Kissing Mr. Bradley

Chapter 11

I thought about my next move while listening to Ethan's hum as the shower continued on.

I left the closet, stepping into the bathroom.

"Hey!" he yelled as the shower swiftly turned off.

Ethan stepped out with his body on full display, dripping wet with water. I tried to avert my eyes elsewhere but it was hard to look away and he didn't seem to care one bit. The confidence was at an all time high with him.

"I didn't mean to startle you," I said, crossing my arms. "I was just dropping off your suit."

Grabbing the nearest towel, Ethan wrapped it around his waist. The last few drops of water on his bare chest were in a full on race down to his navel.

He offered for me to take a seat on the ottoman.

"You didn't startle me," he said. "How was the ride here?"

I sat down and kept it professional, even if the setting and our current circumstance was far from it. I didn't know any other assistant that would be in a situation such as the one I was in.

"The ride was fine," I replied. "A little bumpy but fine, nonetheless."

Ethan pulled out a pair of shears.

"What about the jewelers?" he asked. "Did you find anything nice for my mother?"

"I did."

"What about Pierre?" he asked. "Did he give you any trouble?"

"Not at all," I responded. "He was very hospitable."

"Great," he said, still holding onto the shears.

"Your flight for Los Angeles leaves Thursday night," I said before the conversation fell short. "There will be a high chance of rain and clouds that day so make sure you take an umbrella with you."

"You're off the clock, Saffron," he said, passing the shears over to me. "Do you mind helping me out with this? I'm always having trouble with this side."

I looked down at the silver shears in my hand. "I don't think I'm qualified."

"Go for it," he said, shaking his damp hair. "I badly need a trim and I don't have time to see my stylist."

Ethan sat at the edge of the sink. I came close with the shears and took a strand of his hair between my fingers. He stayed quiet and still, watching my every move.

"You're shaking," he said. "It's just hair, Saffron."

"I'm not shaking," I told him. "Maybe it's your lack of trust in me."

Ethan held onto my waist, his hands heavy on my body.

"I beg to differ," he said. "You're shaking."

How close we were, with his hands on my waist and my leg just barely grazing his, we both knew this wasn't normal but he acted as if it was and I pretended like my body wasn't screaming on the inside for him to take me right there on the bathroom sink.

I shook away the impure thoughts from my head.

This was Ethan Bradley. No matter how hard it was to keep my female hormones from screaming, I wanted nothing more from him than my family's legacy.

I trimmed a few more strands, each one falling onto Ethan's shoulders and chest. I dusted them away with my hands, feeling the broadness of his shoulders.

"You're working out more," I said. "It's noticeable."

He took the shears from my fingers. "I'm glad someone noticed."

I took a step back.

"My work is done," I said.

He took out his shaving cream and razor.

"One more thing."

This was a moment of trust I was building with Ethan. If he could trust my judgment with a pair of sharp objects, I was sure he could trust me with even more.

He waved the razor in his hand before handing it over to me.

I took a closer stance, breathing softly near his ear as he closed his eyes, and carefully glided the razor against his jawline. I placed my hand on his back as he straightened out his body.

"Almost done," I whispered. "Don't move."

His jaw tensed like it always did and he swallowed hard, the Adam's apple apparent and very attractive.

A couple more times on both sides of his face and he was clean shaven and evidently excited as his towel grew a few inches.

"I'm comfortable with you," he said, standing up. "Not everything has to be sexual."

"I wasn't thinking that."

"Me neither," he continued as he wiped away the excess from the razor.

He turned to the mirror and inspected my work before nodding in approval.

"What do you think?" I asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Well done," he said with a glance over to my side. "Thank you, Saffron."

I closed in behind him, lowering my voice to a whisper he would have to lean in closer in order to hear my words. I breathed softly onto his bare skin as I spoke.

"I'll let you finish up," I said. "I'll see you in the office."

His body tensed up, even more excited than before and he wasn't afraid to show it.

"One more thing."

He came a bit closer, tightening the towel around his waist as he looked down at me with dilated pupils. I wondered if I had finally gotten him where I wanted.

"Yes?"

"I'd like for you to join me on Thursday," he said. "I think you'd really enjoy the real estate seminar."

I tried to get out of it, just to keep the tease going.

"I appreciate the invite," I said. "But I have other obligations."

"Come with me," he pleaded. "It's an all expense paid trip. We'll listen to the agents during the seminar, have a nice dinner and a couple of drinks then head off into our separate rooms."

"Tempting," I stated. "I'll think about it."

He smiled, adjusting his towel once again. "Don't think too hard, Ms. Hastings."

"Nice choice of words," I said. "Enjoy your night, Mr. Bradley."

I stepped out into the room, backing up against the wall and trying to forget the image of Ethan's naked body from my mind as the shower turned back on again.

I let out the breath I was holding while the entire ordeal occurred and quietly praised myself for playing my part a little too well.