Chapter Thirty-Two
Paul wasa sticky mess and he loved it.
He was going to love it even more once he’d cleaned off and was in Adam’s bed, under Adam preferably.
First there was the small matter of the kitchen. There was cake on the table, the floor. The cake itself was a mess.
The hot man would have to wait.
“Why don’t you go get into the shower?” he suggested to Adam. “I’ll join you when I’ve cleaned up down here.” He leaned in and kissed Adam slowly on the lips. “Take your time, okay?”
Adam pulled him in closer, their lips meeting in another kiss, one with more heat. A sticky hand slid down the back of his jeans, squeezing his cheek. “You going to get me all clean? Everywhere?” His tongue probed Paul’s lips, and Paul opened for him without hesitation, his hunger rising.
Adam broke the kiss, and Paul brought his mouth to Adam’s ear. “Everywhere,” he whispered. He loved the shudder that ran through Adam’s body. Paul kissed Adam’s cheek. “Shower.”
Adam chuckled and released him. “I think we need a lesson here about who exactly is in charge in this house.” He pulled his hand free and smacked Paul’s arse, hard. When Paul let out a yelp, Adam laughed. “That spanking is sounding more and morelike a good idea.” He patted Paul on the rump and exited the kitchen.
Paul couldn’t suppress the frisson that skated up and down his spine. The thought of Adam spanking him sent hot and cold flushes over his skin, and he wondered how much effort on his part it would take to goad Adam into carrying out his threat.
Not now. Kitchen.
There were times when Paul cursed his practical mind.
He neatened up the cake and returned it to the fridge, before taking paper towels and scooping up all the bits of chocolate and cream that seemed to have gotten everywhere. Once he’d wiped down the table with a clean cloth and brushed the floor, the kitchen was once more in its usual state. Paul gave it a final glance.
He was in a hurry to be somewhere.
“Fucking hell!”
Paul jumped out of his skin at the sound of Adam’s loud cry. He bolted toward the stairs and ran up, taking two steps at a time. Paul flung open the door to the bathroom.
The room was filled with steam, all the windows and mirrors fogged with condensation. Adam was leaning against the tiled wall, clutching his shoulder and rubbing it.
“Adam, what happened?” Paul was at his side in a flash, his hand on Adam’s shoulder. When Adam winced, he withdrew. “What’s wrong with your shoulder?”
Adam let out a low growl. “I fucking banged it on the tiles.” His voice quavered with anger. “That fucking shower!”
Paul glanced at the offending shower before returning his attention to Adam. “Breathe, all right? Then tell me what happened.”
Adam’s chest heaved, but he nodded. “The water started out cold, same as always,” he began, his voice sounding calmer. “It got warmer, but then it kept on getting hotter.” Adam shookhis head, his brow furrowed. “I had the shower control in the same position as usual, in the middle, but the bloody water just kept on getting hotter. I pushed it to the right to let in more cold, but nothing happened.” Adam expelled a long push of air. “I panicked a little. The water has never got that hot before. I kept pushing the lever and when it had no effect, I shoved it all the way over. Instead of cold water coming out, the flow just… stopped. Nothing.”
The pinkness in his skin was fading, thank God.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I was until I tried to get out from under the water. In my panic I stepped back without thinking clearly and bashed my shoulder into the wall.”
Paul grabbed a bath towel from the heated rail and passed it to him. He glanced at the shower. “Neither of us takes a shower until I can get a plumber to look at it. Taylor’s texted me a couple, including their most reliable guy, who’s local.”
Never mind about waiting until Monday: Paul wanted this sorted ASAP.
Adam rubbed himself briskly, his breathing more even. “If it hadn’t stopped the way it did, I’d have just shut it down.” He glared in the shower’s direction. “Stupid fucking thing.” His voice vibrated, still tinged with anger.
“Hey.” Paul laid his hand on Adam’s arm, his tone soothing. “Easy.”
Adam drew in a deep breath. He wrapped the towel around his waist, and Paul regarded him intently. His skin was flushed, but not the red Paul would have associated with a scald. It was his turn to breathe more easily. He glanced down at his own clothes, still bearing traces of cake.
“I’d better have a wash in the basin.”
