Naked.
There was enough steam in the bathroom to hide the details, but there was no mistaking the fact that he was very much nude. “What the fuck are you doing, Dom?”
“Don’t panic,” Dom drawled as he strolled over to the cubicle and stepped inside. “Hot water’s out in my bathroom.”
“That doesn’t mean you—” The words died on my tongue as the steam parted to reveal him.
Vaguely, I was aware of my mouth dropping open as my eyes hungrily devoured him. It was a painful yet delicious reminder of the years that had passed since I’d last seen him like this. The deep lines of his muscles, so much more defined now. The thick dusting of hair over his taut thighs, darker than before. Ink covering swathes of skin that had previously been blank.
But there was one spot my gaze fixed on. One particular tattoo. My voice came out far too high-pitched. “What is that?”
Dom didn’t glance down. He knew what I was referring to. It was probably why he’d had his chest waxed—to make sure there was no way I could miss it. “It’s your name, Ryan. Have you forgotten how to read?”
“That’s not what I mean and you know it.” I swiped water away from my eyes, as if that might change the fact that Dom somehow had ‘Ryan’ written in cursive, right over his heart. “Why the fuck do you have my name on your chest? You already have ‘Shadow’ on your arm.”
“This tattoo?” He thrust out his forearm. “This one is for me. A reminder that you’re always with me. That you’re my Shadow. That, no matter what, we can’t be parted. Not permanently.”
“And this one,” I said, unable to stop myself lightly touching his chest. “Who’s this one for if not you?”
“Anyone who shared my bed,” Dom said huskily. “Iwanted them to know that, while they might have my body, they’d never have my heart. Because it’s yours. It belongs to you and always will.”
I snatched my hand back like I’d been burned. “I don’t want to hear about people you’ve fucked in the past.”
“Yet I have to listen to you talk about marrying someone else,” Dom said, his eyes glittering. “Hurts, doesn’t it?”
We glared at each other mutinously, neither of us backing down.
“Get out,” I said finally, jutting my chin towards the door. “You can shower after me.”
“You get out,” Dom retorted. “You’re the one who’s bothered. I’m perfectly happy in here with you.”
I should go. I knew that. Dom knew that. But I also knew that this was a challenge. Dom wanted me to back down. To know he was getting to me.
I couldn’t let that happen.
“I’m covered in soap,” I said, like that was a good enough reason to be naked in a shower with him.
He nodded towards the spray. “Turn around and I’ll get your back.”
“Fuck off,” I muttered. I did go to turn, but not because of that. To try and put some distance between us, even if just a few inches. But when I did, I was immediately reminded of something I should’ve considered.
The fact that I was hard.
And so was Dominic.
In an almost comedic error of timing, my erection smacked against his. We both froze.
For a few seconds, everything was in slow motion. We stared at each other in silence, no sound aside from the falling water and our ragged breathing.
Then, instead of returning to normal, time sped up. Dom’s hands were on my waist. My back hit the cold tile. His hard cock pressed firmly against mine. Wet skin against wet skin.
“Shadow,” he croaked, his lips so close. Too close.“Shadow.”
I sucked in a breath. In front of me there was a line. If I crossed it, there’d be no going back.
Ever.
“Stop,” I said suddenly, panic swelling in my chest. “Dom, stop.”
