Page 86 of Addicted

“Come on,” I said. “Let’s get up.”

Indie groaned but didn’t protest.

We both climbed out of bed and headed into the bathroom. We brushed our teeth side by side at the double sinks, Indie still looking half asleep while I was already fully alert.

When we finished, I turned on the shower and adjusted the temperature while Indie stripped out of her nightie. I pulled off my boxers, and we stepped into the walk-in shower together. The hot water hit my skin, and I let out a breath, feeling the tension in my shoulders start to ease.

Indie stepped under the spray with me, tilting her head back and letting the water run over her face and hair. I watched her for a moment, then reached for the body wash and poured some into my hands.

“Turn around,” I said.

She did, and I started washing her back, my hands moving over her smooth skin in slow, deliberate strokes.

Indie sighed, her body relaxing under my touch.

“That feels good,” she murmured.

I didn’t respond, just continued washing her. Her shoulders, her back, down to her ass, her thighs. When I was done, she turned around and took the body wash from me, returning the favor. Her hands moved over my chest, my abs, my arms. It wasn’t sexual. It was intimate, and comfortable.

When we were both clean, we rinsed off and stepped out of the shower.

I grabbed two towels from the heated rack and handed one to Indie, then dried myself off.

We got dressed in casual fits. I pulled on a white tee, dark jeans, and my McQueens. Indie threw on a tank top and a pair of shorts, staying barefoot.

Even like that, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I grabbed her hand and led her out of the bedroom.

Downstairs, Ishmael, Aurora, and Kenzo were already seated at the dining table.

Brady had prepared a full breakfast spread of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, fresh fruit, orange juice, coffee.

The smell hit me as soon as we walked into the dining room, and my stomach growled.

“Good morning,” Indie said, smiling at everyone as we took our seats.

“Morning,” Aurora said, grinning. “Y’all finally decided to join us, huh?”

Kenzo smirked but didn’t say shit.

Ish just nodded at me, then went back to piling food onto his plate.

I sat down at the head of the table, Indie to my right, and started fixing my own plate.

The conversation was lively with Aurora cracking jokes, Indie laughing, Ish chiming in every now and then, Kenzo being his usual laid-back self.

I looked around the table, taking it all in. This was the most life that had ever been lived inside my estate. Usually, it was just me here by myself, other than Brady and Ava. It was normally quiet, empty, and cold inside these walls.

But now?

Now there was laughter. Conversation. Energy. Indie brought the place alive. Made it feel like a home instead of just a house. In that moment, I realized I didn’t want it any other way.

“So what y’all got planned for today?” Kenzo asked, looking at Indie and Aurora.

“We’re going swimming,” Aurora said. “Right, Indie?”

Indie nodded. “Yeah. It’s too nice outside not to.”

“I’m down,” Ish said.