* * * *
“Make yourself at home,” said Nick, as they entered his bungalow.
As Claire slipped off her sandals, she looked around.
He did some looking too.At her smooth legs, at the way her thighs met the edge of her shorts.At the curve of her waist.
Stop checking her out, he warned himself.This is just going to be a friendly lunch.Two friends keeping each other company, nothing more.Emphasis on the friends part, dude.
Unfortunately, his eyes had other plans.He couldn’t stop sneaking peeks at her, couldn’t stop remembering how good it felt to run his hands over her curves.
It didn’t matter.She’d packed up all her husband’s things today.She deserved some space and time to process it.
“You have a nice place,” she said.“It’s so open and airy.”
“Thanks.When I moved in, there were a couple of unnecessary walls.My brothers and I took them down.It’s much more open-concept now.Can I get you a drink or a snack?”
“I can wait until lunch, thanks.”
“Cool.Well, help yourself if you change your mind.The remote’s right there, if you want to watch TV.I’ll just have that shower.”And brush his teeth.And put on deodorant.And drag a comb through his mop.All the things he hadn’t bothered to do when he’d showed up at Claire’s house, like a lost, dirty puppy trying to sniff out its home.
Had he found it?
Don’t be dumb.What must she think of him?
As she glanced at him, her gaze pensive and curious, she seemed to be thinking only one thing.And it was naughty.“Thanks.Take your time.”
He needed to get out of there, pronto.If he didn’t jump into a cold shower right now, he might run over and kiss her on the mouth.For starters.
Which ran contrary to the whole ‘space and time’ thing.
Nick hurried into his bedroom and pulled out some fresh clothes, tossing them onto his bed.He stripped and walked into his en suite bathroom.He turned on the tap, moving it to the coldest setting he could tolerate, and jumped in.The cool water hit his back, but as tempted as he was to regulate the temperature, he stood there and took it.Little by little, his body adjusted to the cold.
All but one persistent part.
It was as if his cock understood that Claire was under his roof.It stood at attention, completely at odds with what he was trying to achieve.
WhatamI trying to achieve here?
When he’d suggested she wait while he showered, he hadn’t exactly been thinking friendly thoughts.Only one thought had lanced through his brain, and it involved Claire taking off her clothes and joining him in the shower.
Which wouldn’t happen.
He couldn’t let it happen, even if she tried, which she wouldn’t.Not today, of all days.
Annoyed at himself for wasting so much mental energy on the topic, he quickly lathered up his hair and body and rinsed off.As he turned off the taps and reached for a towel, a familiar grinding sounded in the kitchen.
It was the broken ice maker on his fridge.He’d forgotten to tell her it was busted, and from the insistent grinding, she hadn’t figured that out yet.He’d better tell her.
“Claire,” he called.
No response.Just more grinding.
Wiping his body with the towel, Nick then held it around his hips.Without bothering to dress, he walked back into the kitchen.
Claire stood at the fridge, holding a glass, frowning at the ice maker button.When she saw him, she squeaked in surprise.
“Sorry.”He held out his free hand.“I’m not trying to be weird.I heard the noise and realized I forgot to tell you the ice maker’s on the fritz.”
