“I saw how they paid attention to what you had to say.” I walked over to him. “They feel better having you there, and you have a lot to offer.”

“I’m proud of you.” He looked down at me and brushed some of the hair out of my eyes.

“Why?” I felt my eyebrows rise. I had lost my temper, screamed at an employee, and even cursed. My mother would be so disappointed. Oh God, my mother. She would know about the pictures.

“Because you stood up for yourself. You told her what you were really thinking and didn’t hold back.” He closed his mouth and chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment. “I haven’t seen you do that when you’re being Princess Catherine. Today your two sides merged. It was something else.”

“So, a little bit scary?” I laughed.

“Scary was Chadwick on the phone.” David shuddered. “I got yelled at for not letting him know what happened last night. Then I listened as he yelled about what he was going to do to Tabitha if he ever saw her, and I quote, uneducated, badly dressed ass, again.”

My giggle was honest and I leaned into David a little more before letting go. “I’m going to go change out of this dress.”

“Want some company?” His eyes darkened and I felt my body flush.

“When is Chadwick going to be here?”

“He was on his way to the capital but is turning around.” He cocked his head to the side and I knew what he was thinking, because I was wondering the same thing. Was that enough time?

“Then we should have a while.” I grabbed his hand. “C’mon.”

As we walked into my room, I undid the earrings that had somehow managed to stay on through my night on the couch and dropped them in a dish on my nightstand.

“You know what I want more than anything?” I raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“I hope we’re thinking the same thing.” His eyes ran over me.

“A shower.”

“Thank God. I was scared you were going to say sex.” He mimed relief.

Laughter burst out of my mouth. “Well, I wouldn’t mind some company.”

“I’d be happy to scrub your back.” He started undoing the buttons of his shirt. When he sat down in a chair to pull his shoes off, I took a deep breath and turned my back to him. Carefully I slid the zipper down and over the swell of my backside. When I reached the end, I was surprised to feel his hands slide up the dress, spreading the edges open so that the little sleeves slipped off my shoulders and I let the dress fall to the ground.

I didn’t say anything, waiting to see what he would do. The feel of his hands on me sent my heart into overdrive. I couldn’t get enough when it came to David.

His hands moved up over my shoulders and into my hair, where he pulled out the pins that held the bun in place. Gently he worked the knots out with his fingers until my hair fell softly against my shoulders. I leaned my head to the side when he stepped close enough that I could feel him pressing against my lower back through his pants. My entire body was alive, and it took all of my willpower not to turn around and melt into him. He pushed my hair to the side and touched the pulse point under my ear with a feather-light kiss.

His hands slid between us and undid the snaps of my bra. I slid the straps off of my shoulders and let it join the dress on the floor. When his fingers teased along the edge of the tiny lace panties I was wearing, I sucked in a deep breath.

He continued to kiss along my neck and down my shoulder until I couldn’t take it any longer. I turned in his embrace so that I could work the rest of his clothes off. His pants were already undone, so I only had to push them off of his hips. I traced the length of him with my fingertips and he sucked in a deep breath.

“Cathy.” He pressed his mouth to mine hungrily. “You’re beautiful.”

I opened my mouth, eager to taste him. It was dark and heady, enough to make me want to forget everything else in the world. When he did pull away, it was only to remove his shirt.

He stood there, letting me look at him in all of his na**d glory as I pushed my underwear down to my feet. I held my hand out to him with a small smile. He laced his fingers with mine and I led him to the bathroom.

The stand-alone shower was in the corner and I stepped inside before turning on the water. There was no wait time for warm water, which was my favorite part of my bathroom. I hated cold water more than I hated Tabitha. Well, almost.

There was no talking as we cleaned our bodies, just hungry glances and touches. It wasn’t until he pressed me against the wall and kissed me that I realized this was it. There was no turning back and I was more than ready.

He dropped to his knees and picked up the sponge I had dropped. Without looking away, he ran the sponge between my legs, gently cleaning me. My breathing got heavy when he worked that area for a little too long, but I couldn’t look away from his gaze. When he pushed me gently into the water to rinse off I tried to calm down, but he had other plans for me.

Once I was clean he pushed me back a little further until I was pressed against the tile wall once more. He was still on his knees when he leaned forward and nuzzled me gently. Carefully so I wouldn’t fall, he spread my legs apart with his hands until he had the access he wanted. Darting his tongue out, he caught some of the water that ran down my inner thigh and I shivered in anticipation.

His hot breath was already making my knees weak and I braced my arms against the shower walls. He continued chasing water drops until he was right where I wanted him to be. His mouth was hot and wet as he turned all of his attention on me. There was no teasing, no pulling away here. He was giving me the full treatment, no holding back. My head slammed against the shower wall and I moaned as his tongue stroked me over and over again. No one had ever made me feel the way David did.