I pinch the bridge of my nose. Travis is right; she is batshit crazy. “I hope you suggested therapy.”
“Yeah, I like my balls intact, thanks.”
“Hmm. So do I.” Now that the immediate threat of Penelope has faded, I’m acutely aware of my exposed body and Shane’s wandering eyes.
With a grin, he pulls off his socks.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I watch with interest as Shane stands and, reaching over his head, yanks off his shirt.
“Getting naked.”
“Yes, I see that.” I stare with longing at the ridge of ab muscles and the deep cut of his pelvis. “The question is, why?”
“Do I really need to spell it out?” He shucks his pants and underwear in one move, and his impressive erection springs free.
My mouth goes dry at the promise of it. “No, that’s pretty clear. But I just got in here, like, five minutes ago. And I used a Lush bath bomb.”
He frowns curiously. “So?”
“Do you have any idea how much those cost? I’m not wasting it—ah! What are you doing?” I shriek as Shane climbs into the tub, forcing my legs up and apart to make room for his massive frame. “There isn’t enough room for us in here.” There’s barely enough room for me as it is. I howl with laughter as he ignores my complaints, shifting and jostling my body until we’re somehow both packed in and water is splashing onto my old tile floor. In the end, I’m straddling his lap with my legs awkwardly slung over the edges.
“There is nothing sexy about this,” I murmur, even as my hand finds its way between us to stroke him beneath the water.
“No, this definitely wasn’t built for two people,” he agrees. “Next time you want a bath, have one at my house.”
“Just show up with my bath caddy?” The tub in his master bath is new and spacious, and it has jets. It would be far nicer.
He presses a kiss against my throat. “Or just leave your fancy bath stuff there. I’ll give you the code.”
“Well, that’s good, seeing as you keep inviting yourself into my house with the spare key.”
His deep chuckle vibrates through my body. “I didn’t think you’d care. I brought food.”
“You did.” But are we officially crossing into this territory? The land of exchanging keys and door codes and keeping toiletries at each other’s houses instead of trekking across the lawn?
He dips his head to catch my breast in his mouth.
A tremble courses through me. “Will my baths be peaceful or will you bother me over there too?” I ask, attempting a calm voice.
“Is that what I’m doing?” He rolls his tongue around my nipple.
I close my eyes and tilt my head back to give him better access while I blindly run my palm along his shaft, reveling in his size. “Yes. And it’s extremely annoying.”
“You’re the sweetest girl I’ve ever met.”
I bellow with laughter at the sarcastic gibe.
With a playful nip of his teeth, he hooks his arms beneath mine and hauls my body farther onto his lap. His tip prods against my entrance. The thought of needing a condom sparks in my mind but just as quickly disappears. We’ve already had the “Are you clean?” and “Are you on birth control?” conversations. We just haven’t taken that next step yet.
“I was so afraid you would bail on me.” His lips caress mine in soft strokes, his voice suddenly serious.
I swallow. “Same.”
He flattens his palms over my slick back and guides me closer until our entire upper bodies are flush. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Even if this is getting complicated?”
“The more complicated, the better.” He lifts his hips, slowly pushing into me.
A moan slips out as my body molds around him, welcoming the intrusion. Oddly enough, nothing about us feels complicated in this moment. It’s all straightforward and right. It feels like it was all meant to happen this way, like fate had this twisted path to take us on to get here but always knew we’d find ourselves in my dingy bathtub years later, our limbs and hearts and breaths tangled.
“You want me to pull out before?” he whispers, his eyes hooded and blazing with lust as he waits for my answer.
I shake my head.
Gripping the back of my head, he brings my lips to his in a kiss that consumes all of my worries.
Twenty-Six
Karen and Heidi are huddled by the coffee maker when I pop in to the staff room during morning recess. Their conversation quiets instantly and, when they turn to see me standing there, Karen’s eyes widen as if startled.
“So, what are the kids into these days?” Heidi asks, as if carrying on their previous conversation.
A prickle of recognition slithers down my spine as Karen nervously prattles about soccer and baseball and piano lessons. I head for the fridge to grab my yogurt from my lunch bag, aware that they were talking about me.