He nodded slowly. “Maybe we can rectify that.”
The front door beeped. I smiled at Carter. “I got to go. He’s home.”
“Wait,” he protested.
I stepped back. “I can’t. Text me later.”
Gleefully, I hurried back into the apartment as Grey walked through the door, holding four plastic bags of groceries.
“Morning. Need help?” I asked.
“Um...not with you dressed like that.” His eyes glanced up and down my body, and he quickly looked away.
“Oops, forgot what I was wearing. Stepped outside to get some air.” I tried to grab one of the bags from him, and he held firm. “Let me help.”
“Can you just go put some clothes on?” He snapped and wouldn’t look at me. Then I noticed how the bags were now protectively in front of his shorts.
Pulling my shirt lower over my legs, I rushed to my bedroom. I stopped in front of my floor-length mirror and checked myself out again. Exercise and confidence made my body and skin glow. The humid air curled my baby hairs around the edges of my French braids. I looked even different to myself. I’d just made two men hard in a matter of minutes by just being me.
Grey knocked, and I peeked my head around the door. I focused on his still reddened face as he apologized, “Hey, sorry about that. Didn’t expect to see you like that. Used to you being fully dressed. Even wearing a bathing suit, you have a long cover-up.”
We’d never been uncomfortable around each other, and I didn’t like seeing Grey embarrassed. “Sorry, too. I’ll make sure I’m dressed before leaving my room.”
“Dress how you want. This is your home. Don’t want you to feel like you have to hide yourself because of me. I can control myself. It won’t happen again,” he promised.
I teased, “So I can walk around butt ass naked?”
“Do whatever you did before. And I know you and Chelsea weren’t walking around naked.” He raised a brow.
“You don’t know that. Have you ever lived with us?” I replied.
“Word?” His eyes piqued with interest.
I laughed. “Glad to know you’re still a pervert.”
He shrugged with a sheepish grin. “Hey, if seeing two naked women every day is the trade-off for living with two hormonal women, it’s the sacrifice I’m willing to make.”
I opened the door wide enough to shove him for his hormonal comment and fell into Grey. My breasts were pressed against his muscular, broad chest as he caught me, and his hazel eyes appeared green in this light. I don’t think I ever noticed thegold flecks that made them sparkle. We stared at each other for a moment too long. I looked away first and used his toned arms to right myself. His heated gaze remained on me as I backed up in my room. And I became fully aware that the man I’d known as a boy had just noticed me as a woman.
I said quietly, “Chelsea and I’ll make sure we’re dressed before we leave our room.”
“I will, too. We can discuss house rules once Chelsea gets here.” He suddenly grinned and rubbed his hands together. “By the way, I bought your favorite lime sherbet, so we can make Sprite floaties later.”
“Yeah.” I clapped my approval. “I’ve been craving your famous Sprite Floaties.”
“I know.” Grey winked and walked back to the kitchen.
I closed the door to my bedroom, and Carter’s words came back in a rush.
You're not trying to leave him for a nigga you don’t really know.
“But Grey’s just my friend, right?” I whispered to the air, waiting for a response that never came.
