I head toward the bathroom and shut the door. My body is nearly vibrating with excitement to dive into a nice, cool shower. I catch myself in the mirror and gasp. There’s a crease in my cheek from the shirt I was using as a pillow, my hair is sticking to my forehead from the sweat, and I have bags under my eyes. Damn, I look a hot mess.
I don’t even let the water get to its full heat before stepping under the showerhead. The cool water cascades down my chest and between my legs, and I can’t help but moan loudly. I grab the soap and squirt a shit load into my palm, and the smell of Lip invades the small tub. I close my eyes and inhale the tones of mint and spice before fingering it into my hair.
I shower till the water runs freezing cold. Climbing out, the bathroom door swings open and Lip crashes into me. I’m naked and wet and standing right before him, his arms full with a towel and what looks like a shirt. He lazily trails his eyes down my body and I swallow hard. I attempt to cross my legs and cover my chest when Lip suddenly drops the linens. We both lean forward at the same time to grab them and bump heads.
“Shit!” I wince. I grab a towel quickly and wrap it around myself as Lip turns his body, looking at the wall.
“Sorry, I thought you were still in the shower.” His words come out rough and heavy with lust. “I threw your clothes in the wash. You can sleep in one of my shirts tonight.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, clutching the towel around me tighter.
His eyes sweep toward me, giving me a once-over before turning and leaving.
My heart races in my chest and my hands shake with adrenaline as I shut the door. I lean over the sink, my fingers gripping the counter until my knuckles turn white. I raise my head, finding my reflection in the mirror.
“Holy shit,” I mutter.
I wait in the bathroom until the door to Lip’s room shuts. Peeking out, all the lights are off in the house, so I tiptoe to my room and shut the door. I look down at a Bud Light shirt of Lip’s that I’m wearing. It’s big; I’m practically swimming in the thing. I toss my head backward, the back of it hitting the door behind me.
“What am I doing?” I mutter, thumping my head against the door with each syllable. I really shouldn’t be here. Lip’s face flashes in my mind, the look of hunger flaring in his eyes when he saw me naked. I draw in a large breath and shake the image from my head. An unexpected yawn leaves my mouth when I lift my head and eye the extremely welcoming bed.
“Mmm. Sleep,” I mumble before I flip the lights off and drag my feet to the bed. Plopping into the sea of white cotton, I curl myself into the comforter and close my eyes. It’s going to be one of those nights where I’m too tired to think about anything else besides sleep.
Good.
“Goodnight, Lip,” I whisper into oblivion.
LIP
Sitting on the bed, I run my hands through my hair in distress. I have a chick in my fucking home. A chick I’m not banging, at that. I close my eyes, the image of her naked and beaded with water from the shower flaring behind my eyelids. She’s freckled. Little dustings of freckles scatter along her chest, perky tits and thighs. A growl rumbles up my throat as I think about it, my briefs becoming strained as my dick lifts at the thought of her pussy dusted with little freckles. Who knew I was attracted to that shit? Those long legs that peeked out from beneath her towel make me want to do things to her, images of them draped around my shoulders filling my mind as I wring my fingers together in frustration. I stand and cross my hands behind my head, releasing a long breath and trying to clear my mind of her sexy ass.
I’ve never not fucked a girl I’ve brought back to my place before. Hell, I’ve never chased a girl before. But she’s different somehow, and clearly needs help. I knew she was lying about her brother, I fucking knew it. But coming across her at the laundromat was pure coincidence. I was there picking up a leather cut of a patched-in member who got spray paint on it. Life of a prospect, I suppose—I get the bitch work. But it will be worth it in the end, I know it.
When I saw Cherry’s car sitting at the side of the building, I was pissed. I was saddened that she really didn’t have anybody, and I was also furious. It’s hotter than hell outside and she was locked up in that piece-of-shit car with the windows rolled up. I shake my head at the image of her sweating and nearly suffocating. Her grayish blue eyes do something to me. They make my chest anchor in the pit of my stomach, and my balls tighten at the same time. They are gorgeous yet hold so much sorrow and torment. You can tell just by looking at Cherry that she’s been through something rough.
My gaze trails to the door. I wonder if she’s asleep, or if she’s up still. I know it’s gotta be weird being in a strange guy’s house. Opening the door, my heart beats off-rhythm against my chest. With each step toward her door, my mind runs with confusion on what the fuck I’m doing. It’s quiet; maybe she’s asleep. I gently place my ear to the door, but hear nothing.
“Night, Cherry,” I whisper. I pull from the door and head back to my room, where I’ll jerk off to a feisty little ginger that plagues my mind.
CHERRY