She knew if she didn’t, he would come get her and he would be rougher than he might otherwise be. She stood, averting her eyes from the look of pleasure on his face as he watched the water stream down her body.

He wrapped the towel around her and effortlessly lifted her from the tub, setting her on her feet on the bathmat and rubbing her down. She gasped and squirmed when he pushed the material between her legs; hard enough to send sparks of pleasure and pain through her.

He finished drying her and dropped the towel, stepping back to give her room. Reaching into the drawer, he handed her a toothbrush, which she took automatically. He squeezed some toothpaste on the brush and did the same for himself. They brushed their teeth together; her watching him in the mirror with an expression of wary curiosity. It felt weird standing naked with a fully dressed, but very wet man, while they brushed their teeth.

After she spit and rinsed the brush and her mouth, he asked her if she had to pee before bed. Face flaming, she nodded. She half expected him to stay and watch, but he strode into the bedroom, giving her a modicum of privacy, though he left the door open. She wanted to close it but was worried he’d come back and insist on watching if she did, so she sat on the toilet and stared at the wall until she relaxed enough to go.

She washed her hands and went into the bedroom, standing hesitantly in the doorway. The lamp was on and Volkan was on the bed, sitting up beneath the sheets. His chest was bare, crisp black hairs springing out across his ridged pectoral muscles and trailing down to his belly before disappearing.

“Come to bed, aşkım.”

“What does that mean?” she asked, approaching the bed like she was walking to her death. She didn’t know which Volkan she would get at any given moment, and it made her head spin with anxiety. Was he going to crush her beneath his massive body and rape her again? Was he going to hurt her? Or was he going to be gentle and sweet?

“It means you are my love,” he said, his dark gaze watchful.

She held her breath as she slid beneath the sheet he held up for her. She rolled onto her side, facing away from him as he reached across her body and snapped the light off. He lowered his head to her bare shoulder and placed a lingering kiss to her skin, sending a shiver through her.

Then he rolled over and fell asleep almost immediately, his low snores filling the room.

Chapter Twenty-Two