Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

soothing in the mass of tangles, the pads of his fingers massaging her scalp as the fragrance mixed with the hot water.
    â€œLean against me, El e, you’re swaying.â€
    His body was hard, his erection unashamed and he was a big man, intimidating to her. She held her breath and hesitated before easing her body closer to his, until they were skin to skin, her back to him, the smal of her back resting against his thick groin. She felt his heat radiating through her, his hunger, deep and strong, but just as equal y his control, his need to love her as gently and tenderly as he knew how.
    Jackson didn’t think of himself as gentle or tender, she knew he worried about that in himself. His mind was only on her, on healing her body and mind, on finding a way to make her love her hair again, on accepting if she wanted to go through with dreading her hair when he loved the long silk of it shining in the sun. To him, her hair was as much a part of her as her temper, her intel igence, her tenacity, al traits he loved and admired in her.

    â€œI won’t dread it,†she said, wanting to give him something back, “but you’l have to try to get the tangles out. It might take hours.â€
    â€œI don’t mind, baby, but do me a favor and stop thinking of me as a saint. I want you. Know that I want you. Get used to it. That’s just reality and yes, I think you’re sexy as hel . I always have.â€
    El e frowned, glad he couldn’t see her face. She used to feel sexy and special and worth something, but Stavros had taken that away from her. She didn’t want to think about anything but Jackson’s fingers rubbing the conditioner into the tangles and the way his body made her feel safe instead of terrified.
    â€œThis smel s like my favorite conditioner.â€
    He held the bottle in front of her face for a brief moment before returning to his task. “It is yours. Sarah put a box of things in my truck before we left to go get you. Tea. A few clothes. Your personal things. I found them when I went to get the blanket.â€
    El e let her breath out. “She knew. She has precog. She knew I wouldn’t stay with them. Why would she argue so much?â€
    â€œShe didn’t expect to see you covered in wounds, black and blue, your face swol en. You’re her baby sister, El e. Of course she wanted to take care of you.â€
    â€œI’m sorry I hurt her—hurt al of them.†She took a deep breath and blurted out the truth. “I’m afraid without you, Jackson.â€
    â€œI know you are, baby. Don’t you remember what it was like those first few days when I escaped the camp and was waiting for retrieval? You stayed in my mind and my heart beat so hard you were afraid I’d have a heart attack. I didn’t want you leaving me, not for a moment, because you represented home and freedom and, above al else, safety to me.†He skimmed his mouth down the side of her face. “Tel me you remember staying awake seventy-two hours because I was afraid to close my eyes. And when I final y did, the nightmares ate us both alive.†His body shuddered against hers and his arms went around her waist, pul ing her even closer, burying his face against her neck. “I’m stil afraid without you, El e.â€
    She turned to face him, her bare skin sliding over his, her arms circling his neck as she pressed against him, giving herself to him, holding him, aching inside for both of them.
    Something banged against the bathroom door and she jumped. Simultaneously, Jackson shoved her behind him.
    â€œTea’s ready. Do you need help?†Ilya’s voice cal ed.
    â€œYou want to scrub my back?†Jackson asked.
    â€œI think that was the American version of sarcasm,†Ilya responded. “If you’re feeling better, I’ve got five women out here. I could use a little help.â€
    â€œHannah?†El e asked, turning her head up to the water so it washed the conditioner from her head.
    â€œJonas took her to the hospital just to make certain she’s al right. Come get your tea.â€
    â€œGive us a couple of minutes,†Jackson said, helping to massage the conditioner from the thick mass of red hair. He reached past El e and turned off the water.
    She put a hand on his bel y and he felt the jolt slam right through his muscle and bones. His hand trapped hers—inches from