“You got a guy on stand-by,” Yvette says. “To clean up my dead body?”
OK, I need to put an end to this conversation. “No,” I say. “Anyone can get rid of a dead body. It’s the DNA wipe-down that gets people caught.”
“Oh, right.” She laughs. “I knew that.” Then she rolls her eyes and turns to AJ and says, “Can you get me a hot towel, please?”
AJ nods, gets up, and walks out of the shower.
Yvette leans in and whispers, “If you want me to trust you, lying doesn’t help.”
I’m just about to open my mouth and deny my lies when she places two fingers across my lips and says, “Don’t.”
AJ comes back in with a hand towel, gets it wet under the hot shower, squeezes it out, and hands it to Yvette.
“Thank you,” she says, taking the towel. She places it against my face, gently wiping away any leftover shaving cream, and then presses it one more time against my now smooth skin.
She smiles at me when she takes the towel away. “You’re really handsome, you know that?”
I nod out of instinct. Then regret it and say, “I think you’re very beautiful, Yvette.”
This time her smile isn’t as big. Almost a frown. “Thanks.”
AJ can’t see it though. He’s behind her when it comes out because it’s only meant for me.
Yvette places both hands on my cheeks, leans in, and kisses me. And through the camouflage of this kiss she whispers, “I’ll let you be my monster. Just don’t hurt me.”
I stare at her. Our eyes locked. But then she pulls away and leans her head on my shoulder. Sighs with something that might be… relief.
God, what am I doing?
I’m making promises I can’t keep, is the answer I don’t want to admit.
AJ catches none of this because he’s busy settling back into his corner. And once he is, he says, “So? I win, right?”
I laugh and feel Yvette laugh too, in the form of a slight shake of her body.
“Whatever,” I say. But then I amend that to add… “Whatever you want, AJ.”
“That’s what I thought,” he says, leaning back against the wall.
We’re quiet for a few moments and I have a sudden urge to know what everyone is thinking. But most of all I want them to know what I’m thinking.
“Yvette,” I say, shaking her a little in my lap.
“Hmmm?” she asks quietly.
“You ever been to Mexico?”
I see AJ look my direction from the corner of my eye.
“No,” she murmurs. “Why?”
“Because I got a place there.”
“Wait,” AJ says. “You already have a place?”
“Yeah. I bought it about a year ago. Whenever I get bored I look at houses down on that island.”
“Hold on.” AJ laughs. “You house-hunt as a hobby?”
“I told you I wanted out, Aje. I wasn’t just talking out my ass.”
“Yeah… but you said we can’t go there because Damon knows about it.”
“Sure,” I say. “I did say that. And it’s still true. But when I bought it I was just thinking of myself. And now that we’re all reevaluating our life choices, it’s as good a place as any.”
Yvette sits up in my lap and looks at me. “You’re going to kill him?”
“Who?” I ask. Too quickly. Because I was thinking about AJ and how Damon wants him dead when her question comes out.
“Damon,” she says. “Who else?”
“Oh. No. I’m not gonna kill Damon.”
“Then what are we gonna do about him? Just pretend he’s not a threat?”
“Just trust me,” I say, then realize if there’s one thing these two people know best about me, it’s that I can’t be trusted. So I add, “I’ll take care of it.”
They’re both silent for a moment too long so I redirect their thoughts to something practical and slap Yvette’s ass. “OK, let’s get out of this shower before we shrivel up like prunes. Where did you get those clothes this morning?” I ask. “Got any more? I don’t want to put my suit back on.”
She frowns at me, but nods her head. “Yeah. In a bedroom downstairs near the bar.”
I stand up, taking her with me, and then set her down next to AJ. “Mind if I go look?”
She thinks about this for a few seconds longer than I expected, but then finally shakes her head. “No, go ahead.”
“Find something that’ll fit me too,” AJ calls as I step out of the shower and grab a towel. I wrap it around my waist, and call out, “Sure,” over my shoulder as I make my way out of the bathroom.
Chapter Thirty-One – AJ
Yvette and I leave the shower. She goes hunting for her clothes while I dry off and stare at the fogged-up mirror.
“I’ll be right back,” Yvette calls from the living room. “I’m gonna go help Logan find clothes.”
“Sure,” I say, wiping a circle of steam off the mirror so I can see my face. She called him handsome. Which he is. Otherwise I wouldn’t bother with him. That’s superficial at first glance, but… you know. I’m into the threesome shit. And it’s a lot easier trying to talk a girl into two dudes when they’re both hot with big cocks.