Silken Desires Read Online Free PDF Page A

to.”
    “Then stay.” She rose and removed her shirt
and bra.
    He stopped her. “Let me. Bending over might
not feel good for your head.” He knelt and slipped her pants and
underwear from her waist. Something he’d done thousands of times
before, but this was the most gentle he’d ever treated her, and
there was nothing sexual about it.
    He walked her to the tub and when she lifted
her foot she wobbled and grabbed hold of his forearm. “Maybe this
isn’t a good idea.” He patted her hand.
    “No, I want to.” Roxi gave his arm a
reassuring squeeze, and then let go.
    He pulled his shirt from over his head and
tossed it to the floor. Then he unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans.
Her fingers stroked at her throat while she watched. “The only way
you’re going in is if I help you.” He dropped his pants to the
floor and stepped out of them. Already barefoot, he stepped into
the tub and held a hand out to Roxi. It wasn’t awkward for him, and
it felt like the most natural thing to do.
    They settled in the tub enveloped in the
fresh scent of raspberry bath suds. Roxi slid her body in between
his legs, and he pulled her back against his chest. Taking her body
wash and a washcloth, he began to bathe her. As he tended to her
back, he noticed thin lines of white scars. His heart pounded hard
against his rib cage while alarms sounded in his head. He knew
those marks; he’d seen them before in the club. He’d save that
inquiry for a time when she felt better. It was too deep of a
conversation to get into.
    When he was done he reached for the handheld
sprayer and set the water to warm. “Lean your head back just a
little.” He wet her hair and gently massaged her shampoo in, and
rinsed it out. Then he used conditioner on her because he knew
without it, it would be difficult to brush through her thick head
of hair. She winced as he gently rubbed her scalp on the injured
side of her head, but she didn’t protest.
    He towel dried them both, wrapped her in a
huge terrycloth robe, and then he put his clothes back on. “Blow
dry?”
    She shook her head and picked up a hair
brush. She gasped and tears began to form on her lower lid as she
brushed through her hair, the brush skimming her bruised scalp. He
stood close by and watched until she finished.
    Leaving the bathroom Roxi headed for the
bed. “No ma’am.” Placing his hand on her lower back he led her to
the dining area. “You should try to eat a little something. How’s
your stomach?”
    She hesitated as if in thought. “I think
it’s all right.”
    He made them toast with a little jam and a
hot cup of tea. He sat across from her at the dining room table and
ate while he watched her every move. She seemed to be doing well,
and his muscles eased up a little. He hadn’t realized he had been
so tense. His body ached despite the warm soak in the tub.
    She stood and lifted her plate and cup.
    “Here let me get that for you.” He rushed
over and relieved her of the dishes, and took them to the kitchen.
When he returned she was right where he left her. Her eyelids were
droopy with sleep and she yawned.
    Jonathan took her hand. “Come let’s sit on
the couch and let your stomach settle before you take a nap.”
    They settled in on the couch and the skin of
her arm brushed against his. She felt cold. He grabbed the throw
from nearby and covered them both with it. “TV?” he asked.
    She reached up to touch her head, and
squinted. “No, I’d rather not.”
    He repositioned them so he could put his
feet on the couch and he pulled her between his legs letting her
rest against his chest. “This is nice,” he murmured.
    “Mmhmm.” She purred.
    “Is there anything you need to get done in
the next few days?” He pulled the blanket tightly around her body.
“I cleared my schedule all week so I can run errands for you if
needed, but I’m not leaving you alone for a minute. Not until I
know that you’ll be fine. I checked your calendar and I don’t see
anything