Easy Nights (Boudreaux #6)

She waves as they leave. Over the next fifteen minutes, the rest of them leave, giving Mallory and Beau extra hugs of congratulations.

“You’re next,” Gabby says to me with a wink, but I just shrug. I tell my sisters everything, but I haven’t been strong enough to tell them that.

Mallory hugs me and pauses as her arms close around me. Finally, she whispers in my ear, “Some children are born from the heart, not the body. Remember that.”

I have to bite my lip to keep from crying as she steps away and lets Beau lead her out of the house.

When everyone is gone, I sit on the couch with a long, gusty sigh. “I love them all so much it hurts. But dear Moses, that’s a lot of strong personality in one room.”

“I’m always exhausted after family gatherings,” Ben says.

“Come sit with me and tell me what happened to your face.” I pat the seat next to mine, and he complies, pulling me against him and kissing my temple.

“It was just a weird mugging outside of the studio.”

“A what?” I frown up at him and can’t resist reaching up to touch the cut on his lip. “That looks painful.”

“It is a bit painful,” he admits. “I don’t know who they were. They didn’t try to mug me, they just wanted to beat me up. Got a few swings in before Ethan came outside and then they ran. I think it was plotted by an ex of one of the girls in Shelly’s class.”

I frown. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“It didn’t feel great either.”

“Not just that. Did you consider that the men who abused those women might come to take revenge on you?”

“Not until now.” He drags his finger under the hem of my shirt, touching my bare skin. “My main focus was getting you in a class, and helping other women who had been hurt as well.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. “Being there every week has done wonders for me.”

“And for others, too. I should have considered the possibility that I’d be pissing off some husbands and boyfriends.”

“I guess it’s just a part of the territory.”

He nods thoughtfully.

“Ethan suggested that we put in some security cameras outside, and I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”

“Did you get some shots in on them too?”

“No, there were four of them.”

“What?” I sit up straight, staring at him in surprise. “Jesus, Ben, they could have killed you.”

“Now you’re just insulting me.” He cocks an eyebrow and I can’t help but chuckle.

“This isn’t funny. Don’t make me laugh.”

“I know, it isn’t funny.”

I lean back into him, and he winces. I lift the side of his shirt and suck in a breath at the sight of a big black bruise there. My eyes find his.

“Looks like one of them got in a good shot to my ribs.”

“I think you should soak in some Epsom salts,” I inform him. “I have some.”

“Only if you soak with me.”

“No distracting me with sex, mister. You’re hurt.”

“Trust me when I say, I’m never too hurt to want to be inside of you, Savannah.”

I blink rapidly, not sure how to reply to that, so I just stand and walk quickly up to my master bathroom. I turn on the hot water in the tub, dump in about a cup of the Epsom salts and turn to find Ben leaning against the doorjamb, his muscular arms crossed over his chest, watching me intently.

“See something you like?”

He nods twice.

“The bath?”

He shakes his head no.

“The Epsom salts?”

No again. Finally, he walks to me and turns me to face the mirror. He stands behind me and leans in to kiss my neck, sending a chain reaction of shivers through me.

“I loved the way you just leaned over the tub,” he whispers.

“Yep, you’re a man.”

His gaze finds mine in the mirror as he starts stripping me out of my clothes.

“You’re the one who’s supposed to be getting naked,” I inform him, but don’t try to stop him when he pulls my shirt over my head.

“It’s way more fun when we’re both naked, Angel.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

After quickly stripping out of his clothes, we both get into the bath, leaning against opposite corners and watching the other. He sinks down and closes his eyes, and I follow suit.

“This feels so good,” I whisper. “I don’t take enough baths.”

“I’ll run you one every night if you like,” he murmurs. I open my eyes to find him watching me lazily, but the intense look in his gaze makes my pussy pulse in attention.

“That sounds nice.”

His lips twitch and he reaches for my foot, digs his thumb into my arch, and makes me moan in pleasure.

“Speaking of nice things.”

“Moan like that again and I’ll fuck you here in the tub.”

My eyes snap open at his gruff, sexy tone. He’s watching his own hands rub up and down my calf, then back to my foot. His hands are just…magic. Pure sexy magic.

“So I called your tattoo guy.” I’m leaning back against the tub, my eyes closed, enjoying the hot water and Ben’s amazing fingers on my body.

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” Dear fucking hell, don’t stop rubbing my calf like that. “I rescheduled my appointment for tomorrow afternoon.”

He doesn’t say anything in response, so I open one eye so I can see him. There’s a crease between his eyebrows from concentrating on his task at hand.

“Did you hear me?”

“I did.”

“Will you go with me? Please?”

His eyes roam up my body, skimming over every curve, until they find mine.

“I thought you said that you didn’t want me to see you get it?”

“I did say that.” I sink down farther into the hot water. “But I changed my mind. I’m allowed to do that.”

“Yes, ma’am. What time?”

“Two.”

He switches to my other foot, and part of me feels a little guilty. He’s the one who got beat up tonight, and I’m the one getting pampered.

“I can take you,” he says. “Would you like to go visit my mom with me before? I’d like to look in on her and see how Sally’s doing with her.”

“I would love that.”

“Deal.”

We’re quiet for a long while. Just the sound of the water fills the room as Ben continues to massage my foot and leg, until finally, I just can’t stand it anymore.

I need him.

Right now.

He’s surprised when I pull my foot away, and then his eyes heat up when I move over to him, not giving even one fuck that some water splashes over the rim of the tub, and straddle him. My hands roam up his arms and shoulders and I settle myself down, pressing against the length of his already hard cock.

“I hate that you were hurt tonight,” I whisper against his lips. “I’m trying to take care of you, but instead you’re sharing your bath with me and rubbing my feet.”

“No one’s keeping score, Angel.”