“I don’t know what just happened, but I—” She turned away.“Oh my God.What didIdo?”
I pushed off the floor with one hand, a hand that minutes ago had been wrapped around the curve of her ass.“I think it’s safe to say not all of your reaction timeneedswork.”
Ari’s face flamed.She opened her mouth but nothingcameout.
I would have given everything I owned to be able to see inside her head at that moment.Her gaze flicked from point to point on my face and then around the room, never making eyecontact.
No, Ari hadn’t completely gotten over whatever she’d felt for me once upon a time, and the bastard that I was wasn’t above taking advantage of it so I could taste heavenagain.
If I didn’t try, I’d be addingmissing out on thisto my list ofregrets.
Nothappening.
Ari spun toward the door, grabbing a rolled towel off a stack on the table next to the mini-fridge.“I need a protein shake.My muscles ...they’re clearly tired after my workout, which came after last night’s drinking but before the grappling and jujitsu.If I’d been properly rested and not dehydrated, I would’ve been quicker to react thefirsttime.”
I could almost hear her brain clicking into analytical mode as she tried to process what had just happened.I’d thrown my little genius for a loop, and she escaped from the room without ever making eye contact, so I couldn’t even tell if her eyebrowtwitched.
Alone in the empty gym, I walked toward the wall of windows, hoping the view of Lake Pontchartrain would make my dick stand down.My stomach rumbled a few minutes later, but I was hungry for more than justbreakfast.
10
Ariel
Imay never showeragain.
That’s what the sixteen-year-old me would have said if she’d experienced the feel of Rhett Hennessy’s naked chest against her skin.Spontaneous human combustion was real, and I was pretty sure I just came close toexperiencingit.
Good.Lord.
I didn’t know what just happened in that gym, but it wasn’t something I could have ever predicted.In fact, I would have estimated the probability at less than onepercent.
I touched my mouth, amazed at how my lips still tingled from where his teeth had scraped along them.Did I leave a mark when I nipped him?Part of me hoped so, and the other part was so embarrassed, I wasn’t sure I could handle it.My ass burned where his hand had kneaded it, and let’s not even talk about the state of my panties or the restofme.
With a calming breath, I made my way into the kitchen, hoping just a little that Rhett got lost trying to find it.I needed about a hundred yards of space between us right now if I were going to get my head straightagain.
Do I really want to get my head onstraight?
Yes.Yes, I did.This was counterproductive.I’d spent years getting over him, and while that had obviously only been semi-successful, I refused to spend any more time thinking about gettingunderhim.
Sweet Lord, it had been better than I could have imagined.I’d wondered whether my mind had inflated the size of that bulge in his pants.Probably more than I should ever admit.The conclusion?My estimates had beenwayoff.Because now that I’d had the real deal pressed against me, I knew certain things were bigger than theyappeared.
Good thing I didn’t grind myself against him like a cat in heat, and maintained some of the dignity I’ve developed over the years.Even I could feel my eyebrow twitching atthatlie.
Not thinking about this anymore.Alsoalie.
I made it to the kitchen intending to make a protein shake, but one was already waiting on the counter and Carver was nowhere in sight.He’s efficient.I wondered what I was paying for his services, and decided a hefty tip was inorder.
Turning toward the wall of windows that looked out over the pool, grotto, and lake, I chugged my shake and waited to hear footsteps signaling Rhett’s entrance to the kitchen.He would follow me,right?
Maybe not.Maybe his reaction to rubbing up against a sweaty woman’s body would be to go shower like a normal human being.Where maybe he’djackoff.
Oh my God, I am not picturing him stroking that big, hard, probably veiny and perfect penis in the shower until he comes all over the travertine wall and the spray washesitdown.
My pulse skipped up about twenty beats per minute at the visual, and my nipples peaked againstmytop.
Then I heard footsteps.I gulped down a huge mouthful of shake and tried to pretend I wasn’t just thinking about Rhett naked in the shower.I spun around in mid-swallow and almostchoked.
A shudder worked through my entire body.In the gym, I hadn’t been able to fully appreciate the fact that he was shirtless and his body looked nothing like the lanky youth who’d washed his car in his parents’ driveway while I perved from my bedroomwindow.