Page 9 of Royal Pain

As I turned on the water, I realized in addition to my nipples being tight, my pussy was throbbing, my core enflamed.

That infuriated me even more than the man himself. Men were the problem with the world.

Snickering, I yanked off my clothes, tossing them to the side before stepping in. The hot water felt good, eliminating the bitter chill as the beads coming from two heads peppered my naked body. That helped make every inch of skin more sensitized. I turned around, ensuring I was wet everywhere, raking my hands through my long hair.

The action gave me another reminder I was aroused. That just didn’t happen. What was wrong with me, a powerful man challenged my senses?

Whatever the case, I was determined to ignore my wants and needs.

Forever.

Yet after adding shampoo to my hair, I found myself rolling my palms down my stomach, a single finger finding my clit. I had trusty vibrators to provide whatever pleasure I needed, my hand a distant second but right now, my body screamed for relief of some kind.

There was no shame in masturbating. Not in this day and time of the world. It was much safer on every level than being with a man. I was undulating my hips within seconds, wishing I didn’t have his chiseled face firmly planted in the forefront of my mind.

But I did.

I used a second and third finger, driving them up and down the length of my pussy. While water was running over me, it wasobvious how wet and slick I was with anticipation. Of what? Not him.

He could be the bane of my existence while I was here.

Panting, I was shocked when perspiration dripped in my eyes within seconds, the sting maybe something I deserved for gawking at him. As the pleasure began to build, my breathing became more ragged. I finally closed my eyes, forced to place one hand on the shower tile. I wanted to dig my hand into the cool marble, but I refrained from doing so.

I certainly didn’t want to pay for an entire slab with what I made.

And more important, with the extra expenses I had.

All. By. Myself.

When I drove my fingers deep inside, I was certain I would come on the spot. Another strangled breath left my throat and I bit it back. The last thing I needed were the girls coming in to see if something horrible had happened.

It felt good to let myself go, even if I was all alone. The last thing I needed, especially right now, was a man in my life. I wanted to relish the previous good times but I hated my ex too much.

My mind foggy, I shifted my thoughts to the hunky hero.

I could feel the pressure building, especially when I pressed my thumb against my clit, holding it there while I continued to pleasure myself. It didn’t take long until my toes started to curl, a sweeping orgasm pulsing through me. I threw my head back, taking gasping breaths. The thing I’d come to realize was that I could never replace a man, that is if he was good at pleasuring a woman, but if this was what life was at this moment, so be it.

Life was full of important duties. Sex wasn’t one of them.

As the ripple effect started to fade, I continued to hear an echoing hum in my ears from the vibrations. And my mind betrayed me by picturing that man, a hero who was nothing but a jerk. Oh, well. Hopefully, I wouldn’t need to deal with him ever again. Owner or not, I was fairly certain he had far more important things to take care of.

As I finished my shower, I refused to think about Gage. Why bother? He was out of my reach anyway. I’d seen him in glossy internet pics, his arm firmly entwined with some hot chick in a dress I could never afford. I was a pauper in comparison. My parents had worked hard but often it hadn’t been good enough. There was never enough money for anything extra, like vacations. But I’d learned what to value and respect of the few things we had. And our family time together.

Which is what I thought I’d found in Joseph. All I’d really learned is that men could snow you with their charm and cunning smile. Once lured in, the switch was quick, becoming idiots, abusers, or just assholes.

I turned the water off, thankful I’d realized his true personality early. Even if he was being a butthead right now.

Time to get dressed, dry my hair, and have some alone time on a tropical island. Honestly, other than the glow and show of my honeymoon, I’d been to the Bahamas only once. That was basically it as far as the tropics.

My friends on the other hand had been to dozens of incredible locations. They’d been born with silver spoons in their mouths. I couldn’t fault them. They’d never treated me as a less than equal partner in crime. It was a phrase we’d coined early.

Barely fifteen minutes later, I was in another tropical dress, one of the few treats I’d allowed myself even though the attire had come from a discount store. My hair at last dried, although I’d tied the unruly curls in a ponytail holder.

Time to have a little fun. I plastered on a smile. Who knew. Maybe I could have a drink with a hot guy. That might be technically considered flirting, even if I had no intention of having a fling.

Nope.

Not this girl.