Poison's Kiss (Deadly Beauties 2)

He sort of came through, though I was far from sated. This sucks.

"Where is he?" I ask, my whole body shifting from side to side uncomfortably.

Thad grins bigger, his eyes sizing me up.

"He's taking a dip in the lake. It's his fifth one since the two of you got back."

That's odd. "Isn't it a little too cold to be swimming this time of year?"

Thad's laughter could deafen a town right now. He coughs on his mouthful of cereal and pounds his chest lightly as he tries to catch his breath. I'm a little confused by his seemingly odd outburst.

"He said the shower wouldn't get cold enough," he coughs out before roaring out his laughter once more.

Oh damn. Humiliation is just flowing in right now.

"Ah. On that note, I think I should go get a shower of my own. I suddenly feel even dirtier than I did when I woke up."

His cackles reach a near feminine pitch as he struggles to catch his breath. Just as I turn to leave, Gage materializes in the room with his back to me while drying off his hair.

I stare at the perfect contours of his golden skin. His navy blue trunks hang low enough to reveal just enough to make my mouth water. His tattoos are just as sexy as they were before, though they shouldn't be.

Shit.

He turns to see me, and he bites back a shy grin as he drops the towel over a shoulder.

"Glad to see you're awake. How's the head?"

The lines of his stomach and chest look even better than the ones on his back. I stare, unable to look away or even blink as tiny trails of the lake run down his still damp body.

Hurting even more now. How frigging awkward can this get?

"Um... it hurts. Any aspirin?"

Just ignore it happened, and it'll be like it never did.

"I'm immortal. We don't usually have aspirin on hand, but I do have something that'll help."

He doesn't acknowledge anything either, which makes Thad act all the more interested. His dorky grin is etched all the way across his face as his eyes go back and forth between Gage and me. I half expect him to grab a bag of popcorn to better enjoy the show.

Gage grabs a cup and then he pours something in it before sticking it in the microwave. He keeps his back turned to me and watches the glass inside as though it's far more fascinating than the awkward tension in the room.

Thad continues on with his cereal, his shit-eating grin never budging as he watches in silence.

Finally, the microwave beeps its climax and Gage pulls out the piping hot contents. He crosses the distance between us, since I'm struggling to move. I can smell it from here, and my nose wrinkles up.

"It's not as bad as it smells," he chuckles out.

I sip it warily, hoping he's telling the truth, and I'm pleasantly surprised as the unknown nectar slides down my throat with a far less bitter taste than smell. Gage watches me, his body tensing from our close proximity, but I keep my eyes on the dark, tea-like liquid in front of me.

"Oh," Thad chirps. "I forgot to mention I grabbed these on the way out."

I glance up with Gage as Thad pulls out a silver pair of panties and starts waving them around like a lasso.

I spew my drink through my lips and drench the floor as Thad cackles again. Gage covers his laughter with his hand as he walks off shaking his head.

I glare at the taunting changer as he tosses my panties to the bar and gives me a wink. I rip my underwear away from his mocking gaze and close them in my fist before rushing away from the humiliating morning.

Gage is sipping on a cup of coffee when I emerge from the safety of my room. I've hidden out for as long as I can, and now night has descended upon us. I have to face him sooner or later. We can't live in the same house if we let this hang over our heads.