“I can’t stop, Gray,” she said, shaking her head. Meredith felt like if she lost momentum now, she’d never be able to muster the strength to pick up where they left off later.
He led them into his room and closed the door behind her. “You have to stop.” He walked her to the armchair in the corner, and she sat. “Don’t move, and for once, just don’t argue.”
For once, Meredith felt like she didn’t have the strength to argue. She stared at the ceiling, feeling as though it would crash on top of her any minute. She heard Gray turn on the taps in the bathroom, and she shut her eyes.
A moment later, she opened them to find him kneeling at her feet. “You always put everyone else ahead of yourself,” he said, reaching for the buttons of her coat. “Let me put you first.”
Her coat opened under his fingers, and he pulled it off her shoulders. Then he stood and took both her hands in his, bringing her easily to her feet.
“I’m afraid I don’t have bubble bath or anything like that,” he said softly.
The thought of him owning bubble bath made the beginnings of a smile curl on her lips. When he led her into his bathroom, she didn’t resist. She was done resisting. He motioned for her to sit on the edge of the tub, and she did so without a word.
He stepped over to the sink and came back with her hairclip in hand. “Don’t girls make a bun when they take a bath?”
Meredith nodded, and he nodded back.
“Turn around,” he said, making a twirling motion with his finger.
Meredith turned, and she felt him gather her hair at the base of her neck, smoothing and twisting it until he folded the snug knot up along the back of her head and secured it with her clip.
He knelt again and tugged off her left ankle boot before removing her right. Then Gray put his hands on his knees and looked up at her. “As much as I’d like to undress you and put you in that tub myself, I’m going to step out.” His voice was a rough whisper that made her insides quiver. “Mom’s going to take Oscar to Toys“R”Us if it’s okay with you.”
Her smile grew. “He’d like that.”
Gray smiled back. “So would she. I’ll go move his car seat into the Acura,” he said, standing. But then he turned back to the sink, picked up the small matchbook on the counter, and lit the tri-wicked candle Meredith was sure had never been used. He looked back at her. “Do me a favor and close the shower curtain when you get in so I can come back and talk to you in a little while.”
The prospect of such a conversation, Meredith naked and soaking in a hot bath, and Gray on the other side of a curtain, set her heart pounding hard in her chest.
“Okay.”
Before he stepped out, he bent down, shut off the water, and kissed her briefly — and innocently — on the top of her head. He turned and flipped the light switch, cloaking the bathroom in shadow and candlelight, the effect so calming, Meredith felt her body relax as if her muscles were already immersed in warm water. And then he was gone.
Meredith took her time undressing, listening to the sounds in the house and hearing Oscar’s excited voice as Dahlia told him about their outing. She stepped into the tub and moaned as she sank into the hot water, so deep it nearly reached her breasts.
Bending her knees and letting herself slide down until only her head and neck remained above the surface, Meredith gave a great sigh.
A bath. So simple. How did Gray know what she needed before she knew herself? In the hot water, her tensions and even her fears seemed to slip away. In the flickering light of the candle, nothing overwhelming loomed over her. She’d bathe, she’d dress, and she’d feel restored enough to help Gray with his manuscript. An hour’s delay would mean next to nothing if it gave her back as much strength as she could already feel returning to her.
She heard the kitchen door shut, and the house fell silent. On the edge of the tub, Gray had left a folded washcloth and a fresh bar of soap. She took the cloth, drenched and soaped it, and rubbed it over her face. She could feel that the lettering from her ill-timed nap had faded, and as she ran the washcloth down past her chin, she tested the tenderness of her lip. The swelling was completely gone, and only a pale bruise remained. This was likely because Gray had made her hold an ice pack against it in alternating intervals the night before.
He took such good care of her.
From the moment they’d met — even before she’d laid eyes on him — he’d treated her with care and kindness. But this was so much more than care and kindness.
“My love.”
His words came back to her with a quickening of her heart. She splashed water over her face and let herself soak.
Meredith already knew how she felt. Love had made her stay away from Gray while Oscar was sick. And love had made it impossible to go without seeing him during that spell, so she’d resorted to FaceTiming him as much as she could. Love, she knew, had saved her from Jamie’s attack, and love had kept her from choosing any other place but his until she and Brooke could move in together.
Did his words mean he felt the same?
She heard the kitchen door open and close again, and a moment later, a soft rapping sounded against the bathroom door.
“Meredith? May I come in?”
She’d drawn the curtain, leaving a gap of several inches, so she could still peek out into the bathroom. If he came in, he’d be able to see her face and little else. Not that Gray seeing her would be such a bad thing…