I had almost forgot I’d even opened up about that. But Rocky didn’t let anything slide.
“Well, the stress of this case hasn’t really helped anything. I’ve lost a lot of sleep, and that shows. I can’t be as bubbly all the time on the stream, and I think that turns people away. Then there’s my setup, which is only rivaled in performance by a roasted potato running on a bacon and sour cream operating system.”
Rocky chuckled at that. “Those are things that can be handled.”
“I hope so.”
“What’s your screenname again?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why?”
“Just wondering.”
“I hate when people I know watch me. It feels… I don’t know. Wrong.”
Rocky shook his head. “I won’t watch.” His expression read as someone who would definitely watch.
“It’s Samsonite.” I crossed my arms. “If I see you pop up in my chat room, I’m blocking you. I’m not joking.” The laugh that escaped me didn’t really help my case. “And I’ll report you, too,” I added, clearly still holding back a giggle.
“You would never.” He was right. As if I could ever block Rocky Hudson from anything. He cocked his head and said, “You’ll see, things will turn out brighter than bright.”
“Brighter than bright. I like that.”
“Something my mom would always say.” There it was again. A flash of something on his face, something visceral. It went as quickly as a lightning flash, but this time, I think I recognized it.
Pain.
Before I could follow the thread, Rocky took a breath and pushed past the moment. “You’ve got this,” he said. I wondered if he meant it more for himself than for me. I took it either way, leaning on the balcony rail as I took another drink, finishing up the champagne and looking out at Rocky’s expansive backyard.
His arm slipped around my waist, the touch immediately sending a barrage of electrical charges popping through my body. He was taller than me, and I fit perfectly into his side, a discovery I was very happy to make as I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder and taking in a deep breath.
“So… you go to strip shows often?”
Rocky laughed again. I was really coming to love the sound. “No, tonight was the first time actually.”
“Well, finally I’ve got you beat on something.”
“You’ve been to a strip show?”
I put up three fingers. “And if you count the all-guys one, then make that six.”
More laughter, the vibrations rising from his chest and spreading through me. “I didn’t realize you were a strip-club aficionado.”
“I’m not really sure why I’ve gone so many times. I’m counting tonight in my count, by the way. The other times I’ve gone were in college when my first drunk thought was ‘let’s go to the strip club!’ I tend to de-wallflower after I’ve had a couple of shots.”
“Well,” Rocky said, separating from me. He walked over to a large wicker chair next to a small round glass table. He sat down, sinking into the beige cushion. “Let’s see if you picked up anything.”
“Huh?” I was smiling even though an inferno was quickly spreading through me. Rocky looked all kinds of hot with how he sat in the chair, legs wide and hands fisted between them.
“Strip for me, Sam.”
In that moment, I had one simple thought. It wasn’t to run or to clam up and say no.
All I thought was fuck it.
Fuck it, I’m going to strip for this god of a man and have a good-ass time doing it.
And I’m going to make sure he has a good-ass time watching me.
18
Rocky Hudson
Sam had me hypnotized. A king cobra staring down the charmer. I was sure if I zoomed out and saw the scene through a third person, I would have laughed at how gone I looked. My jaw was dropped, and saliva pooled. I swallowed before I drooled onto my lap, my eyes tracking Sam’s soft, nervous movements. I could almost see his heart beating through his shirt. If I made a sudden movement, I was sure he’d dart away and leave behind a cloud of dust.
I didn’t move a muscle, just sat there, my legs wide and my gaze locked.
Sam moved slow and sensual, turning in a slow circle, grabbing the rail of the balcony and bending over. He reached behind him and tugged his pants down, showing me the top of his ass, revealing the soft white skin, ready to turn red from bite marks.
An uncontrolled moan rose through me like a lit firecracker. Sam responded by pulling his pants back up and turning around with a cocky little grin. Behind him, I could see the grand Biltmore Hotel highlighted up by the hundreds of lights around the ancient hotel. It framed him as he swayed side to side, running his hand down his bare chest, his shirt discarded in a heap to the side, his fingers disappearing down his pants. I could only imagine the heat he must have felt, the brush of his pubes, the warm skin of his shaft.