I hop down from my stool and gather my plate, deposit it into the dishwasher. I clean up our mess, condense the number of boxes down, and put them in the fridge along with the milk Rhodes left out for me.
That tension that seems to permanently exist between us slowly fills the air. It’s like this every time we’re in the same room for more than a few minutes.
It’s suffocating, and I need an escape.
“Do you mind if I take a shower?”
“Not at all. This is your house too. You don’t have to ask to shower.”
I…I hadn’t thought of that. This is my home, isn’t it? At least for the next year.
“Thanks,” I murmur, making my way back down the hall to my bedroom.
I gather up my shower items and pajamas—I really don’t need to be caught by Rhodes in nothing but a towel—and then head into the guest bathroom.
I’m not at all surprised to find that even the bathroom is gigantic. There’s a huge tub to one side and a walk-in shower…in the guest bathroom.
The tub calls my name because I love a good bath, but I think a shower is what I need tonight. I’ll test the bath out later.
For a brief moment, I wonder how much money Rhodes actually makes. Apparently, it’s enough to afford a place like this, spend random weekends in Vegas in swanky hotel suites, and drop thousands of dollars a month on my grandmother’s care.
I strip out of my clothes, feeling all gross and sticky from moving, and step into the shower.
I crank the water up to full blast, and I’m not even a little bit ashamed of the moan that leaves me.
I linger in the shower, soaking up the hot water. The pressure in my old place was decent, but the water was never hot enough for me. This? It’s heaven, and I can see myself getting way too used to it too fast. I lather my sponge up and close my eyes, rubbing it over my body. It feels incredible as I drag it across my breasts and down my stomach, rough but not too rough. If I concentrate really hard, it feels like someone else’s hand.
Rhodes’ face pops into my head and my eyes fly open.
No. Nope. Not happening.
I barely even finish rinsing before shutting the water off because I am not going there. If I’m going to survive living with him, I can’t let that happen.
I wrap the softest towel I’ve ever felt around me and step out of the shower. I take my time rubbing lotion all over my body, then do my nightly skincare routine, trying to let my mind relax so I’m not going to bed thinking about how Rhodes is going to be sleeping just down the hall from me.
Feeling like a brand-new woman, I step out of the bathroom and head into my room.
Poe is skulking around it, and I do my best not to let her out as I slip inside to drop my stuff off. She and Frodo haven’t been introduced yet, so I’m trying to keep her in here for now just in case it doesn’t go over well.
I dump my dirty clothes into a hamper, then grab my laptop. I’m tired, but just in case I can’t sleep in a new house, I’ll have my computer so I can edit the makeup tutorial I filmed before heading to Vegas.
Ugh. I don’t even want to think about how explosive the comments are going to be after this. I mean, on one hand, it’s great for algorithms, but on another…I really hate lying to my subscribers.
I pull open the door and look back at Poe.
She meows, and I instantly feel bad for leaving her in here. She did such a good job on the car ride over and has been stuck in this room all evening.
I’m sure Rhodes won’t mind if she sleeps with me, right?
Unable to stop myself, I scoop her up. Just as I’m about to step out of the room, I see my wedding ring lying next to a pile of my things.
Trying not to think too much about it, I slip it on and out the door, then down the hall to Rhodes’ bedroom. There’s a lump on the couch. All the lights are off, so I assume he’s already gone to sleep. I mutter a quick “Good night” as I pass by.
In typical Rhodes fashion, he doesn’t respond.
I walk into his bedroom and look around. The room is massive, bigger than my own. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the wall of windows that look out down the hill. There’s a perfect line where the sky meets land, and it’s gorgeous, almost like a painting.
To one side of the room, there’s a bed that’s easily four of my old beds put together. To the other, there’s a fireplace with two cozy-looking chairs facing it.
And tucked away in the corner is a door that sits ajar, a soft light pouring out of it.
That must be the bathroom.
I note that Rhodes has put a fresh pillow and case at the end of the bed, and based on the pile of blankets on the chair, it looks like he’s put on clean sheets too.
I’m grateful. The last thing I need is to be smelling him all night long.
Poe hops out of my arms to explore, and I set the laptop on the bed, then go to flip the bathroom light off.
Only when I’m just a few feet away do I hear the faint sound of running water.
Oh shit.
Rhodes is in there.
I’m about to retreat and give him his privacy when I catch a glimpse of his very naked backside.
