He looked around, taking in my apartment. I was hyper aware of the pile of laundry on the couch, the chairs we’d moved against the wall to make room for toys, the mess of magazines and sunken candles on the table.
A far cry from Phantom’s super-clean space. And his place was asex dungeon. What was my excuse?
His eyes scanned my apartment.Please, stop looking at my mess.
“My sister and her kids just moved out,” I explained. “So. It’s a bit chaotic in here.”
“I like this place. It’s very…you.”
“A mess?”
“Alive.”
Which was a weird thing to say, but it made me smile. I took Phantom’s hand. I liked how big his hands were—I felt like Belle holding the Beast’s paw as I tugged him through my apartment. “This way.”
I led him into the bathroom. I turned on the shower and let the water run through my fingers. “This building is old. It takes a minute for it to…um…heat up…”
My tongue tripped over itself when I realized he’d already unbuttoning his shirt. I was hypnotized by the muscle underneath. He was thick, but not like a gym-rat, still soft in places, strong from lifting people into stretchers for a living.
I noticed a small, inch-long gash near his collarbone. It looked fresh. “What happened there?”
He tucked his chin to examine himself, then poked the spot. “Oh. Right. We had a patient in the middle of a psychosis episode. Apparently, I have the face of an enemy.”
“Did he…stab you?”
“With a pen. I’ll live.”
“Mightier than the sword. Does it hurt?”
I moved to touch the skin underneath it, but he covered the spot. “It’s fine.”
I pressed my lips together. “So it’s true—doctors really do make the worst patients, huh?”
“I don’t need a nurse. I need a shower.” He made eye contact. “Are you joining me?” he asked. Which sounded more like:you’re joining me. Then he dropped his pants.
Dear Fates, I know I’m not your favorite child, but goddamn. You really saidRuby deserves thistonight. Phantom, fully naked, was a majestic sight to behold.
I collected enough saliva to get out the words, “Yes. I am.”
His hands moved to my robe. “May I?” I nodded. He pulled the belt free from its knot and gently slide the robe off my shoulders. His eyes drank me in. His fingertips dropped from my shoulder down my bare breast, as though he were admiring a fragile work of art. The slightest touch made me shiver. “I love the way your body responds to me,” he murmured, with so much conviction that my self-doubt shriveled up and died. He hung up my robe and left his uniform in a pile before pulling the curtain back. He stepped into the shower, then took my hand and helped me over the lip of the tub.
The warm water beat against my back and cascaded down my skin. My shower was small, and our naked bodies couldn’t help but brush against one another.
He cradled my face and pulled me in for a kiss, but stopped before our lips touched. His breath tickled my mouth. He tilted his head and kissed the edge of my lips instead. He kissed mycheek. His lips touched the space underneath my ear that made my knees weak. Each gentle, deliberate kiss melted me into his arms.
“May I touch you, Sir?” I whispered.
“You may.”
I braced myself on his chest, enjoying the strength of his muscles underneath my palms. His mouth met my throat and I felt the teasing pinprick of teeth.
I moaned. I wanted to climb him like a tree.
“Wait…” He stopped at my request, pulling back. I took the bar of soap and lathered it between my hands. “You take such good care of me, Sir. Let me take care of you. Please.”
I put the soap back in its place. I ran my soapy hands along his chest. I mapped little scars here. A smattering of freckles. I washed his new cut gently, cleaning it, and this time, he let me. I grazed my fingers down his middle, tracing the happy trail there. I moved lower…lower. His stomach tightened, muscles clenching in anticipation.
I couldn’t wait anymore. I took his cock in my hands. The soap made my palm slick and immediately, I started tugging.
