With Every Heartbeat (Forbidden Men, #4)

I tried to go back to sleep but thinking about him in the shower, all naked and clean, smearing slick soap over his hard, large body and down between his legs… I suddenly wondered what the heck I was doing in here, alone, while he was in there all wet and sexy.

Grinning goofily to myself, I popped out of bed and pulled on one of his large T-shirts. Bypassing a bra and panties, I shot out of his room and down the hall to where I heard a shower running. I took a breath before grasping the handle and pushing my way inside.

Steam had already filmed the mirrors and heated the room. I considered stripping naked before slipping in with him. But then I bit my lip, suddenly unsure. What if he didn’t like company in the shower? What if my presence upset him instead of delighted him?

Testing the waters, I said, “Quinn?” and slipped the shower curtain aside just enough to see in.

“What the fuck?” Under a pounding stream of water, a fully naked Ten spun around to gape at me.

I screamed and lurched backward, tripping over the toilet and sprawling onto my butt onto the floor. The shower curtain flew the rest of the way open. I scurried upright, shoving Quinn’s shirt down to cover as much of my bare legs as possible.

“Blondie?” he screeched, only to cover his dick with both of his hands as my wide-eyed gaze landed on it without my permission. I slammed my eyes closed. “Oh my God, oh my God. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Spinning away blindly, I fled, running smack into the door before I patted my hands around, found the doorknob, and yanked it open to dart into the hall, only to collide with a huge, hard body.

I screamed again, not expecting anyone. But then Quinn’s smell reached me and instead of trying to escape him, I latched on and climbed up him, and clutched him gratefully.

“Wha...?” he started in confusion.

“I thought it was you,” I babbled. “You said you were going to take a shower. You said you were going to take a shower. Why weren’t you in the shower?”

He hugged me to him. “Ten was already in there, so I thought I’d start breakfast instead.”

I buried my absolutely mortified face into his chest. “Oh my God. I’m never sneaking into a bathroom to shower with you again.”

“You were...?” Before he could finish the question, the bathroom door slammed open behind me.

I clutched Quinn tighter and totally didn’t mean to blurt out, “Something’s wrong with his penis.”

“What?” a clearly confused Quinn said as Ten choked out a horrified growl.

“I’m sorry,” I said, still freaked out about everything that had just happened. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud, but...oh my God. It doesn’t look like yours. There’s this big, blood bruise-looking thing on it.”

“Blondie!” Ten cried in a strained voice. “Shut...up.”

I finally glanced back at him. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, but he was still streaming wet. As I looked at him, though, all I could see was that huge discoloration on his junk.

“I’m sorry,” I said, genuinely remorseful for blurting what was probably something very private about his privates. “I just couldn’t keep it in. I tried. But…oh my God. What is it? Does it hurt?”

Quinn choked out a surprised laugh, while a blushing Ten slapped his palm against his forehead. “It’s a birthmark,” he gritted out. “Just a birthmark. Nothing is wrong with my dick. It doesn’t hurt. I’ve had it since birth.”

“It was big... I mean the bruise, not the penis.” When Ten buried his face in his hands and groaned in misery, I winced. “Sorry. I’m so sorry.”

He lifted his hand. “Just...shut up. Please, for the love of God...stop talking.”

“I’m trying,” I cried, “But it was just so—”

He growled again and pointed his finger in a threatening manner. “You are dead to me.” He stalked toward his room, only to pause and glance back and point at me again. “You owe me breakfast for this. Eggs, toast, and bacon. Lots of fucking bacon.” Spinning away, he stormed off to his room, calling over his shoulder, “And Sunny D too,” right before he slammed his door, hard.

I looked up at Quinn. “I can’t believe I couldn’t stop talking. I feel so awful. I have to be the worst person ever. Did you see him blush? I can’t believe I made Ten blush.”

Instead of scolding me for my stupid, uncontrollable outburst, Quinn grinned. “You are so adorable.” He kissed me on the tip of my nose. “I love that you were the first person I’ve ever seen make my roommate blush.”

“It’s not funny.” I groaned. “I was completely insensitive and—”

“And you’re weren’t serious at all when you said you were never sneaking into my bathroom again to shower with me, right? Because honestly, as long as it’s me in there, and not Ten, you could sneak in every morning and I’d be perfectly okay with that.”