hard, and I wanted him inside me.
Blaze slid the bath sponge down my stomach, between my legs, and I groaned, pushing my head back against him. He nuzzled my neck, kissing me gently, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up in response to his touch. He let go of the bath sponge, cupping my breasts in his hands, and I reached down for his cock, but he moved my hand.