Shanti drewher T-shirt over her head. “I’d rather have you join me.”
She dropped her shirt on the floor then unclipped the front clasp of her bra, the heat of Connor’s gaze making her nipples tighten. She dropped her bra, too, then reached for the bag that Mya had left them, taking out the robes—maroon for Connor and pink for her—and setting them on the bed. Then she carried the bag into the bathroom. She took out the toiletries, calling back to Connor. “There are toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, a comb, a towel, and—”
Warm skin pressed against her from behind, Connor’s naked erection hard against her lower back, his hands on her hips. “And?”
Her thoughts scattered, her breath catching. “A… a razor.”
“They thought of everything, didn’t they?”
“Yeah, except for condoms.”
Connor chuckled.
There was no shower stall, just a drain in the floor, but compared to bathing out of a bucket and under a freezing waterfall, it seemed a luxury.
Connor reached over, turned on the water, adjusted the temperature. They stepped under the spray together.
He peeled off the strips of moleskin he’d stuck to her shoulders where her handbag strap had rubbed her skin raw. “You’re bruised and scratched up.”
“That’s nothing. You’ve been shot.” Shanti carefully removed the bandages from his temple and his shoulder.
“What can I say? It’s been a rough week at the office.”
It hit Shanti again how close Connor had come to being killed—first on the helicopter and then near the river. “You’ll have scars because of me.”
“It’s not your fault, Shanti.”
Desire turned to tenderness, Shanti overwhelmed by all this big, beautiful man had done to keep her alive, standing between her and Naing’s army, putting his body and life on the line for her. Yes, it was his job, but that didn’t make what he’d done less dangerous—or less heroic.
While he washed his hair, she smoothed soap over his body from his shoulders to his toes, aroused by the feel of him—the strong beating of his heart, ridges of muscle, soft skin, the rasp of his body hair against her palms, the weight of his testicles, the hard length of his erection.
He rinsed away both shampoo and soap and then quickly shaved, his face ruggedly handsome. “That’s a relief. The damned stuff itches. Your turn.”
He took the soap from her, big hands moving gently over her breasts, her shoulders, her back, her bottom, her belly, her thighs, her calves, as if to smooth away the fear of the past few days, the concern on his face making her heart melt. “What have you done to me, Shanti? I can’t get enough of you.”
Excitement trilled through her.
He massaged shampoo into her hair, his fingers caressing her scalp, her nape, her temples, his touch both sensual and soothing.
She ducked her head under the spray to rinse the shampoo away, feeling truly clean for the first time since the morning she’d been abducted.
He turned off the water, and they stood for a moment, wet skin to wet skin, his muscles against her softness, the nearness making Shanti deliciously aware of the differences between them.
They dried each other with the towel. Then Shanti took his hand, led him to the small bed, and drew him down onto the mattress beside her.
Connor cupped her jaw with one hand, his gaze searching her face, the intensity in his eyes making her pulse skip. “Shanti.”
She was about to ask him what he was thinking when he claimed her mouth in a deep, demanding kiss.
Yes.
She slid her fingers into his damp hair and surrendered to him, long days of deprivation and worry melting away as his mouth plundered hers. She’d never met a man who kissed like this, tongue and lips and teeth a coordinated assault on her senses, the excitement stealing her breath, making her heart race.
He dragged his mouth from hers, his lips coming down on the sensitive skin of her throat, one big hand moving to cup her breast, his fingers finding her nipple.
She was already aroused from her shower, little darts of heat shivering through her, making her ache. “Oh, yes.”
He raised his head, looked down at her, the knowing smile on his wet lips and the lust in his eyes telling her he knewexactlywhat he was doing to her. “Remember, stay quiet. I don’t think monks are used to hearing women scream.”