Black Ice by Tiana Laveen

Author:Tiana Laveen [Laveen, Tiana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Tiana Laveen
Published: 2022-04-01T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

He stood there watching as Kim trembled and began to undress while the water filled the basin. Nostalgic renderings were seldom an enticement for Jack. And yet, this was different. The antique ivory clawfoot basin propped by gold lion paws were more difficult to find around town, but Jack’s mother had one in her childhood home. It was now in his possession. How lucky was he? When Mama’s old place was being demolished after a bad storm had taken the roof away like a scene from the Wizard of Oz, he managed to take out a few pieces that survived, one of which was that old tub. He had it restored and placed in a corner bathroom on the second floor of his cabin, his own domain nestled in the woods. The tub sat right in the middle of the room—the star attraction.

Kim slid into the tub, and he turned off the water. As his fingers gripped the spigot, he thought about where he’d bought it. He’d changed the hardware to gold, to match the lion pedes.

He rarely used the opulent bathroom, decorated in gold, sand and beige marbled walls, a spotless ivory floor, and gleaming mirrors. He wasn’t certain why he’d gone that route as it wasn’t his style, but he figured on some subconscious level, it was a tribute to his deceased mother. She’d always wanted a bathroom just like that. She’d describe her dream home in great detail, while tearing pages out of magazines, and amassing them in a giant organizer over the years. Bathtubs had been her thing. He rarely took baths, for he found them awkward and confining. At that moment though, he was in a safe space, helping the woman he was falling in love with. He knelt at her side on a small white rug, recalling fondly how his mother used to wash his hair in that same tub. I miss you, Mom. Her raspy voice would ring from years of cigarette smoking, drinking, and laughing far too long at things that weren’t funny, but painful.

“Lean back.”

The water sloshed around slowly as Kim tilted her long neck, closed her eyes, and rested her head on the folded cream towel. Soundgarden’s, ‘Black Hole Sun’ played through the ceiling speakers, two large white candles flickered in the corners of the room, and a stick of vanilla incense burned, creating the perfect ambiance. Kim’s long arms hung off the sides of the basin and her knees peeked through the suds, which floated around her beautiful form like tiny white islands on the move.

“I’m sorry.”

He dipped the washcloth in the warm water, then started gently cleaning the smooth curves and dips of her shoulders.

“For what?” It was more of a statement than a question, but he figured she’d respond regardless.

“For having a nervous breakdown in front of you. I’ve never behaved that way before. I promise you that.” Eyes still closed; she raised her hand briefly to scratch the tip of her nose.

“You’re worried that I think you’re crazy now?”

She was quiet for a long while, then gave a weak nod.

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