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9

AUSTIN

Already things were not goingto plan. Instead of avoiding Rosi for the week, I now had her staying in my resort room. Her clothes still heavy with water, clung to every tempting curve and muscle in her body. I found it hard to not stare. She was so much more substantial than the wispy models who were always trying to court me. I appreciated a healthy body, and Rosi’s curved in all the right places.

So my first stop was my dresser. I tossed her a white T-shirt and a pair of jogging shorts with a drawstring, figuring pants would be too long. Then I peeled off my own shirt and headed for the shower before stopping short.

“Sorry,” I said, turning around. “Ladies first.” I gestured to the alcove and the shower that was far nicer than the one in the secondary bedroom. My cock twitched when I realized she was staring at my chest and twisting a molasses-colored curl around her finger.

“Oh.” She tore her eyes from my pectorals, and the skin around her face and neck darkened. “No. You go ahead. I’ll be fine. I’ll just change here real quick.”

I’d never wanted to invite someone into the shower with me more than I did in that moment. But I knew it wasn’t a good idea. When the lights blinked, I shook my head and strode into the bathroom, already starting my deep breathing.

But even as I ducked under the steaming waterfall, all I could picture was Rosi peeling off her wet clothes and climbing into the shower. So I grabbed my shaft and started stroking it, eager to put an end to any more thought vacations before I did something I’d regret.

Besides, she wouldn’t even shake my hand earlier. She clearly had second thoughts about our almost kiss.

When I came out of the shower in fresh sweatpants, Rosi was sitting on the living room sofa, her knees tucked under her chin. My gaze traveled down the long path of her thighs to where the curve of her ass hid just inside the dark material of my shorts.

“Thanks,” I said, getting her attention.

She let her legs down and stood. I would have been disappointed except that the white T-shirt revealed the nubs of her nipples beneath the material. No bra. Of course there was no bra. I didn’t have an extra one for her.

My cock twitched again. Traitor.

“I…um, ordered room service. I didn’t know what you like so I got a whole bunch of stuff. I figured it’s on Nicole, so…”

“Great,” I said, swinging my arms like an awkward teenager. “I’m not picky. Though I could use some protein.”

“Good. I ordered the seafood platter. I also got a basket of onion rings. Comfort food.”

I smiled, relaxing a little. “I love onion rings. Haven’t had them in years.”

“Unhealthy?” she asked, tilting her head so a curl flopped in her face.

“Not easy to find in Tibet or the Sahara.” I grinned. I couldn’t help trying to impress her. The sound of her laugh gave me the same adrenaline rush as scaling a mountain with my bare hands.

“Well, you’re in luck then because I ordered something else just for fun.”

“Oh?” I asked, moving into the room and flopping down on the couch so she’d sit next to me.

“S’mores. They bring us some sticks and the fixings and we roast them over a tiny campfire.” She rocked back onto the seat beside me and stuck her hands behind her head, proud of herself.

Of course that also had the effect of showing off her prominent nipples again.

I cleared my throat. “So you said you wanted to find me earlier? Before I fell from the sky?”

Rosi sat up straight and picked at the edge of the T-shirt that was far too long on her.

“Yes. We didn’t have much of a chance to talk while avoiding the cameras earlier and when you called this morning, I got the feeling something was…off.”

Smart, resourceful, and perceptive. This woman was a triple threat. “I was just stressed.”

She hummed, and I got the impression she didn’t buy it. Luckily, we were saved by the arrival of dinner.

We set up on the floor in front of the fireplace on the thick white rug that was supposed to be imitation polar bear.

“So you study mythology?” I asked. Keeping her talking about herself was a good way to prevent her from questioning me about Nicole’s fabrication. Besides, I was interested.