I should pull the door shut and walk away. Cover my eyes. Announce my presence. Literally anything other than standing here and admiring him.
But that’s exactly what I do.
He’s facing the wall, his head tipped forward as the water cascades over him.
I thought his body was incredible the first time I saw him naked, but seeing him like this is…it’s breathtaking.
Like actually breathtaking because the air whooshes right from my lungs.
His back is nothing but muscles, and I get now why they call him The Beast.
He’s jacked. Completely and totally jacked. I have no clue how he flies down the ice like he does with all those muscles, but it makes it ten times more impressive.
He pushes off the wall, reaching for a bottle of body wash and his loofa. He suds himself up from head to toe and then…
Holy fuck.
There is no mistaking what he’s doing right now.
He palms his cock, and he hisses loudly enough that I hear it over the sound of the water crashing against the floor.
Then he begins to jack himself. Slowly. Very, very slowly.
So slowly there is no way it’s not killing him right now.
An ache forms between my legs and I rub them together, trying to ease it. But no matter how much I rub, it doesn’t work.
I need more.
Without thinking too much about it, I slip my hand into my sleep shorts and into my underwear. When my finger grazes over my clit, I realize I’m wet just from watching him touch himself.
I had no idea voyeurism was something I was into, but there is no doubt in my mind I could watch this all day long.
I match his long, slow strokes with short, slow circles over my sensitive nub.
When he picks up his pace, I do too.
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, trying to hold back the noises that are trying to crawl their way from my throat, and when that doesn’t work, I slap my hand over my mouth and let them go.
Then, the worst thing possible happens: Rhodes turns around.
I freeze, halting all ministrations.
But he doesn’t see me. His eyes are squeezed tightly shut as he leans back against the wall just out from under the water.
No. This is so wrong. I can’t do this. I can’t stand here watching him bring himself to orgasm while I do the same…right?
But when he begins to jack himself harder, faster, I do the same, rubbing at my clit like I’m about to burst.
He bites down on his lip, his movements growing hastier by the second, and I know he’s close. He reaches down with his other hand and gently tugs on his balls.
There is absolutely no mistaking what I hear next.
“Ryan.”
It’s as clear as if he were standing next to me…and I come apart.
I watch as r
opes of cum coat his stomach and his strokes become softer and shorter as his breaths come in sharp succession.
The pounding in my own ears begins to subside as he leans back against the tiled wall, looking spent.
Eyes still closed, he steps back under the water, and I slip away before I’m caught.
I rush out of the room and down the hall to clean off my hand and then tiptoe back into his bedroom and slip beneath the covers, setting my laptop on my lap just as he’s pulling open the bathroom door in nothing but a towel.
I avert my eyes to the screen in front of me.
He doesn’t seem surprised to see me, and that makes my heart pound all over again.
He scrubs one towel over his head, then walks into the closet without a word. He comes back out wearing a pair of black sweats, tosses his wet towels into the bathroom, and flips the light off.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to yell at him for leaving his towel strewn about, but it’s not my place.
“Got everything you need?” he asks.
I don’t look up from the screen. I can’t. I can feel how hot my cheeks are, and there’s no way he won’t notice the post-orgasm flush I have going on.
“Mhmm,” I say as Poe jumps up into the bed beside me, curling into my side.
“All right, then. I’ll be out on the couch.”
“’Kay.”
He hesitates a moment, but when I don’t acknowledge, he gives up and heads for the door.
Just as I think he’s about to leave without saying anything, he turns back to me and says, “Try not to stay up too late petting your pussy. I’m sure she’s tired. It’s been quite the day for her. Good night, wife.”
And I just know he’s not referring to Poe.
12
RYAN & RHODES
Rhodes: I ordered Chinese.
* * *
Ryan: Good for you.
* * *
Rhodes: It’s here.
* * *
Ryan: Cool.
* * *
Rhodes: There’s enough for two.
* * *
Ryan: No, thank you.
* * *
Rhodes: Sorry. I don’t think I was clear.
* * *
Rhodes: Dinner is here, and you need to come eat.
* * *
Ryan: I’m not hungry.
* * *
Rhodes: Well, that’s too damn bad.
* * *
Rhodes: Come eat.
* * *
Ryan: No.
* * *
Rhodes: Ryan…
* * *
Ryan: I’m so glad you know my name.
* * *
Rhodes: This is childish. Come eat.
* * *
Ryan: No.
