He’s tall and broad and cut like a Greek statue, golden skin still dewy from his nap. His chest is all muscle and perfect proportion, lightly dusted with a trail that leads lower—to abs so defined I could count them, and lower…
Oh myGod.
“Cassie,” he says, voice low and hoarse now, “I—I thought the bathroom was empty?—”
“Well, surprise,” I whisper, breathless and absolutelynotmoving. “It’s not. Why are you showering inmybathroom? You literally have your own.”
“The, uh, water pressure isn’t very good.”
Neither of us moves for a beat. We’re both just staring, in shock.
My back is still pressed against the tile. His hand is still holding the curtain. And the space between us is vibrating with heat.
“I didn’t see anything,” he lies.
“You saweverything.”
He exhales, and there’s a tug at the corner of his mouth. “Maybe. Nothing I haven’t seen before, though.”
I narrow my eyes. “You could close the curtain now.”
“I could. So could you.”
We stay frozen like that another moment. I cover my boobs like it could give me a shred of decency.
He steps in. Closes the curtain behind him. Inches between us.
His voice? A rasp as he clears his throat.”
“I swear to God, Cassie…I’m trying to be good.”
I tilt my chin up, heart hammering.
“Then you should probably step out of the shower. Not in.”
He braces one hand on the tile beside my head, his chest rising and falling.
“You don’t know what you’re doing to me.”
“What if I do?” I bite out. I don’t know where that boldness comes from. But I suddenly revel in it.
He groans, but doesn’t touch me. Just breathes me in.
The moment buzzes with electricity…but he doesn’t kiss me. Doesn’t move. And neither do I.
Eventually, he steps back, still in the shower, his voice ragged.
“I need to get out of here. Before I lose what’s left of my mind. You’re recovering from that relationship…or whatever. And meanwhile, I’m obsessed with you.”
I’m aching. On fire. And absolutely furious at how much I want more.
“What if we just…showered together,” I say. “You know. Save water. No funny business.”
Are you crazy, Cassie?
What am I even saying?
“This seems far beyond the line of ‘no flirting.’”
