Page 108 of Reset

“I wasn’t going to say…” Ryan smiled cheekily.

He toed off his borrowed shoes before slipping his jeans and boxers down his legs.

Sweet heavens, she was going to faint!

“You seem to be a bit stalled there, babe. Let me help. Otherwise, we’re never getting to bed.” He stepped in front of her, all muscle and man.

“You are so beautiful,” she sighed, her hand going to his chest. It was warm, and solid, and oh so tempting under her touch.

Crouching, Ryan carefully removed the shoes he’d given her. “Please, don’t ever say that in front of the guys. Men aren’t beautiful, they’re handsome or rugged. Yeah, I like rugged. Use that.”

Sarah stroked her fingers through his hair as he undid her skirt, letting the abomination fall to the floor.

He sucked in a breath as his hands rested on her well-padded hips. “Now, you we can call beautiful. Or voluptuous.” He hooked his fingers into her underpants and dragged them down thighs that hadn’t seen a gap since she was a toddler. “Lush is another good word for you. And Rubenesque.” He grinned at her as he stood. “Bet you didn’t think I knew that one.”

Oh, what the hell, she was going to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe he genuinely thought her rounded body was perfect.

While he got rid of her bra, she stroked his cheek. “I think you know all the right words,” she said.

“Until you’re naked.” His hands cupped her breasts, making her sigh into his touch. “Then I forget how to speak.”

“You’re doing okay right now,” she pointed out.

“Only because you’re too tired to do anything else, and I’m being chivalrous. I can totally get why chivalry died out.” His thumbs brushed her nipples, sending tingles straight south. “Shower. Bed. Everything else later.”

Seeing as she could hardly keep her eyes open, Sarah was in no position to object.

The shower was big enough for several people, with two wide rain-making heads above them and two smaller detachable showerheads at right angles to them. It was like stepping into a tropical storm. The water pressure was so strong, it felt like it was massaging her aching muscles. Unable to stop herself, Sarah’s eyes closed as she drifted to the beat of the water.

Hands found her hair, and gentle fingers massaged exotically scented shampoo into her scalp. Sarah leaned back against Ryan, reveling in the feel of his bare skin against hers.

“I could get used to this,” she moaned as he rinsed her hair before carefully adding conditioner.

“So could I,” he said.

He reached past her for the shower gel and Sarah complained, although not very enthusiastically, she’d admit.

“I can wash myself,” she said.

“Let me.” It was a purring temptation she was helpless to resist.

All she could do was stand there, halfway between reality and heaven, as Ryan softly soaped and rinsed her body. There was a reverence in his touch that brought tears to her eyes. Sarah honestly didn’t think she’d ever felt so cared for.

“I should have taken better care of you,” he said as he traced a bruise on her shoulder.

“You took the best care of me, considering it wasn’t your job anyway. We’re both banged up, which means I didn’t take the best of care of you either.”

“Hey, don’t ruin my macho fantasies. It’s my job to do the caring.” His eyes were twinkling as he turned the water off, making Sarah wish they could have stayed under it. But seeing as she was already falling asleep, that wasn’t a good idea.

Grabbing an oversized white towel, Ryan wrapped her in it. It was so thick and fluffy it felt like being enfolded in a hug. Would it be terrible of her to steal the towel? Probably best if she found out if the gift shop stored them first.

Even though she insisted she didn’t care about going to bed with damp hair, Ryan dried it for her. In a way that only people without naturally curly hair would do it. Come morning, she’d look like she was wearing a clown wig. Still, he was sweet to do it.

Julia had set out night clothes for them, but they were too tired to bother. Instead, Ryan lifted her into bed and brought the comforter over her. Bliss. Pure bliss. She was floating on a cloud of Egyptian cotton, and she never wanted to come back to earth.

When Ryan climbed into the other side of the wide bed, he reached for the lamp to switch it off.

Sarah rushed to stop him. “No, please, leave it on.”