right.
Then he upended a bottle of vanilla-scented bath foam and squeezed out a generous amount, the liquid immediately exploding into white, soapy suds beneath the pressure of the faucet.
The tub was big enough that it looked like it belonged in a spa. And it had one step leading up to it. I stood on that step, and Liam held my hand when I stepped into the tub.
The heat of the water tingled against my skin, and immediately I felt the velvety smoothness of the foam.
I hissed and groaned as I settled down into the water, which sloshed against the smooth porcelain bulkheads of the tub.
Just the heat alone felt incredible on my overtaxed muscles, and soon I settled down into the reclined position the slope of the tub offered.
The heat and the smell relaxed me so much that I'd nearly fallen asleep when I felt Liam sit on the edge. He had a tall flute of white wine in one hand, which he placed on a small, flat table beside the tub apparently made for just such a service. "Are you ready?"
"There's more?" I said.
He thumbed a marble-accented button between the hot and cold knobs. A motor buried somewhere in the room hummed to life.
Then the jets started. There was one pointed at the small of my back. The sudden pressure made me groan again.
"Careful, sexy sounds like that will make me want you again," Liam said.
I replied with a moan. The jets whipped the suds into an even creamier, fine, and opaque foam. All I could smell was a light and refreshing vanilla scent.
"I've died and gone to heaven," I said, "That's the only explanation."
"The only explanation for what?" He dipped his hands into the water, swirling his fingers in the warmth. The man could have asked me anything at that moment and I'd have told him. He could have for anything at that moment and I'd have been unable to say anything but yes.
"For you. For this bath. For today."
"Well, the Vatican and the Pope are here in Rome. I suppose that's as close to heaven a person can actually get to here on Earth."
"I've always loved Rome," I said, sinking deeper into the water. It enveloped my shoulders with its warm embrace while the jets wrung every ounce of soreness from my muscles.
"It really is an amazing place. Tell me, Emma, if you could do anything, what would it be?"
In my relaxed state, the question easily slipped past all my guards. I smiled at a sudden recollection. "I'd open a little cafe near one of the museums and call it the Roamin' Roman."
Liam groaned at the awful pun, shaking his head. "That sounds like a nice place."
I couldn't help but giggle at his reaction. "Yeah, I know. My dad always laughed at that one, too."
The words had slipped out before I could stop them. All of a sudden, that levy I'd been doing my best to hold up burst, flooding my mind with all the memories from the last year.
They quickly sank down into my chest and stomach, squeezing around my heart and twisting my innards.
I wasn't ready for them. Not yet.
Just like that, I wanted to leave Rome again. Once more, I hated the place I used to love and dream about visiting.
I sat up fast and hard enough that water and suds sloshed up over the lip of the tub. Pressure pushed at the back of my eyes.
Already, a look of surprised concern fixed itself on Liam's face. No, he can't see me like this. Not like this, I thought. I tried to stand, tried to push him aside so that he couldn't see me when I cried.
"Emma, what is it?" he said.
I tried to get out, but started falling back. This time, he caught me. He pulled me closed, wrapping his arms around me, not caring about how I soaked him or how the bath foam dripped down off me onto his khakis.
At first I just wanted to get free and run away, but he wouldn't let go. Then I clutched him, pushing my cheek against his chest when the sobs threatened to wrack my body.
Despite his confusion, he stroked the back of my head, whispering to me that everything was okay.
I didn't know how long I held onto him like that. Long enough for my
Then he upended a bottle of vanilla-scented bath foam and squeezed out a generous amount, the liquid immediately exploding into white, soapy suds beneath the pressure of the faucet.
The tub was big enough that it looked like it belonged in a spa. And it had one step leading up to it. I stood on that step, and Liam held my hand when I stepped into the tub.
The heat of the water tingled against my skin, and immediately I felt the velvety smoothness of the foam.
I hissed and groaned as I settled down into the water, which sloshed against the smooth porcelain bulkheads of the tub.
Just the heat alone felt incredible on my overtaxed muscles, and soon I settled down into the reclined position the slope of the tub offered.
The heat and the smell relaxed me so much that I'd nearly fallen asleep when I felt Liam sit on the edge. He had a tall flute of white wine in one hand, which he placed on a small, flat table beside the tub apparently made for just such a service. "Are you ready?"
"There's more?" I said.
He thumbed a marble-accented button between the hot and cold knobs. A motor buried somewhere in the room hummed to life.
Then the jets started. There was one pointed at the small of my back. The sudden pressure made me groan again.
"Careful, sexy sounds like that will make me want you again," Liam said.
I replied with a moan. The jets whipped the suds into an even creamier, fine, and opaque foam. All I could smell was a light and refreshing vanilla scent.
"I've died and gone to heaven," I said, "That's the only explanation."
"The only explanation for what?" He dipped his hands into the water, swirling his fingers in the warmth. The man could have asked me anything at that moment and I'd have told him. He could have for anything at that moment and I'd have been unable to say anything but yes.
"For you. For this bath. For today."
"Well, the Vatican and the Pope are here in Rome. I suppose that's as close to heaven a person can actually get to here on Earth."
"I've always loved Rome," I said, sinking deeper into the water. It enveloped my shoulders with its warm embrace while the jets wrung every ounce of soreness from my muscles.
"It really is an amazing place. Tell me, Emma, if you could do anything, what would it be?"
In my relaxed state, the question easily slipped past all my guards. I smiled at a sudden recollection. "I'd open a little cafe near one of the museums and call it the Roamin' Roman."
Liam groaned at the awful pun, shaking his head. "That sounds like a nice place."
I couldn't help but giggle at his reaction. "Yeah, I know. My dad always laughed at that one, too."
The words had slipped out before I could stop them. All of a sudden, that levy I'd been doing my best to hold up burst, flooding my mind with all the memories from the last year.
They quickly sank down into my chest and stomach, squeezing around my heart and twisting my innards.
I wasn't ready for them. Not yet.
Just like that, I wanted to leave Rome again. Once more, I hated the place I used to love and dream about visiting.
I sat up fast and hard enough that water and suds sloshed up over the lip of the tub. Pressure pushed at the back of my eyes.
Already, a look of surprised concern fixed itself on Liam's face. No, he can't see me like this. Not like this, I thought. I tried to stand, tried to push him aside so that he couldn't see me when I cried.
"Emma, what is it?" he said.
I tried to get out, but started falling back. This time, he caught me. He pulled me closed, wrapping his arms around me, not caring about how I soaked him or how the bath foam dripped down off me onto his khakis.
At first I just wanted to get free and run away, but he wouldn't let go. Then I clutched him, pushing my cheek against his chest when the sobs threatened to wrack my body.
Despite his confusion, he stroked the back of my head, whispering to me that everything was okay.
I didn't know how long I held onto him like that. Long enough for my
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