“I know. But I get it. It must be a culture shock coming here.”
It is, but it’s not bad. Not at all. “It’s different. I like it.”
He looks skeptical for a moment, but then shrugs. “Yeah, well, I’m going to shower and then go downstairs and chill for a bit. Wanna join?”
“Join you in the shower?” my mouth asks, and then my brain is immediately horrified that I even uttered that. It seems his flirtatious remarks and attitude since we got here are rubbing off on me.
But he doesn’t seem bothered by it. Just grins at me.
“Fuck you,” he says as he grabs a pair of sweats and boxers. I watch as he tucks them under his arm and then turns toward me. “And just so you know, when you fuck me, I will not scream.”
“When?” I ask, my eyes blinking uncontrollably.
What the fuck doesthatmean?
He doesn’t seem to know either because he blushes, stammers, and then stalks out of the room, muttering under his breath.
“See you downstairs,” I call out as the door shuts behind him, unsure why I said that either.
I should just stop talking at this point.
The room is eerily quiet, and my eyes turn toward the small bed Caleb and I are going to have to share tonight. Because of course we will. Aunt Del thinks Caleb and I are together, and he’s done nothing to dissuade it.
Oh, fuck me.
I need a drink and something comfortable to wear. I unzip my suitcase, pull on pajama bottoms and a black long-sleeved Henley, and then hurry downstairs. When I enter the small den, I see Caleb’s uncle almost fully reclined in his chair. He sees me, leans over, and holds out a beer for me. Beer isn’t my preference, but I need it. I need something to quell my nerves.
His uncle clears his throat, taking a swig of his own drink as he meets my stare. “So, Whit, have you been to the high desert before?”
I shake my head as I take a seat on the couch.
“No, sir.”
“Ha, no need to do that. Just call me Daniel.”
I nod, taking another nervous sip as Sem and Luke barrel into the room and pile in next to me. They don’t even ask, just spread their legs and take up all the space. It’s left me shoved up against the arm of the couch, trying to find any topic of conversation that isn’t something related to the Revolutionary War or space, when Caleb suddenly appears. He’s wearing nothing but a slutty pair of dark gray sweatpants, his hair wet and rumpled.
Oh fuck.
My worst nightmare.
It’s come to life.
His gaze turns toward me, and he eyes the beer I’m sipping on. I nearly choke at the sight of those blue irises and his soft smile.
“Started without me?” he asks, rubbing at his abdomen. The muscles ripple under his touch, and I chug a little more.
Liquid courage.
His gaze moves to Luke and Sem, and he waves his hand at them. “One of you should move onto the floor.”
“Just sit on his lap like before,” Sem says, tossing Caleb a beer.
He catches it and then eyes my lap.
My legs spread of their own volition. I don’t have any control over myself anymore.
And really, he won’t do that here, right? He won’t actually?—
