24

“Before we begin,” he whispered against her mouth, kissed her again then went down on one knee beside the tub and reached into his back pocket for something. It was a syringe which he placed on the side of the tub. “You need to take this.”

Cathy lifted herself to examine the clear bubbly liquid in the syringe. “I got this at the island right?”

“Yes. Lila develops them.” He dropped his hand into the water and lifted her right leg over the edge of the tub. It was slippery and wet with soap and water. “This will hurt a little,” he told her before uncapping the syringe.

Cathy winced as the needle sank into her thigh. Ted withdrew the needle, dropped it on the floor, and covered the pinprick with his mouth to ease her pain.

“Did it hurt?” he mumbled against her skin.

“I’m a big girl, Ted.”

He lifted his head and smiled at her, the tilt of his lips holding a challenge. “Let’s see if you’ll say that after tonight.”

He kissed her thigh again and this time his tongue licked a path to her feet.