“Goofy.” He laughed, settled back, and tucked me into his side. “Reem, hurry up and get us home.”
Being back home felt so good. The living room was a mess, but I didn’t expect anything less. I dropped my bags at the door and kicked off my shoes, untying my hair as I went.
He came up behind me, Cadence still knocked out against his shoulder and pressed a kiss to the side of my neck.
“Go shower,” he whispered. “I’ll lay her down and clean up our mess.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice.
I put on an R&B playlist, stripped down to nothing, and stepped under the water. I stayed under the water until the airports, time zones, and years of bracing came off me, or close enough. By the time I got out, the house was quiet. He’d put our girl to bed without an issue.
I wrapped a towel around myself, twisted my hair up, and headed out of the bathroom.
Ducane was already under the covers, that muscular chest on full display. So damn fine it wasn’t even fair.
“You can put something else on if you want,” I said, reaching for my body oil, letting my towel drop to the floor.
“Yeah.” His eyes moved down my body, gradually. “I plan to.”
“Behave.” I uncapped my Naked Aromas Lemon Juniper body oil and poured a little into my palm. The scent bloomed through the room. I felt the lingering pieces of my day melt off me as I worked it into my arms, my shoulders, and my chest.
I was so focused on my after-shower routine, I didn’t hear him get up.
His hands found me from behind, settling at my waist for a second before they tightened, pulling me back until my spine rested against his chest.
I paused to give him some attention or just bask in his attention on me.
“Nah.” His voice settled against the back of my neck. “Don’t stop.”
His nose skimmed the side of my neck before he pressed a kiss there.
“Keep going.”
I smiled to myself and bent forward again, working the oil into my legs. His hands never left my body as he massaged and kneaded the oil that was already on my skin. I fought the urge to moan, but it slipped out anyway.
Our eyes locked in the mirror.
“I missed seeing ordinary shit like this,” he murmured, his chin settling against my shoulder.
“Well...look who showed back up.” I winked at him through the mirror.
“Did I not show you and her enough attention on the island? Still greedy.”
He shook his head. His hands drifted along my thighs before settling over the stretch marks across my stomach. His jaw loosened, and his mouth curved into a grin.
“These are beautiful.”
I covered my stomach with my hand.
“Don’t start.” He gently moved my hand away. “Why you hiding?”
“Cadence called me a zebra once, and I haven’t liked them since,” I laughed.
“Well, I do.”
I caught his eyes in the mirror. Heat crept up my neck, and I looked away first.
“Thank you, Sugar Cane.”