Rivals Redemption

chapter 29 : Aftercare

Tina Diaz

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As I stood there, still catching my breath from everything we had just shared, a swirl of emotions rushed through me. Part of me was still reeling from the intensity, the rawness of it all, but another part-the deeper part-felt completely at peace. I had crossed a line tonight, a line I never thought I would, but with Rowan, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Rowan was watching me closely, his expression softening as his breathing slowed. There was a warmth in his gaze, something more tender than I had ever seen before. He stepped back slightly, but he never broke eye contact.

"Are you okay?" His voice was low, filled with genuine concern that touched me more than I expected.

A small smile crept onto my face as I met his eyes. "Yeah, I'm more than okay. That was... incredible."

He let out a soft laugh, running his hand through his tousled hair, his expression a mix of pride and relief. "I'm glad. I didn't want to rush anything or push you beyond what you wanted."

I stepped closer to him, my arms instinctively wrapping around his waist. I wanted to feel his warmth, to ground myself in the solidness of his presence. "You didn't rush me. If anything, you made me feel safe-safe to explore this, to explore us." I rested my head against his chest, feeling his heart thumping steadily beneath my ear.

His hands slid around my back, gently pulling me into a comforting embrace. The warmth of his body seemed to melt the remnants of tension still lingering in me. "That's all I ever want, Tina," he whispered softly. "For you to feel safe."

The silence that followed was filled with a quiet contentment. I stayed pressed against him for a long moment, just soaking in the feel of being held by him, the softness of the moment after the heat we'd shared. Slowly, I pulled back enough to look up at him, his face framed by the soft glow of the bathroom lights.

"Thank you," I said, my voice quieter now, more reflective. "For everything. It's nice to know that after everything we've done, you're still... you." I hesitated, biting my lip. "I didn't want this to change things between us."

He tilted his head, studying me carefully, and then he gave a soft, reassuring smile. "Nothing's changed, Tina. If anything, this makes things clearer. Deeper. We'll figure this out together."

His words settled over me like a soft blanket, easing my worries. I smiled back, feeling a warmth in my chest that I hadn't expected. "I like the sound of that."

He reached up and gently brushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers grazing my cheek. "So do I."

I shifted a little, realizing just how much my body was feeling the aftermath of what we'd done. My legs were still slightly shaky, a mix of exhaustion and lingering tension. "Do you think we could... clean up a bit? I could use some water on my face," I said, suddenly feeling a bit shy about my appearance.

Rowan gave a small nod and stepped back, giving me space. "Of course."

He grabbed a towel, running it under warm water, and then he approached me again. His movements were slow and deliberate, his gaze never leaving mine as he gently wiped my skin with the damp cloth. The coolness of it felt refreshing against my overheated body, and I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the sensation calm me.

"Thank you," I whispered, opening my eyes to find him watching me with a look that made my heart flutter.

He smiled softly, brushing a kiss to my forehead as he continued to wipe me down with careful attention. "You don't need to thank me. I want to take care of you."

When he was done, he tossed the towel aside and pulled me close again, wrapping his arms around me, holding me like I was something precious. We stood there for a long moment, wrapped up in the intimacy of the aftercare, and for the first time in a long time, I felt truly safe, truly seen.

"I know it was a bit chaotic in here," I said, laughing softly as I glanced around the bathroom, "but I wouldn't change a thing."

Rowan chuckled, his chest vibrating softly against me. "Not even when we almost knocked over the toilet paper holder?"

I laughed, the sound bright and free, feeling lighter than I had in a long time. "Especially that. It made it feel real."

He grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Real, huh? Maybe next time we'll try to leave the bathroom in one piece."

"Maybe," I said, leaning up to kiss him gently. "Or maybe not."

He kissed me back, slow and tender this time, and when we pulled away, there was a soft smile on his face. "What do you say we head back to the party? Or would you rather stay here and make out some more?"

I considered it for a moment, biting my lip. "Both sound good, but I think we should at least give Aiden a reason to stop wondering where we disappeared to."

Rowan smirked, shaking his head. "You're probably right. But I'm not letting you out of my sight for the rest of the night."

"Deal," I said, grinning as we left the bathroom, hand in hand, ready to face whatever came next-together.
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