came over and looked him over. “How’s your pain level? Holding?”
“Yeah. Nurse was just in and adjusted the drip.” Cait’s red hair was now tamed into a ponytail, the tendrils lovingly caressing her high cheekbones. “I’d give anything to get a shower, though.”
Cait sat down on the edge of the bed gently, not wanting to cause his leg any discomfort. “Hasn’t the nurse given you a bath yet?”
“No.” Dan grimaced and rubbed the seven-day growth of beard on his face. “I’d like to get cleaned up. Is that possible?”
“Do you mind if I give you a bath and a shave?” She held up her hands and she smiled. “I’m well trained.”
The idea of Cait doing that for him damn near sent Dan into a boiling cauldron of heat and need for her. “Sure...”
Cait stood. “Be back in a minute. I know there’s a nurse who’s out sick today on the Ortho ward, and that’s probably why you didn’t get your bath. I’ll ask the head nurse if she minds if I take care of you instead. Be right back.”
Within ten minutes, Cait was back with everything she’d need. Using the rolling tray, she set up what she’d need to shave his face.
“I didn’t know you did this kind of thing,” Dan muttered, apologetic, his throat tightening with sudden emotions. Cait had brought over a small washbowl of warm water and applied the shaving foam to his face, which felt like sensual foreplay to him.
“Well, you’ve never asked what I do here,” she teased lightly, her palm light against the side of his face while bringing the razor downward from his temple to his jaw. “Now,” she said, smiling into his eyes, “don’t talk while I’m shaving you, okay? Just sit back, relax and enjoy it...”
Dan closed his eyes, head against his pillow, drawing comfort from her quick, light touches. Cait was so close, her hands delicate and yet firm against his flesh. Sparks of heat zigzagged down through him. This was intimate. This is what he’d always wanted to share with Cait. In no time, she’d scraped the beard free from his face. Dan was sorry it was over as she gently patted his face clean with a warm, damp towel.
“Are you always going to shave me?”
She laughed and took a warm cloth, gently finishing cleaning up his face. “Only until you feel stronger. Maybe a day or two more. Why? Was I that bad?” She tilted her head, studying him. “No cuts.”
Dan managed a sour smile of sorts. “No...it was good. Thank you...”
Cait gave him a serious look. “Have you ever been bathed before, Dan?”
He stared at her. “As in a hospital bath?”
“Yes.”
“No...never. Why?”
“Because—” she cleared her throat “—it’s kinda intimate.” She gestured down toward his lower body. “Everything gets washed.” She gave him a worried look. “I don’t know if you want me to do this. Would it be embarrassing for you? Uncomfortable? Maybe you’d rather wait and let a nurse you don’t know do it for you?”
Dan noticed how Cait’s face turned red with embarrassment. “Oh” was all he managed to choke out. And then he searched her eyes. “You don’t have to do this, Cait. It’s all right. I understand.” Because she’d never seen him naked. Never seen his whole body. The thought filled him with a sudden shaft of boiling desire. His dreams were coming true in real life. Only, as he saw Cait’s face and expression, he said, “I’m okay with it. But are you?”
She shrugged. “Listen, I bathe guys in the ortho ward. Sometimes, when they’re short a nurse and I don’t have a PT patient, I’ll come up here and lend a hand. I’m game if you are.”
He was more than game, but he tried to look serious about the issue. What was he going to do if he became erect? Still, Cait wasn’t totally innocent...and she was a professional. “Okay,” he said gruffly. “Let’s do it.”
Cait nodded and leaned over him, pulling him slowly into a more upright sitting position in order to start the process. “I’ll untie your gown and then I’ll pull the curtains around your bed so you have privacy.”
Dan nodded, his skin tightening as her fingers flew over the three ties against his back, releasing them. Suddenly all his torrid thoughts, all the hot dreams of loving Cait he’d had through the years, rose unbidden. Dan watched as she pulled the long, light green curtains around his bed. When she turned, he saw how serious she’d become.
“Are you sure about this?” he demanded. Because he loved her, cared for her and never wanted to hurt her or make her feel embarrassed. He was the antithesis of his alcoholic father, would never want to harm someone he loved.
“Well,” Cait said wryly, pulling the gown off him and keeping the covers in place around his waist, “this is a bit uncomfortable for me, but don’t worry. I’ll deal with it.”
“You’ve almost seen me naked, Cait,” he teased, leaning back, closing his eyes.
“That’s true. And I know what a man looks like. So, you just lie back and let me get you cleaned up. You’ll feel so much better afterward.”
Dan nodded. “Well, if it gets to be too much—” he pried his eyes open, seeing how flighty Cait had become as she retrieved the towel, wash cloth and soap on the tray “—you can stop at any point. I’ll be okay with that, Cait.”
She gave him an amused look. “Maybe if I was a greenhorn eighteen-year-old I’d have issues, but I’m not eighteen anymore, Dan. We’re adults. We’ll handle this. Now, close your eyes and just enjoy this warm wash cloth and the wonderful scent of Ivory soap. Okay?”
And enjoy her hands on him... Already he could feel himself hardening. He swallowed. “Yeah...okay...but I’m not made of stone...”
He lay back and tried to relax as she soaped down his neck and shoulders, that cloth so soft and warm feeling. He couldn’t help but think this was beyond any fantasy he’d ever had about Cait. And as much as Dan tried, he couldn’t stop his body and mind from thinking of Cait as his lover as her hands skimmed across his powerful chest and torso. It felt as if she was loving him, exploring him, not just washing away the stink. His morphine-laden mind dreamed whether he wanted it to or not.
“Just relax,” Cait said as she moved quickly, washing Dan’s upper body. His eyes were closed, but she could tell that he was affected by her touch. His skin kept tightening where she washed his body. It was pure, unadulterated pleasure to see this man’s body. She hurt inwardly to see the scars, the cuts and old bruises discolored with age. His body was a story of combat. Cait had secretly wanted to touch Dan in this way, a loving way, caressing him. Her throat felt parched as she patted his upper body dry with a soft, white towel. Afterward, she placed another dry towel across him to keep him warm.
As she pulled down the sheet and blankets, positioning them up and over the tent, her heart started hammering. He was erect. This wasn’t anything new to Cait. It happened. But this was Dan, the man she’d secretly loved for so many years. And he wasn’t the average man at all. It sent unexpected heat pooling into her lower body. Cait was well aware that Dan was powerfully masculine, but his arousal made him even more potent.
Feeling shaky
