It hits me with blinding clarity that this is the first time I’ve seen him fully naked since we were teenagers. Even the other day during our failed sexual encounter, he wasn’t fully naked. And if he was, I didn’t see him.
Now that I can, I look my fill, starting at his strong arms, defined chest, and muscled six-pack, before letting my eyes trail lower. The deep V of his hips is mind-blowing, and the cum clinging to his neatly trimmed pubes almost has my dick trying to rally.
“Enjoying the view?”
His voice pulls me from my perusal, and I shrug, cheeks burning a little. “Yeah, actually, I was.”
“You can look more in the shower.”
He shoots me a wink and climbs in, closing the shower curtain behind him. I chuckle to myself and step in after him.
The steam has heated the shower up nicely, and when I step under the spray next to Austin, I loop my arm around his waist and plaster myself to him. The heat of his body seeps into mine, and it feels so good. Just beingcloseto him feels good, but having him like this? Perfection.
His arms come around me, holding me tightly. I smile when he presses his lips to the top of my head and lets out a breath. “Youokay?”
“I’m so good,” I answer, snuggling deeper into his embrace.
“Good,” he whispers.
After a few minutes of holding me, he tries to release his grip. I don’t really want him to, though, and my lip comes out in a pout. When he notices it, he chuckles. “You’re so damn cute. Let me get you cleaned up, and we can have dinner and cuddle some more, okay?”
I nod begrudgingly. I don’t want to let him go, but it won’t be for long.
For some reason, I’m shocked when Austin grabs my loofah and soaps it up. I watch him in fascination, then hold my hand out to take it when he’s got a nice lather.
He shakes his head, his lips tilted in a grin. “Let me?”
Wow. Is he being serious right now? “Okay,” I whisper, heart fluttering and stomach doing flips.
Austin takes his time cleaning every inch of my body. He lingers in some places, fingers lazily exploring my sides, my throat, and my collarbones. But he’s quick and efficient in others—namely my ass—and even though it feels like a silly thing to be thankful for, I am. I’m so thankful for it.
When he’s done, he helps me wash my hair, his strong fingers massaging my scalp, turning me into more goosebumps and shivers than man. Pleased groans spill from my lips as I lean into his touch like a cat, and when I catch sight of his face, he looks so damn happy—his brown eyes so bright and his smile so sweet—that it almost stops my heart.
He doesn’t spend nearly as much time on his own body or hair, and when he’s clean and rinsed, he turns off the water, then dries me off.
It’s been so long since anyone’s taken care of me like this, and even though it’s nothing extravagant, it warms a place in my heart that I thought was long gone.
Maybe there is a happily ever after for people like me, after all—and not just that, but me specifically. I’m still not fully sold on the idea, but just maybe.
If Iamlucky enough to have a happily ever after for myself, I’d bet everything I own on Austin being the one to give it to me.
Chapter 26
Luca
AustinandIarewalking into the gym for more self-defense, and today, I have a little more pep in my step. Call it a good night’s sleep. Call it amazing shared orgasms where I feel cherished and cared for. Truly, call it whatever you want. I’m just thrilled about it.
After opening the door and ushering me through, Austin hooks my pinky with his.
“Is Arlo coming today?” he asks, glancing at me.
“He should be.” He said he was, anyway, but there’s been something off about him for a week or so. Honestly, it’s been since the night that Austin had that bad fire, and I haven’t been able to figure out what yet or get him to tell me.
I’m sure he will eventually, but even if he doesn’t, I don’t mind. “He said he wasn’t sure Jasper would want him here,” I say, following Austin into the training room.
“Why? Jasper lives for this shit. As far as he’s concerned, the more, the merrier.”
And I don’t doubt that’s true, but something has definitely gotten into Arlo. I just wish I knew what it was.
