Chapter 32
Joanna
I listened to the sound of water rushing in the bathroom while guilt washed over me. Even if I didn’t want to think about it, I knew Bastian was right. I had to do something or else it would never stop. Ever. You have to stop it yourself.
A part of me coiled back in fear because of the repercussions of talking to someone above Sid’s head. I couldn’t vocalize to Bastian that there was a chance it would make everything that much worse if I talked to someone about it.
I had taken another risk tonight by leaving with Bastian when I knew without a doubt that Sid would arrive at my mother’s house expecting an answer. I chewed on the inside of my cheek anxiously while I listened to Bastian shuffle about in the bathroom. His driver would keep an eye out for Sid, but I needed more time to convince my mother that she shouldn’t trust Sid. I needed to buy an extra day or two.
Grabbing the phone my mother had gotten me from inside my purse, I let out a relieved breath to see no missed phone calls or text messages. I knew without a doubt that Sid would’ve texted me to let me know if he knew I had left. Being silent wasn’t a part of Sid’s personality.
I scrolled down to the number he had put into my phone before leaving.
I need an extra day to think about everything. I’ll let you know my answer.
I stared down at my text message with a pounding heart. I hadn’t wanted to risk texting Sid back at home with Bastian there with me. I held my breath as I watched the delivered message immediately turn into read at 11:02 p.m. Three dots pulled up as Sid texted his response.
My fingers trembled while I waited for the reply.
“You coming in for a bath?” Bastian called out from the bathroom. “It’s nearly done in here.”
“Be there in a minute,” I managed to say in an even voice.
My phone vibrated. One more day. That’s all you have.
Twenty-four hours was all I had left to figure out what I wanted to do. I erased the message quickly before placing my phone back in my purse. For now, though, I had a few hours to just enjoy Bastian’s company after missing him desperately for the past few days.
Steam rushed out when I opened the bathroom door. After quickly closing it behind me, I found Bastian standing next to the tub shirtless and shoeless. I let my gaze settle on the strong muscles of his back while he leaned over the edge of the tub to twist the faucet off. He turned to face me then with an arched eyebrow.
“What were you doing out there?” he asked.
I gladly slid out of my shoes at the sight of a hot bubble bath once the steam cleared out a bit. Soaking in hot water sounded sinfully good at that moment. It was also clear that Bastian had every intention of doing the same thing when he reached for the button on his pants to loosen the band around his waist.
“Nothing,” I said quickly. I didn’t want to talk about Sid anymore. Not for the next few hours at least. “I’m just ready to get in the bath is all.”
Bastian extended a hand to the tub as he watched me with darkened eyes that promised more than just a bath.
“You first,” he said huskily.
I started to strip free of my clothes with Bastian’s eyes watching me intently. Unlike the first night when I had stripped for him tipsily, I felt confident in my movements this time. It felt much more natural and erotic than the first time I had tried to seduce Bastian into being intimate with me. The desire to have him touch me certainly hadn’t changed however.
He held out a hand to help me climb into the hot water that smelled of vanilla bean. The bubbly water immediately soothed my aching muscles when I slipped in with a relieved sigh. I rested my head against the edge of the tub with my eyes closed.
The sound of Bastian’s pants hitting the floor filled the bathroom. The water rippled a moment later as he slipped in with an equally relieved groan.
“It feels so good to be here right now,” I murmured, letting my legs float out in front of me. The tub was big enough for us both to stretch out fully if we wanted.
“No kidding.”
Bastian’s fingers gripped my ankles as he tugged me in his direction. I let the water and bubbles trail through my fingers lazily before Bastian coaxed my legs to wrap around his trim waist. He helped me straighten up water trailing down my back from my now drenched hair. I nestled against him comfortably while we both floated in the bathtub that felt more like a private swimming pool.
“I really did miss you,” Bastian said quietly. “Don’t ever run out like that on me again.”
I rested my forehead against his with a sigh. “I’m sorry. I just thought it would be easier to leave to avoid both of us getting hurt.”
“I’m not a fan of getting hurt, either,” he said. “Both of us have to realize that at some point we will hurt each other. Not on purpose, of course.”
“Does that mean you have plans of sticking with me for a while then?”
“Absolutely, my darling.” His arms tightened around my waist. “I have no intention of ever letting you go.”
It was a funny thing. I recalled Sid saying the same thing to me months ago and how it had struck fear in me. Hearing it come from Bastian’s lips evoked an entirely different emotion. It made my heart skip with love because I didn’t want to let him go. I didn’t want him to let me go either.
