Page 53 of Above All Else

The water turned on, and I let my shoulders fall.

Sharp splashes of water hit the shower floor in uneven waves as I turned toward the dumped clothes and perused something for bed.

I held up a buttery soft athletic shirt and yoga pants and another, my teeth digging into my inner cheek.

How did he know so much about me?

How long did he ‘stalk’ me before taking me?

I tore off the ridiculous price tags, folded the clothes, and placed them back into the bag, leaving out the soft cotton shirt and a pair of thin gray pajama shorts.

Tipping an ear toward the bathroom, I let the towel fall to the ground, and dressed in my new PJs, then pulled out the deodorant, a hairbrush, and toothbrushes with paste.

“You forgot to get me underwear.”

“No, I didn’t.” His gravelly voice rushed out of the bathroom over the crash of water.

“Where is it then?”

“I didn’t get you any.”

I raised a brow. “Tsh.You just said you didn’t forget.”

The water stopped with a squeak, and the shower curtain jingled as he pulled it back. My mind’s eye pictured water rolling down his...

“Oh, my god.”

I adverted my eyes as he stepped out of the bathroom,stark-ass naked—the water droplets making him a specimen worthy of tongue service.

“Don’t act like you haven’t seen me before.”

I peeked out of the crack in my fingers. “That was when I wanted to.”

“And you don’t anymore?” He rubbed his hair with the towel, then tossed it to the ground beside mine.

“Nope.”

He drew closer, his naked body radiating heat that soaked into mine, and drew the back of his hand over my nipple. “Because your body says otherwise.”

I shuddered and bit my lip before swiping his hand away. “The girls don’t get a say.”

He laughed, grabbed the remaining bag on the chair, and tossed on a pair of gray sweats to match mine, his hard length giving me serious whiplash.

“Maybe we should listen to the girls more often.”

“Not a chance.” I grabbed the remote on the dresser, jumped into the middle of the king-sized bed, and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m going to bed.” Turning on the TV, I skimmed the channels as he sauntered back into the bathroom.

I’m so screwed.

Chapter 14

Carter

My shoulder ached, the ground hard against my bones, the three pillows as worthless as crumpled paper beneath me.

Darkness covered the hotel room except for the small white light blinking beneath the flat-screen TV on the dresser, which doubled as a closet for the fridge and microwave.

I rolled onto my back with a huff and looked at the bed where she lay, sleeping without a care in the world for my comfort.