Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“You did so well, Butterfly,” he told her quietly. “Such a brave, beautiful girl.”
She leaned into Eli’s chest as Kellan continued to massage her head and Eli kept whispering to her about how amazing she was. How beautiful and stunning.
And how she was theirs.
Finally, she straightened and glanced up at Eli and then back at Kellan. Her cheeks were flushed but she didn’t look scared or worried.
In fact, she seemed almost happy.
That knot of tension in his stomach eased and he realized he hadn’t been entirely certain of her reaction.
“How was it?” Eli asked. “Too sore? I didn’t scare you? Did you feel safe?”
“I feel pretty good. Not sore or scared at all. I promise.”
“That’s good.” Eli held her face between his hands as he kissed her forehead “Now, we need to get that conditioner out of your hair and Kellan needs a shower because he stinks.”
“No, he doesn’t!” she protested.
He glared at Eli who just grinned. And Kellan could see that a weight had been lifted off his brother’s shoulders too. Eli slid out of the shower before he could retaliate.
He’d always been a slippery bastard.
“I’ll wash the conditioner from your hair,” he told her gruffly.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I’ll be really quick and get out of your way.”
“You’re not in my way. And I want to do it.” Surprisingly, he meant that. He really did want to do this for her. “I’m not very good at . . . intimate things. I don’t mean sex. I mean showing that I care about someone. Because I very rarely do. I love my family, of course. But I am not affectionate with them. I don’t demonstrate my feelings. But with you I recognize that I need to try and do that. So we’ll start with this and move forward.”
She turned to him. “I don’t want you to do anything you’re not happy with. If it makes you feel uncomfortable then you shouldn’t do it.”
“That’s not it. I want to. I’m just . . . unsure where to start. And that’s hard for me. Because I am used to always knowing what to do. I’m the person who tells everyone what to do when they can’t decide.”
“And are you always right?” she asked.
“Of course. Now, let’s wash this conditioner out, then Eli can get you dry and dressed.”
“You mean I get to leave the bed?” she asked. “You guys are admitting that you were wrong?”
“I will never admit to being wrong.” Kellan tapped her nose. Then he turned the shower back on and waited for it to warm up, testing it to make sure it wasn’t too hot or cold before he helped her tilt her head back so she didn’t get too wet.
“Do you need to wash anything else?” he asked as he rinsed her hair.
“No, but I’m going to need to buy a razor before I turn into a hairy beast,” she answered, surprising him.
He snorted. “I wouldn’t be too stressed. I don’t think anyone could mistake you for a beast.”
“You haven’t seen my legs after a few days of not shaving,” she joked. “Like sasquatch.” Then she looked a bit shocked and groaned. “I can’t believe I just said that. That’s really not something you say to a sexy, naked guy, is it?”
“I don’t care about a bit of hair on your legs,” he told her as he washed her hair, making sure there was no conditioner left.
“It’s a wonder you guys are single. You don’t seem worried about hairy legs or smelly breath.” She grinned up at him.
Such a brat.
“Go get dressed,” he told her gruffly. “I’ve got to get clean.”
“Aww, I don’t mind you dirty, you know.”
Kellan gave her a surprised look. “Are you flirting with me, Butterfly?”
“Am I doing a good job? I’ve never done it before. I’m probably crap at it.”
“Don’t say things like that about yourself,” he growled at her. “That will get you punished.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s a rule. No speaking badly about yourself.”
“Well, I didn’t know that!”
“Now you do.”
“Are there going to be many rules?” she asked.
He shrugged. “As many as there needs to be to keep you under control.”
31
To keep her under control?
Was he kidding her?
“Keep me under control?” she repeated. “Did you really just say that?”
“Yes, I did. Did you not hear me properly?” Kellan turned off the shower and stepped out before lifting her out.
Not that she needed to be lifted out. But these guys seemed to think she was made of glass.
Sometimes she kind of felt that way, she had to admit.
He started drying her off, but it was difficult when she was wearing a sopping wet shirt.
“Um, I can do it,” she said. “But I need something to wear.”
Kellan nodded. “Wait a moment.” He disappeared out of the bathroom and she quickly stripped off and wrapped the towel around herself.