“I love you,” I said.
Bastian’s eyes fastened onto mine and searched my expression for something. I let every emotion I felt display itself to him. No more lying or guarding myself. I wanted him to see that I was taking a risk by letting my guard down to let him in.
“I love you, too,” he said. “I’m sorry for everything I did. I should’ve told you what was going on.”
I smiled up at him while I adjusted my arms around his strong shoulders. “I know you were trying to protect me now. It doesn’t matter. Let’s just be honest about what is coming around the corner, okay?”
“That’s fine with me,” Bastian replied, smoothing a hand along my spine with a smile. “I’m just glad that you came back with me tonight.”
“It really was no-brainer to come with you. I didn’t want to go home in the first place because I had a feeling that Sid had managed to convince my mother you were the bad guy, not him.”
Bastian chuckled humorlessly. “I guess that means meeting your parents is out of the question then, huh?”
“I think once I go forward with talking to someone, they’ll see that I’m serious about what I told them. Right now she thinks that Sid is trying to protect me from you.”
“What a sick, fucked-up game he’s playing,” Bastian spat out. “I swear, there needs to be a warning sticker on that prick’s head about being a narcissist and sociopath. It should warn others that he’ll automatically manipulate them into believing his version of the story.”
“You’re right,” I said and pressed a kiss against his wet forehead. “Don’t worry about all of it right now. Let’s just forget about it for a little bit at least.”
He sucked in a deep breath to calm the anger that was steadily rising inside him. We sat there together for a long time with my legs and arms wrapped around him. Our lips occasionally brushed against one another’s in feather-light kisses before they molted into something fiery. It was a slow burn of passion that built between the two of us while our hands swept down to brush each other intimately.
The feeling of Bastian’s fingers sweeping along to cup my breasts tenderly, followed by cupping me gently between my legs, nearly drove me over the edge right there and then. I needed this man more than ever. The realization flashed through my mind as I pulled back to look down at Bastian. He opened his eyes in confusion.
I loved him. It wasn’t that girlish type of love I had once thought I’d felt for Sid. This was the real type of love that you read about in books and saw in movies. It was passionate, intense, and it burned every inch of me. I couldn’t push him away even if I tried to, even if I knew it would spare him his life, his business, his livelihood.
“Don’t think about it,” Bastian whispered, reading my thoughts with precision. “I’d give it up in a heartbeat to be with you. Don’t you even worry about any of that.”
I nodded, and my eyes hooded when he leaned up to kiss me again. Bastian’s kisses grew deeper and more dominating by the minute as he cradled me firmly against his rock-hard erection that pushed up against my belly. He lifted me up to sheath himself inside me with a sigh while gently rocking my hips the way he knew would feel good to both of us.
I clutched his shoulders uncertainly. Being on top had never been an option before, and I could see why. It gave me the power to control the pleasure and pace. Bastian leaned back against the side of the tub while he let me have control. He was willing to give up a bit of power to let me be in charge of our lovemaking. My heart soared at that while I rolled my hips up and down and pleasure rippled through me.
I kept it slow and steady with Bastian’s fingers digging into my hips. Higher and higher grew the sensation between the two of us. Reaching beneath the water, Bastian rubbed at me in gentle circles until my peak shot up through my spine. I tipped over the edge with a cry while Bastian’s fingers gripped my hips with more force. He thrust up into me with a grunt. Water spilled over the edge of the bath while shudders went through me. I could barely hang on while Bastian continued to thrust up into me out of desperation for his own release. He sank back against the edge of the tub when he finally reached that pinnacle of pleasure.
Exhaustion tugged at me as I slipped back into the now lukewarm water. Wordlessly, Bastian rose from the tub to drain it. He dried himself off quickly before extending a towel to me. I climbed out of the tub weakly, and he rubbed me dry before guiding me in the direction of the bedroom.
I curled up underneath the sheets and blankets with a sleepy yawn. Bastian climbed into the bed alongside me to wrap an arm around my waist. I was on the cusp of falling asleep when I heard the distinct sound of my phone vibrating in the living room. I held my breath anxiously, but Bastian didn’t utter a word. He was already fast asleep next to me in the bed.
There was no doubt in my mind who was calling me. I trusted Bastian, though, when he said that his driver would look out for my mom. Nothing bad would happen to her. I fell asleep, snuggled up in the protective circle of Bastian’s arms.