* * *
Rhodes: Yes.
* * *
Rhodes: I can literally hear your stomach growling right now.
* * *
Ryan: Are you standing outside my door?
* * *
Rhodes: Yes. Now turn the porn off and come eat.
* * *
Ryan: It’s not porn.
* * *
Rhodes: I am 95% sure I heard moaning.
* * *
Rhodes: Unless that was you, then it’s totally porn.
* * *
Ryan: It’s not porn, you ass!
* * *
Rhodes: So it’s you?
* * *
Ryan: OMG NO!
* * *
Ryan: If I agree to come eat, will you leave me alone?
* * *
Rhodes: Yes.
* * *
Ryan: Fine. I’ll be out in a minute.
* * *
Rhodes: So you can finish?
* * *
Ryan: I seriously hate you.
* * *
Rhodes: You only wish you did.
Rhodes: Your sex toy is here.
* * *
Ryan: Sex toy?!?
* * *
Rhodes: Yeah. Looks like some sort of butt stuff thing.
* * *
Ryan: HAHA
* * *
Ryan: Very funny, but that’s not my thing.
* * *
Rhodes: Duly noted.
* * *
Ryan: Besides, whatever it is, it’s not mine. I haven’t ordered anything since I moved in here.
* * *
Rhodes: But you do order sex toys? You just haven’t while you’ve lived here?
* * *
Ryan: Of course I order sex toys!
* * *
Ryan: But I didn’t and that’s not mine.
* * *
Rhodes: I am looking right at it and it is 100% a sex toy.
* * *
Rhodes: I’ll send you a pic.
* * *
Ryan: I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORE. DO NOT SEND ME A PICTURE OF A SEX TOY.
* * *
Rhodes: *picture*
* * *
Rhodes: See? Definitely for your butt or something. There are a ton of attachments.
* * *
Ryan: RHODES!
* * *
Ryan: That is NOT a sex toy. It’s a curling wang, you moron.
* * *
Ryan: WAND. Curling WAND.
* * *
Rhodes: Sure. Right. Definitely not a “wang” or anything.
* * *
Ryan: Just leave it where it is, and I’ll grab it when I get home.
* * *
Ryan: Now, can I please finish my shopping in peace?
* * *
Rhodes: Yes.
* * *
Rhodes: But don’t forget to add lube to your list. Looks like you’re going to need it.
* * *
Ryan: DAMMIT RHODES!
Ryan: Fun fact: Closing the fridge generally helps it stay cold.
* * *
Rhodes: Very interesting. I had no idea.
* * *
Ryan: Oh, I know you didn’t.
* * *
Ryan: In case you’re not understanding my sarcasm, you left the fridge open when you left this morning. Everything is warm.
* * *
Rhodes: Shouldn’t it beep to alert you it’s open?? Couldn’t you have closed it??
* * *
Ryan: Couldn’t YOU have closed it?? My milk is all warm and gross.
* * *
Rhodes: That’s what you get for drinking milk all willy-nilly like some weirdo.
* * *
Ryan: It’s not willy-nilly. I only drink it when I have pizza or have a lot of chocolate.
* * *
Ryan: And don’t say willy-nilly. It’s weird.
* * *
Rhodes: Speaking of a lot of chocolate… Your period chocolates are overflowing the snack cabinet.
* * *
Ryan: Those aren’t period chocolates. Those are just what I use to cope with the fact that I’m married to you.
* * *
Rhodes: Ouch.
* * *
Ryan: Are you going to be home soon?
* * *
Rhodes: Missing me already?
* * *
Ryan: Not even close.
* * *
Rhodes: So planning my murder?
* * *
Ryan: Guess you’ll never know.
* * *
Ryan: I was asking because I was going to make dinner.
* * *
Rhodes: You can cook?
* * *
Ryan: Never mind.
* * *
Rhodes: I’m kidding! What are you making?
* * *
Ryan: Parmesan chicken and garlic bread.
* * *
Rhodes: Okay, wow. No need to start talking dirty.
* * *
Ryan: I take it that sounds good?
* * *
Rhodes: Yes, please.
* * *
Ryan: Now who’s talking dirty?
* * *
; Rhodes: Well played.
Rhodes: *picture*
* * *
Ryan: I didn’t realize we were in the stage of our relationship where we’re sending sexy pictures to each other.
Blind Pass (Carolina Comets) Page 10
