I look at her, close the space between us to brush her cheek with the knuckles of one hand. “I won’t lose control with you. I promise. Your scars... I’d never do that to you. Hurt you like that.”

“But you already have.”

Again, I’m struck mute. With a sigh, she brushes my arm off, then crosses to the tub and climbs in.

I will unpack that later. I can’t right now. My head is still swimming, and she needs me. I strip off my shirt and toss it aside. What I mean to do is sit on the edge of the tub and clean her. It’s my intention.

But she reaches to switch off the water and turns her gaze to me. The way she watches me, it’s like she sees right through me. Her body is submerged, dark hair floating on the surface, her face so pretty, so overwhelmingly pretty, that I break my own rule again. I strip off my shoes and socks. My pants. She watches, holding her breath as I push my briefs off. Her eyes move to my cock, and I let her take it in before crossing to the tub and climbing in behind her.

She turns in my arms, water splashing onto the bathroom floor.

I hold her and push hair from her face. She straddles me, but I grip her hips.

“No.”

She grunts her disapproval. “Yes.”

I dig my fingers into her hips to halt her and force her to sit across from me.

“I don’t care, Judge. I don’t care if I’m pure.”

“I do. And just to be very clear, my brother won’t. You stay away from him. Now give me your foot.”

She slides her foot provocatively along my thigh. I catch it and give her a look.

“Why do you hate him?”

“Sibling rivalry,” I say, cleaning her, massaging her muscles as I do. She’d have been sore from the way I had her trussed up last night, but then adding what happened this morning, I’ll take even more care.

“I’m sure he’ll tell me if you don’t.”

I squeeze her ankle. She winces. “You won’t ask him. You don’t know what he’s capable of. You will stay away from him. Am I clear?”

“I thought only sisters were jealous of each other.”

“I’m not jealous of him.”

“No, clearly.”

I grit my teeth and concentrate on washing her, then drain the tub. I climb out to wrap a towel around my hips before helping her out, wrapping one around her shoulders to dry her. Even though my touch is light, I am aware of her every wince.

When I’m finished, I find the first-aid kit and a bottle of soothing arnica lotion, then guide her into the bedroom.

“Lie down on your stomach. I’ll do your back first.”