It was on the tip of my tongue to deny everything. To shake my head and smile like I wasn’t gagging to tear his shirt off and ride him until that bridge between us was mended, until I knew for sure that I wasn’t the problem. But what came out was a small and desperate “Kiss me.”

There was a brief flicker of hesitation on Cair’s face, but it disappeared as fast as it had come. He wrung out the sponge he’d used to wash me and set it aside before reaching out. I sat up, tangling my fingers in the hair at his nape, and surged to meet his mouth before he even had the chance to get halfway. He made a startled sound in his throat, but recovered quickly, one of his hands coming to rest on my cheek as the other found my hip, squeezing gently.

I groaned against him, licking over the seam of his closed lips until they parted for my exploration. It was gratifying to hear Cair’s snarl at the first taste of me. Heat gathered in my belly as his fingers flexed against my hip and his tongue thrust forward, hot and seeking, like it was too intoxicating not to.

Growing bold, I trailed a hand from the back of his neck down to the deep vee in his shirt, my fingers dipping inside to brush bare skin. Cair drew back, breathing heavily, his jaw flexing in warning. “Luca…”

An involuntary shiver ran through me, the sound of him growling my name going straight to my cock. “I want you inside me,” I gasped against his lips, taking his hand in mine and slipping it under the water, pressing the heel of his palm to my hardness. “Do you feel how badly I need you? I’m aching, and so empty, I can’t stand it.”

Cair made a sound as if pained, shaking his head in weak protest. “It’s too soon.”

“No, no, it’s not. I promise it’s not.” I spread my legs and guided two of his fingers toward my hole, all while peppering desperate kisses along the tense line of his jaw. “I need it, Cair…” Kiss. “Please don’t push me away anymore…” Kiss. “I need⁠—”

“Shhh, I know.” He nudged the tip of my nose with his, a sympathetic look on his face, my pleas seemingly resonating. “I’ve got you.”

Contrary to his words, he slid his hand out from under mine, ignoring the broken little whine that escaped my throat. He shifted to the head of the tub before hooking an arm around my waist and urging me to lean back against his chest. His large frame bracketed me, his shadow looming in the water. My belly tightened. “Touch yourself.”

“What?”

His breath fanned my ear, and in a low, commanding voice, he whispered, “Take your pretty cock into your hand and stroke yourself for me.”