I swallow.
Locke squeezes my hand. "You aren't missing anything, and you’re not less than anyone.”
I look away. He waits, then gently turns my face back toward him.
"You hear me? Zara?”
"I hear you,” I choke out, trying to believe him. “I really do."
“Good. Because any man who had a chance to get naked with you would take it in a goddamn heartbeat. Believe me.“
For a moment neither of us speaks, then a familiar smile tugs at his mouth.
“What?" I say suspiciously. “What are you doing?”
His eyes drift toward the bathroom. "The bathtub."
I groan immediately. "No."
"Just saying."
"You're not sleeping in the bathtub.”
“I’m not thinking about sleeping in the bathtub.”
“OK. So what are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking that you need a hot bath.”
The words are simple, and matter-of
