CHAPTER SIXTEEN
1293 Words
Slippery when wet…
CAMERON
The bathroom is as spotless and as shiny as the rest of the room, all the faucets and surfaces gleaming in varying degrees of silver and white.
There’s a pleasant fog of steam emanating from the running bath and the scent of jasmine and grapes fills the air.
Stepping into the bath and sinking beneath the bubbles that rise all the way to my chin almost makes me moan out loud.
Oh my God this must be what heaven feels like.
Behind me the tap is still running and the bath is almost full so I lean forward and try to shut it but it doesn’t have a knob or a switch.
I try to turn the head of the thing and not even that moves.
Around me the water is rising steadily towards the lip of the giant bathtub. Any minute now and it’s going to overflow.
I can see it now, Cara is going to return and find out that I have flooded the entire room.
The look of disappointment I imagine on her face is enough to make my insides curl with shame.
Nearly frantic now, I swipe my hand over the tap, under it, try to stick a finger in it.
Nothing works.
I sit in the luxurious bathtub, surrounded by bubbles and frustration as the water trickles then flows over the edge.
“Great, at least now I won’t have to worry about Earl or his brother finding out about my secret and killing me because I would have drowned first.”
I grab the tap between both my hands and yank at the stupid metal rod.
“Work, work you silly thing!” I scream quietly at it but if anything the water only flows faster.
Luckily for me, just before I can turn Il Paradiso into Il Oceano, I hear the door to the room open.
“Oh thank god Cara!” I call out not even bothering to hide the distress in my voice.
But the voice that responds to me isn’t the tiny motherly woman.
This one is much deeper and much colder.
“Sorry to burst your bubble of gratitude, pet.”
“Earl? Earl!”
I hear his jacket fall with a thump onto the bed.
“What do you want, Cameron?”
Always the gentleman.
"Earl! Get in here, now!" I shout, trying to keep my tone civil, but my nervousness is evident.
Earl's voice comes from outside the bathroom, laced with something achingly similar to worry. “Why?”
“It’s your goddamn bath.” I respond in frustration, trying once again to get the stupid tap to work by waving my hand around it.
Goddamn freaking technology.
“What do you want?!” I scream at the tap. “My first born child?”
“Okay slow down Tiger.” I hear Earl say from outside and I would have sworn he is laughing at me, except the Earl I have seen doesn’t laugh.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“It’s the tap.” I tell him, swearing under my breath and trying to reach for my towel. Might as well give up on the bath.
But in my attempt to reach for it, my towel slips off the hand rail and falls into the puddle of water gathering on the floor.
Great.
Now I can’t even get out.
Oh universe, why hasn’t though forsaken me?
Back in the room, Earl is silent for what feels like a full minute.
Then finally he scoffs. “The tap, really?”
I clench my fist at the mocking disbelief in his voice even as around me the bathroom starts to flood. “Really! I don't know how to get the bloody thing to stop running and now the bath is overflowing and I'm going to drown in here, thanks to your stupid fancy bathroom design!”
What was wrong with normal taps?
Normal taps work fine!
They have a knob on the top and they don’t try to f*****g embarass you all the time.
"Ah, come on Cameron.” He finally says. “It's not that hard. If you want me to see you naked again then just say that."
I’m scowling before I can stop it. “Oh screw you.” I spit and he tsks.
“Not a very nice way to talk to the person you’re begging to rescue you.”
I bit my lip hard. If I have to swallow any more of my pride I’m going to choke on it.
"Ha ha, very funny Earl. But unless you fancy swimming your way out of this house, I suggest you come in here and help me shut off this stupid thing.”
I swear I hear him chuckle. Again.
"What's wrong, Cameron?” He quips, his voice closer now. “Can't handle a little luxury”
I grit my teeth so hard they start to hurt. "luxury? Are you kidding me? I'm about to be swept away by a tidal wave of water! Just get in here and show me how to turn it off!”
Earl lets out what sounds like a resigned sigh and in my mind’s eye I can see him rolling his eyes all the way into his head.
"Alright,” He says, “Stop making a fuss.”
I hear him start to make his way towards me.
Then I remember exactly what I am wearing. Bloody nothing.
“Wait!” I yell, stretching out my hands as if to block his view even though he is still outside the door and can’t see me yet.
He scoffs lightly. “What now?”
I bite my lip and sink further into the tub hoping the bubbles will hide my naked body beneath. “Close your eyes first,”
“You’re kidding.” He replies.
“I’m not.” I toss back, taking care to keep my voice firm and hide how red my cheeks are becoming. “
“You want me to come in and help you but to do it with my eyes closed?”
“Look Earl, I’m going to flood this place and drown us both and whatever little plan you had for making me your wife can’t exactly work if I’m dead now can it?”
“Not exactly the damsel in distress are you now Cameron.” He says bluntly.
“Earl...”
“Fine.”
“Are you eyes closed?” I blurt out when I see him appear at the door.
He turns his head in my general direction. “Do you want my help or not?”
He enters the bathroom, his eyes closed, feeling his way to the tub.
I watch, my cheeks burning in embarrassment.
He has taken off his shirt and as he makes his way towards me, my eyes are drawn past the tattoo covering one side of his chest and shoulder to the rock hard smoothness of his muscles and then lower still to the line of dark hair that tapers down to disappear beneath the band of his pants.
Goddamnit, I forgot how ripped he is.
I look away quickly, croaking as I do so. "Hurry up! The water is still running! And don't even think about trying to sneak a peek, I can see you!"
Earl's sarcasm is audible. "Oh, I'm hurrying. I'm just savoring the moment. You know, the moment when I get to waddle through water in my very expensive suit pants to rescue someone who can’t even show a little bit of gratitude."
But his words are cut off by a splash as he slips on the wet floor.
And after that, everything all goes to s**t.
- Writer
