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Yonas stared at the refrigerator for another few seconds before slowly stepping farther away from the island.

I smiled to myself.

One warning down, and judging by how comfortable he still looked, I had a few more to go.

Later that night, Yonas finally went upstairs, Lakelyn was helping Granny get settled, Willow was on the phone telling somebody’s business, and Kaidence had already gone to bed, which meant I finally had privacy.

I followed Yonas into the guest room. He closed the door behind him, walked into the bathroom, and prepared to shower.

I watched him from the counter and smiled.

Go ahead, my nigga. Enjoy your shower.

I waited until Yonas had shampoo all through his hair before I dropped the water temperature so fast his whole body jerked.

“Goddamn!” he screamed, stumbling backward, as freezing water poured over his head.

I shook my head.

That ought to cool your ass off.

I switched it back to warm.

Yonas stood there breathing hard, staring suspiciously at the faucet before cautiously stepping beneath the spray again.

I waited.

He closed his eyes and started rinsing the shampoo out.

Now.

I turned the water ice-cold again.

“Man, what the fuck?!”

Yonas twisted the handle toward hot, and I let him have exactly three peaceful seconds before the water went damn near scorching.

“Shiiiiiiiiit!”

That’s probably gonna leave a mark.

He jumped sideways and slapped at the controls. “This big-ass expensive mothafuckin’ house got twelve shower heads, marble from floor to ceiling, and can’t keep the goddamn water one temperature! Shit! The fuckin’ water can’t decide if it wanna boil me alive or freeze my dick off!”

I nodded enthusiastically.

Exactly. Terrible plumbing. You should probably go home and use yours.

Yonas shut the shower off, waited a few seconds, then turned it back on, cautiously testing it with his hand.

That time, the water came out warm. “Aight. Stay right there.”

I grinned.

Nah.

The second he stepped underneath it, I shut the water completely off.

Yonas stood there naked, covered in soap, staring up at the silent showerhead.