The entrance of the lobby is empty. Can’t even put in a complaint. Not like it matters, can’t say much when my tongue is swollen double the size. My chest seizes when I hear it, the sputter of the showerhead and the hiss of the water.
Counting the seconds and listening to every shift on the other side of the door. The drag of the hooks against a metal bar, the soft sigh that leaves her once she’s under the water. Then, finally, my name is called out, urging me to come inside.
I can do this.
Instead of paying her any mind once I step inside, I busy myself with staring at the lock. Like the rest of the inn, it could use some upgrades. The lock seems ancient, sticking in place when I give the handle a little jiggle. I feel like we stand a better chance at locking ourselves inside if I try to mess with that, so I leave it be before making the situation worse than it already is.
Feeling warm, I blame it on the heat of the shower. My clothes are clinging to my skin, and plucking at them does no good. With heavy feet, I turn and settle on the top of the toilet. Hunched over, I don’t miss the next sigh that leaves her lips.
The curtain doesn’t give anything away, giving my imagination full rein. All I can do is picture her on the other side, spreading suds across her bare skin. Hell, I can smell it. She’s got something with a flowery scent. Did it come with the shower, or did she bring it with her?
Smells good. So fucking good.
I won’t try to look. No matter what, I have the strength and the determination to be a good man who doesn’t take advantage of the cards dealt for us.
Ellie’s taking this chance to test me, that’s what this is. Why else would we wind ourselves up in this situation?
Maybe I should say something to Sebastian about his poor choice in having limited bathing options. This isn’t okay.
Running my fingers through my hair, a sigh escapes my lips without thought.
Ellie hears, but she perceives it as something to worry about. Without giving me a warning to prepare, that metal bar hisses above her as she pushes the curtain aside only enough to reveal a small part of her.
“Are you alright?” Her voice wavers, full of concern.
No, I’m not alright. Especially right now. I’m not okay at all.
Swallowing thickly, I feel a lump the size of my fist caught in the back of my throat. Instead of staring at her face, I’m drinking in every inch of exposed skin that shall allow me to see that isn’t hidden behind the shower curtain. I can see the white suds clinging to her throat and trace the ones that seep toward a place the curtain hides.
“You must be thinking how silly this is.” Clutching the curtain, her face pouts, and I can already tell she’s already wording her apology in her head.
I can’t have her saying sorry over and over again. Not when I’m the one committing horrible crimes in my head.
“That’s not what I’m thinking,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Not even close.”
Setting myself up for failure, I’m not surprised when she asks what is going on in my head. With more than enough of an opportunity to tell a lie, I can’t find it in me to say anything but the truth.
“I want to join you.” Meeting her surprised gaze, I grimace. “That’s what I’m thinking about.”
I expect a look of regret to take over her expression, for her eyes to avoid mine, but that’s not what happens. Her lips part, and I can see it in her eyes. The same daze behind her stare after I kissed her.
Then, I hallucinate her nod. It must be the hot air making my eyes play tricks on me. My ears too, when she lets out a sigh of impatience.
“Well?” Huffing out her embarrassment, she dips back behind the curtain.
What?
I’m on my feet without a second thought. My breathing shifts, growing louder. Loud enough to drown out all the dos and don’ts with this woman. My lust is overpowering my disciplined thoughts.
My shirt stretches as I yank on it, scowling as it catches on my body. Only slowing me down, just like the rest of my outfit, I’m fighting to tear myself free.
A soft laugh slips out with the steam. She can hear my struggle. Can she sense my impatience, too? Does she even have a clue what I want to do to her? No, she couldn’t possibly. If she did, she wouldn’t have invited me to join her.
Finally, I’m free. My cock, swollen and hot, presses against my thigh. In a matter of seconds, I’m going to be fully exposed, and there’s going to be no room left over to question how I feel about her.
So worried about what she’ll think about when she sees me, I don’t consider preparing myself for seeing her.
A fatal mistake on my part, I come to soon find out.
