I won, slamming the door in his face.
A few minutes later I was completely relaxed in the steaming shower, kneading my sore muscles, when Ryker suddenly ripped the curtain aside and shoved past me.
“Move over. You’re taking forever. I can’t wait anymore.”
“What the hell, Ryker?”
“Seriously. You’re taking way too long. You and Cade are both obsessed with grooming. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, way too many fucking steps. You need to get on my routine,” he said with a grin, holding up a bottle of six-in-one men’s wash with a triumphant look. “It does it all,” he added, pointing to the claim on the label.
I rolled my eyes and stepped aside so he could get under the stream. We usually showered next to each other at the fitness center, but this shower was definitely not big enough for both of us. Our shoulders kept brushing as we moved around.
“You’re so impatient. I promise you, our pet isn’t going anywhere.”
“Maybe I just missed you,” he said, flashing that lazy, troublemaking smile of his and shooting me a wink. I rolled my eyes again.
“Besides, Kitten’s already escaped once. I’m the only one who hasn’t fucked or marked her yet, and I’m not taking any chances,” he added.
Lathering wash in his hands, he started scrubbing himself down furiously. He didn't bother with anything else, still not understanding that conditioner was entirely different from soap or shampoo.
“By the way, you still have direworg all over your back.”
“Where?” I asked, trying to glance over my shoulder.
Ryker and I had very few boundaries, considering how often we shared women. Nudity and touch were not on the list.
“Here. Turn around,” he said as he grabbed the wash, squeezing the bottle, which made a squelching noise. Gel ran across my shoulders before he scrubbed at the dried flesh and blood on my back. “Wouldn't want you looking all feral in front of Rowan.”
“I appreciate the concern,” I replied flatly, though a faint smile ghosted across my lips. I closed my eyes, sinking into his touch.
Don't get me wrong. My favorite kind of touch was pain or inflicting pain. I thrived on sharpness, sting, burn, and slice. But I rarely received touches that were gentle, careful, or tender. Occasionally, it was nice.
I especially enjoyed the tentative way Rowan had touched me in the science lab. It created a fascinating dynamic between us. Where she was gentle, I was rough and bruising. She was inexperienced, unsure of the power she held, and I was all too aware of mine. It was almost as if we were two ends of the same spectrum, balancing one another, meant to fit together like pieces of something whole.
That kind of vanilla, conventional touch had never done much for me. I usually screwed women from behind, preferring that they kept their hands on Ryker. But with Rowan, it was different. I found it hard to admit, but I enjoyed her tender touch, even if I didn't know how to respond to it. With every brush of her fingertips, I felt care, as if she were trying to soothe something deeper than craving, deeper than flesh.
Chapter 6: Rowan
Cade walked into the living room with his laptop tucked under his arm. Without a word, he set it down on the table, flipped it open, and turned the screen toward me. The video feed showed me sitting on the couch, staring right back at myself.
I frowned. “Creepy. What the hell is that?”
“Live feed,” he said.
“Of me? Why?”
He clicked the touchpad, cycling through different angles of the kitchen, the hallway, and the living room. “Because I need to know where you are. At all times”
My stomach dropped. “You have cameras in here?”
“We had them installed after your escape attempt.”
“We?”
“Yes. The entire team has access to the feed.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No.”
