"I just wanted to let you know I got a call back for a job at a different restaurant, so I won't be back for a couple hours. If they hire me, I may start work tonight."
My lips twisted into what I hoped resembled a smile. "That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you."
I knew how hard he'd been looking for a job to replace his bartending gig. I felt wholly responsible for him getting fired. The past couple weeks I made it a point to help him scour the local listings and helped him beef up his resume to atone.
"Thanks, I..."
His eyes left mine and traveled down the length of my body encased by the comforter. "How are you not burning up? It's like a furnace in here."
I chuckled nervously. "Oh, it's nothing. I must have gotten cold."
Was it my imagination or were his eyes boring holes into the fabric?
"Was there something else?" I asked. The sooner I could get him out of my room, the sooner I could take my own shower and wash this whole morning away. With his eyes on me and the memory of the orgasm still dancing along my skin it was almost too much.
I was too close to asking him to stay.
Too close to taking another kiss.
Too close to wondering what it'd feel like to have his hands bring me to the edge instead of my own.
"I'm done in the bathroom if you need to use it."
My cheeks reddened as the image of having him in there with me surfaced. Get it under control, Charlie. "Thanks, I'll be out in a minute."
He shifted, pausing in the doorway for another tantalizing second, then turned and left me with the image of his ass framed in a thin cotton towel seared into my brain.
I didn't get out from under the covers until I heard his bedroom door shut behind him, then I sprang into action, grabbing whichever clothes were closest and my phone, then zipping to the bathroom. My muscles didn't relax until the bathroom door was also shut between us. I stripped down, my whole body tingled with awareness. I needed a cold shower immediately.
My phone rang as I was stepping into the shower, but I didn't recognize the number,again, so I ignored it and forced myself under the frigid spray instead. As I soaped up, I slowly turned on the hot water until I was no longer shivering. By the time I finished washing and conditioning my hair, I could breathe normally again. After I exfoliated and shaved, my thoughts settled. When I stepped out to towel off and lotion up, I was convinced I could handle seeing Liam again and not think about the dream, my fantasy, or what he looked like in that towel.
That is, until I got dressed and nearly bumped into him in the hallway and then backed up so quickly I collided with the wall.
Dressed in crisp black slacks and a long sleeved button-down shirt, he was as mouth-watering as he had been in the towel. I couldn’t decide which version of him I liked better. It wasn’t fair he looked as good fully dressed as he did half-naked.
"Jesus, Char. You okay?"
I rubbed the back of my head. "I'm fine," I said to the notch at his throat. His heartbeat fluttered there and my first thought was that I wanted to kiss him there, right where his scent was strongest. "I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"Yeap." I spun around and marched to the kitchen where I pulled out the makings for cereal. "You want some?"
He sat down at a stool by the island. "Sure. Thanks. Are you sure you're okay? You've been acting...weird this morning."
I busied myself with the bowls. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just an early morning."
He chuckled. "It's nearly eleven."
My glare didn't incinerate him like I'd hoped as I handed him his cereal. "Eat your food," I ordered, then began smashing buttons on the Keurig hoping at least one thing would go right.
"Stop, stop," Liam said, as he got to his feet and put his hand over mine on the machine. "You're going to break it like that."
All I could do was growl.
"Go sit down," he said with a laugh.
I took my seat next to his and stuffed my face with cereal so I wouldn't do something stupid like ask him to kiss me again.
