“You must be feeling more normal,” she agreed, her mouth dry as she placed a large, warm towel across his upper body to keep him warm. She could feel Dan’s eyes on her, burning into her. Steeling herself, she went about her business of washing his right thigh. Both his hands were on the towel as if to keep it in place. He’d never done that before. But then, his erection hadn’t been full, thick, and long like it was right now. Sloan felt like jelly inside, remembering. Dan remembered, too. All she wanted to do was get away from him as soon as possible. He was such a sexual, sensual animal and then, as now, he affected her, made her want him. It was a connection they’d always shared, she tried to tell herself as she patted off his one leg, covering it up and then moving to the other side of his bed to wash the other one.
Dan was doing nothing to provoke any reaction from her. She was unable to even meet his eyes because she knew what she’d see in them. She was too much on the edge, a sex-starved woman who hadn’t had an orgasm in two years. No matter where she looked, she couldn’t disconnect with Dan’s quiet sensuality and powerful masculinity enveloping her.
“Thanks,” he murmured.
“You’re welcome,” she whispered, her heart pounding heavily in her chest. She tried to convince herself that to cave into her hunger for him sexually would somehow ruin any progress they’d been able to establish with one another.
“Just leave the stuff, I’ll wash myself.”
Dan sounded unaffected by what was going on between them. She knew, without a doubt, he felt her wanting him. The man was no fool.
“Yes, that’s fine.” She pushed the tray over to his right side so he could easily reach everything. “Call me when you’re done?”
“I will.”
She practically ran out of the room. In the kitchen, Sloan gripped the counter in front of the double sink. She was aching so much below that she didn’t know what to do. Running her fingers down her thigh, she moaned. Her jeans were damp. Dan had always made her feel like she needed sex—lots of it—hours of it. She had a fierce hunger that matched his. That’s why they were so good together. He satisfied her sharp cravings just as she did his. How was she going to last with Dan under her roof? Tomorrow would be a landmark day for Sloan. He was going to be able to go to the large bathroom and take a shower by himself. That was good. She wouldn’t have to keep touching him, washing him, feeling his muscles leap and tense as she ran her fingertips across them. No more towel tent to stare at, knowing how thick and long and hard he was beneath that innocent covering across his hips.
She moaned with despair as she opened her eyes and stared out of the kitchen windows. She’d made a terrible error in discounting their sexual lust for one another. Hers especially. Dan had been a gentleman. He never teased her or reached out to touch her in any way to let her know he wanted her. Was he being driven crazy too by them being in such close proximity to one another? Sloan felt as if the tables had been turned on her. She hadn’t expected to be so drawn to him, wanting him all over again just as she had four years earlier. No man loved her like Dan had, not before or since he’d walked out of her life. It was a terrible price she was paying. Her body had become a traitor to her even if she had compassionate intentions of helping Dan, of giving him that second chance he’d begged her for at the Red Sea.
*
“It’s ready for you,” Sloan called, standing in the doorway to Dan’s bedroom the next morning. She’d slept poorly and had erotic dreams all night about him loving her.
Dan nodded and said, “Do you know how nice it is to be able to get out of this damned hospital bed and not be imprisoned with that IV?”
She smiled sympathetically. “It’s tough,” she agreed. “How’s your pain level holding?” Since yesterday, he’d been on a pain pill tablet instead of an IV running in his veins twenty-four hours a day.
“I’m okay,” he said. “You sure this waterproof bandage will hold?”
“Positive.”
Nodding, he said thickly, “I’m going to enjoy standing under a hot shower and washing my hair…my body…”
“You start learning to appreciate the little things in life again, that’s for sure.” She heard the sudden emotion in his voice, the gratefulness, and she wanted to embrace him. Maybe he really was changing. Hope rose in her, right along with her need of him sexually.
Dan slowly sat up. Earlier, Sloan had placed his robe on the end of the bed for him. She’d also loosened the three ties to his gown so he could take it off when he wanted. She watched him closely because it was important he didn’t overdo it too soon. She was almost disappointed that he wasn’t semi-erect today. It was then that she realized he was naked as he sat up, his back toward her. Swallowing in a gulp, Sloan thought he’d wear the robe over his gown. Dan started to struggle as he lifted his left arm.
“Wait,” she pleaded, hurrying into the room, “don’t keep reaching upward. You could harm yourself.” She came around the bed, and as he lowered his arm, she slid the robe sleeve over his hand and brought it gently up and over his shoulder. “There,” she breathed worriedly as she drew the edge of the robe across his naked upper body. Dan couldn’t bend over yet or lean down with his wound. He was fully erect. Her whole lower body glowed with heat and desire at that moment as she stared down at him. She was so close to him; she could reach out and twine her fingers around his cock, feel his satiny warm length, his hardness. Sloan dragged in a jerky breath. With effort, she got the robe closed and the sash lightly tied around his waist. Stepping back, that gnawing ache was ramping up until she was almost in pain, she watched him slowly slide off the bed. Dan was a large man physically, and the last thing she wanted was for him to get light headed and faint. He stood there for a good minute, hand gripping the side of the mattress, getting his bearings.
Once she had turned on the faucets to the shower and gotten it to the temperature he wanted, Sloan made sure everything was easily within his reach. Dan would not, at this point in his healing, be able to bend down or twist sideways. “Do you want me to wash your back?” she asked, watching him slowly untie the sash. The folds of the robe slid open, his erection standing proud for both of them to see. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen Dan naked. Still, she couldn’t meet his eyes.
“That would be nice,” he rumbled. “Can I call you when I’m ready?”
Ready? If he’d given the least hint he wanted her in that shower with him, she no longer had the strength to turn down such a request. His jaw was set, and she saw lust in his eyes, standing powerfully before her.
“I’ll leave the door open,” she said, and turned around and left.
Sloan leaned against the wall, near the opened door. She wanted Dan to touch her, suck her. She felt unmoored, floating, a big ball of lust begging to be played with and teased. She wanted Dan to ease that awful pressure she felt in her lower body.
So lost in her own hunger, she lost track of time until she heard Dan call out.
“You can come in and wash my back now.”
“Coming…”
Coming. Oh yes, she wanted to come. The glass-enclosed shower was steamed up, Dan’s naked body barely visible in the fog. She grabbed a dry washcloth and opened the shower door. His back was to her. He had the most beautiful ass she’d ever seen on a man. It was tight and thickly muscled. She gulped, tearing her gaze from those cheeks. Hurriedly, she washed his back, starting at his shoulders and working her way downward.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, focusing on scrubbing his back.
“Really good,” he rumbled. “Better than I thought I would. Damn, this hot water makes me feel halfway human.”
“Good,” she whispered. Quickly rinsing him, she stepped back. “Do you need help getting out?”
“Naw, I’ll be okay. You can go. I feel so good that I’m going to dry myself off and try to climb into those clothes you left out for me. I’d like to get the hell out of that gown and robe.”
“Don’t overdo,” she cautioned. “Call me if you need me.”