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“Such a gentleman, demanding I take my clothes off.”

“Don’t even pretend you wouldn’t get naked for me without me even asking.”

That makes me laugh. “How about we don’t start this again—I’m too tired. But you can sleep in the bed with me, since we are not children.”

“I sleep naked.”

“You’ve had your cock inside me. I’m sure I will be able to refrain from touching it.”

Clay pulls his shirt over his head. “Please feel free to touch it if you really want to.”

He throws his shirt at me and I catch it, then he goes into his bathroom.

I hear the shower turn on and I have a fuck-it moment; I’m not sleeping after a seven-hour shift without showering first. I don’t bother knocking, pushing the ajar door further open, and Clay rubs a circle on the glass door so I see his face through it.

“You’re keen. Couldn’t wait to see me naked, huh?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I smell like stale beer and have been on my feet since my shift started. Move over,” I say as I get undressed.

“You know we have more bathrooms, right?”

“I do, but you are not naked in them. While your personality may need work, I don’t know if you’re aware, but you are pretty to look at. Plus, it’s conserving water, so be a hero and help save the world, Clay.”

He slides the shower screen open as I shimmy my jeans and panties down my legs. He watches intently as I step out of them, shuck off my shirt and bra, and slip into the shower. The water is scalding hot, just the way I like it. I don’t think I have ever met someone who likes the water as hot as I do. I move past him and step directly under the spray, washing off the day. Clay is behind me and I can feel him staring as I reach for the shampoo, but he takes it out of my hand and gives me a different bottle.

“That one was conditioner,” he says.

“Thanks. Maybe you should put labels on them, since they are both just black.”

“That one has a white lid.”

I wash my hair, and when I tip my head back to rinse it out, his hands lock onto my hips. I glance at him over my shoulder.

“If you keep looking at me like that . . .”

“Like what?”

He smiles at me and spins me around to face him. “Like you want to fuck me.”

“Maybe I do.”

He walks me backward until I’m pressed against the tiles, his body crowding mine, then he leans in and drags his mouth from my jaw to my throat. I tip my head back to give him better access.

“You drive me insane,” he says against my neck.

“Good, it’s my favorite pastime,” I murmur.

He smiles, and his hands roam over my body. I like this side of him when he gets out of his head. I run my hands over his shoulders and down his arms, feeling every muscle. Clay releases a rough sound from his throat as I drag my nails up his back, then he lifts my leg and I wrap it around him. His forehead drops to mine, and I close my eyes.

“Fuck, Clay, I need you.”

“Look at me,” he demands, and I open my eyes to him staring straight into my soul.

I want him to see all of me, so I keep my eyes locked on his, and he holds my gaze as he lines up his cock and pushes inside me.

He doesn’t move straight away, just stays buried deep. “You fit me so fucking well,” he says against my lips, then rolls his hips. I lose my breath, needing this more than he knows. I never expected to feel safe with him, but I do.

“And I don’t know what the fuck to do with that,” he finishes.