Page 34 of Cruel King

After grabbing my clean clothes, I hurry upstairs to my room to take a shower. I don’t know why I got so jealous down there. It’s stupid, and I know it. Matthias has been with lots of women. Of course, he has. He’s gorgeous, wealthy, and sexy as sin. Why wouldn’t he sleep with anyone who wants him?

I’m being silly. I need to stop whatever this jealous thing is right now. We had a good time together yesterday. From the way he was acting at breakfast, he wants it to continue today. So do I.

So I need to forget thinking about all the other people he’s been with. Either that or not hang out with him today, which is definitely not what I want. I like him. Actually, I more than like him. I don’t know if what I’m feeling is love. It probably isn’t. What is that word my mother used to use all the time when I had crushes on boys?

Infatuated. That’s it. I’m infatuated with Matthias.

That’s okay, though. Nobody said this was going to be anything permanent. We’re just two people enjoying spending time together while we’re essentially snowbound. It’s actually romantic if I think of it that way.

I toss the white robe over the back of the chair and head for the bathroom. When I open the glass door to the shower, I’m surprised to see shampoo and conditioner I can use, along with a brand-new bar of soap. That Eleanor thinks of everything.

The hot water beating down on my back feels so good that I forget all that silliness I was feeling at breakfast. I have to tell my father we need to get a showerhead like this one. I swear it has ten jets that make a shower feel more like a massage. I’d be the most relaxed person in the world if I got to experience this every morning.

After I wash and condition my hair, I just stand under the water and close my eyes to let myself enjoy the heat against my skin. I definitely need this in my life on a daily basis.

“Are you sleeping standing up? I think that might be dangerous in the shower.”

My eyes fly open to see Matthias standing in front of me, naked and smiling. “What are you doing here?”

“Watching you enjoying a shower more than I think any other person in the world ever has. Who knew ecstasy could be found from some water rolling over your head?” he says casually, as if walking into my shower is perfectly normal.

“Do you always barge in on people when they’re washing up?”

He grins like he finds my exasperation charming and takes a step toward me. “Actually, this is my first time.”

“Why are you here? Don’t you have your own shower in your room? I know you do since you took a shower yesterday and walked out wearing only a towel.”

None of what I’m saying makes sense, but I’m so flustered I don’t know how to react to him joining me in here. On top of that, he looks incredible. Again. Is there no situation where Matthias King doesn’t look entirely perfect?

“You seemed mad downstairs, so I came up to talk to you. Except you weren’t in your room, so when I heard the water running in here, I figured I’d come in and talk to you. I hadn’t planned on getting into the shower with you, but you looked so good standing here that I couldn’t stop myself.”

“That sounds like an impulse control problem, if you ask me.”

I don’t know why I’m so defensive. It isn’t as if I haven’t seen him nude before this or he hasn’t seen me. We’ve been having sex in the past twenty-four hours. Repeatedly.

“So you were mad. What did I do? Tell me so I can fix it and we can get back to having a good time.”

He takes another step toward me and stops, just far enough out of reach that I can’t touch him but close enough that water droplets begin to form on his skin, making him look even more incredible. It’s like he can’t look bad.

Meanwhile, I suspect I look like a drowned rat standing here.

“You didn’t do anything. Well, that whole blowing thing in front of Eleanor wasn’t great, but she didn’t seem to notice, so I guess it’s okay.”

“Then why are you so cranky with me now?”

“Maybe I don’t like people joining me uninvited in my morning shower.”

One more step and he’s close enough for me to touch. “I don’t believe that.”

Tilting my head back to look up at him, I ask, “You don’t believe I dislike people just joining me in the shower without asking first?”

“Nope.”

“Pretty big ego you have there.”

Matthias arches a single dark eyebrow. “Is that what girls are calling it now? Ego?”

As much as I don’t want to look down, I can’t stop myself. I glance toward his cock and see he’s rock hard and ready to go. Is this guy ever not turned on?