Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
“Come with me. I’m not gonna ask you again.” Rayne stood to his full height, and Mike worked his way off the floor and stood staring at him with pain and regret radiating in his dark eyes. Rayne stepped closer and tilted his head back and to the side. “Breathe.”
Mike dropped his face in the crease of Rayne’s throat and inhaled a deep breath before he released a tortured groan that made his knees buckle. Rayne caught Mike around his sweaty waist. “I got you.”
Chapter Fifty-five
Mike
When Mike stopped the physical exertion and the adrenaline fled from his body, his hands and forearms were so sore that he didn’t have the strength to remove the athletic tape from around his knuckles. Mike wasn’t sure how long he’d been going at it; all he knew was he didn’t want to stop until he could no longer feel the piercing-hot sword driving through his chest. But standing there—more like leaning heavily—against Rayne and allowing him to shoulder a bit of the burden for a few moments made him want to crumble and fall. But that’s not what men like him did.
“Come with me to my room,” Rayne whispered against his cheek.
“I don’t think that—”
“Shhh.” Rayne touched his finger to Mike’s lips. “I don’t want you to think at all. I just want you to do exactly as I say.”
Mike got lost in Rayne’s beautiful eyes as he gazed back at him with understanding and compassion. Something Mike wasn’t used to. He nodded because he was too weak and devastated to do anything else. Rayne kept one strong arm around Mike’s waist as he led him across the hall and into his bathroom. The tub was full, and steam rose from the scented water.
“I don’t take baths,” Mike grumbled.
“That’s fine, because I’m going to bathe you myself.”
Rayne let that black, silky sexy shit he had on fall off his body and land at his feet on the floor. Next, he hooked his thumb in those skimpy briefs, bent forward, and dragged them down his long legs while Mike watched through hooded lids.
Any further refusal he had died on his lips as he stared at Rayne’s sleek, naked form. If he was getting in the tub with him, then sure, Mike would go along with that plan. It took more effort than he wanted to admit using his thigh muscles to lift his legs, but he awkwardly made it over the side of the deep tub and settled his body down in the hot water. Rayne eased behind him and spread his legs wide until they were wrapped around his waist and his ankles locked over his stomach. Mike leaned his sore back against Rayne’s firm chest and turned his face into his throat in search of that powerful fragrance that was strongest near his pulse.
Mike was drifting to sleep until he felt a thick sponge stroking over his chest and down his abs. The water was slick and soothing to his aching muscles as Rayne massaged some tender points at the base of his neck that he combined with washing him and placing sweet kisses to the side of his face.
“I’m sorry you’re hurting like this.” Rayne broke the silence after a long moment. Mike’s head was still pounding, but the ringing in his ears had stopped. “I know what arranging that wedding meant to you.”
“Obviously, it meant nothing to my son for me to be there,” Mike answered, his throat feeling as if he was trying to swallow a rock.
“I think Bishop was so blindsided by Ivy that he acted impulsively. His life was turned upside down within minutes. I think marrying Edison like that made him feel back in control,” Rayne explained, and for a moment, Mike understood that logic, but it didn’t make the pain lessen.
“That’s enough soaking.” Rayne eased from behind him and stepped out of the tub like a graceful panther. “I’m gonna massage you now.”
Before Rayne could wrap his towel around his lower half, Mike’s gaze instinctually went to his slender cock, and he wondered if having some of that inside of him could make it all stop. Maybe they could skip the massage and go straight to bed.
Mike hated how weak his voice sounded. “Rayne, it’s late, and I know you’re tired too. Let’s just go to bed, okay? I want this whole damn night to just be over.”
“We’ll sleep… after the massage.” Rayne helped him out of the tub. “But unfortunately, it’s not going to be the same one I gave you before. I have to give you a sports massage, or else you’re not going to be able to move at all this weekend or Monday.”
“A what massage?” Mike felt as if he would fall over if he wasn’t leaning against the counter.
Rayne covered his smooth, ivory flesh with the robe, then took Mike’s hand, his expression sympathetic but firm, and gestured for him to get on the table.