Two Guardians for Little May by Breanna Hayse

am going to make certain that you never feel insecure
again. Understood?"
    May nodded,
hanging her head. Layton lifted her chin and stared into her eyes before he
shook his head. "I'll be right back."
    May was still in
the same spot when he returned. "You're shaking like a leaf. Stand
up."
    She did not
resist him as he peeled the wet clothes from her body and firmly took her elbow
to help her into the hot water. After making certain she was settled in, he
turned to leave.
    "Layton?"
    "What?"
He paused in the doorway, his back to her.
    "I know
you're mad at me, but could you please wash my back?"
    Layton hesitated,
took a deep breath, and turned back around. He pulled the dressing stool next
to the tub. "Turn over."
    May tilted her
head, confused. He snapped his fingers. "You heard me, turn over."
    May slowly rolled
to her stomach and propped her chin on her hands. She felt her bottom bob above
the water level as he reached down to grab the washcloth. Ever so gently,
Layton ran the soapy cloth over her back, around her shoulders, and down to her
hips.
    "It's
okay," she said softly. "I just need to be touched right now. In a
parental sort of way."
    Layton sighed
with relief and resumed his washing. He worked his way back to her shoulders
and dropped the washcloth back into the water. He began to knead her muscles
with strong, talented fingers, using the soap to slip easily back and forth
across her skin.
    "How's
that?" he asked.
    "It feels
nice. I need to sit up. My neck is getting a crick in it."
    May turned around
and slumped in the bubbles to hide her body, suddenly feeling very self-conscious.
What was she doing?
    "Lean back
and I'll wash your hair."
    "Layton?"
    "What, baby?
His mood had softened tremendously.
    "I don't
want to cause any problems between you and Caine."
    "Why would
you worry about that?" The washcloth was retrieved again and worked its
way over her small, pert breasts and across her flat tummy.
    "I like both
of you. A lot. It's just…"
    "May, I need
to fill you in on a little secret between my brother and myself. We share
everything. Literally." He locked eyes with her.
    "You do?
Even women?"
    "Especially
women. I made the biggest mistake of my life when I married my ex," Layton
admitted, moving the washcloth across her groin and to her left thigh. "I
got involved with her as a rebound relationship after Caine and I broke up with
a shared lover. I was so damaged by what the first bitch had done to me that I
married another one just like her. I didn't even realize it until it was over.
Never again."
    "I'm
sorry," May said sympathetically. She closed her eyes as Layton picked up
her right foot and began to massage it. "You have nice hands."
    "Remember
that statement when you feel them later," Layton informed her.
"You'll be wishing that you stayed out in the rain."
    "Don't I get
props for confessing my stupidity?"
    "Of course
you do. It is because of that confession and the request you made that I'm not
taking my belt to your backside."
    May was quiet,
reaching for the tea cup and sipping the fresh peppermint brew. She opened her
eyes to look at the handsome man paying homage to her bubble-covered feet.
    "I misjudged
you. I'm so sorry."
    "We can only
come to conclusions based on our own perceptions, May. I misjudged you as well.
I'm sorry, too."
    "You're
really a special guy. Can I keep you?" May purred.
    Layton kissed the
sole of her foot. "Forever, as long as Caine is part of the package."
    "I wouldn't
dream of anything less."
    Quite wrinkled,
and adequately warm, May was paraded to her room wrapped in a towel. Layton
stood in the doorway. "Get your pajamas on and dry your hair. When you are
done, I want you to come downstairs, pull down your pants and bend yourself
over my knee. I'm right-handed, so make certain you turn yourself in the
correct direction."
    "Yes,
sir," May said quietly. She watched him close the door and released a
sigh. Her body shivered, but this time in anticipation. Would the