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“Are you stereotyping romance readers?” I drop my hands from her face. “Can’t a guy read romance? Is there some unspoken law I don’t know about?”
She beams, “Actually, no, there’s no law. In fact, more guysshouldread romance books. They would learn a helluva lot.”
“And you? Do you read romance books?” Her skin is cool under my touch, and I glide my hands down her neck, to her shoulders and down her arms.
She shrugs, “I’ve read a few reverse harem books, but mostly I read erotica, but only when I can’t watch porn freely.”
Shaking my head, I grin and look back towards the wall of water separating us from the others. I can hear Simon and Marcus still splashing around like annoying kids. It’s nice to hear.
“Are you ready to go back out there?” I point over my shoulder when I turn back to Rhys. Her blotchy cheeks have lightened now.
“Yeah, I could use some sun.” Rhys wades through the water to go past me, but I gently grip her upper arm, stopping her by my side.
“I know you and Marcus re-united, but I want you to know that it doesn’t mean you have to have sex or anything like that with anyone else yet. You’ve had a tough week. It’s ok if you need to take a step back and just be a girl hanging out with some mates.”
Her face softens, and she sucks in her lower lip as her eyes study mine.
“Thank you. For once, I could really use some mates instead of fuck buddies.”
Rhys rises on her toes, leaning towards me, so instinctively, I lean down and offer her my cheek, like a friend would do. Her lips are warm as they press gently against my skin, and as she pulls back, she whispers in my ear.
“I appreciate your kindness, but if I don’t get away from you, I’m going to slip my hand down your shorts and pull out your hard dick, and once I have that beast in my hands, Cole, there’s no turning back.”
I release her arm when she lowers herself back down, giggling to herself as she leaves the cavern. Thank fuck she walked away. If she had done what she said, I don’t think I’d be strong enough to hold myself back. Ugh! I tip my head back, glaring at the rocks above me before I re-adjust my dick in my shorts. The fucking thing is nearly poking out the top. I want Rhys so bad. I crave sinking into her wet heat. It’s getting harder to be around her and not act like a horny fucker.
I’m determined, though. I need to show her that there’s more to it than just sex. I can see she feels it, but her addiction clouds her judgement. It’s like there’s a barrier around her heart, stopping her from truly understanding what it feels like to love someone and have them love her back. I don’t know if me and the guys are good for her. I have no idea if we can pull off a shared relationship, but hopefully, Rhys can finally experience something more meaningful that will help her through her life, even if we aren’t in it.
14
Rhys
Today has been the best. We spent the whole day in the water. If we weren’t swimming or trying to drown each other, we were having races in the two blow-up dinghies that Jared brought. When we got sick of that, we sat in the water in our camp chairs, drinking. Aside from Lexi and Ayden, who are glued at the hip but in the best way, everyone mingles, and we are all just mates hanging out. Even Bell makes an effort in her drug-free state, giving us a glimpse of her smile more than a handful of times, which is a rare occasion. Much like my Big Guy, Garrett.
As the sun starts to go down, the air grows chilly, and I join the girls for a quick hot shower while the guys light the campfire and get started on dinner. There are only two showers in the public bathroom, so Tillie and I go first and then Bell and Lexi barge in after us covered in goosebumps.
As they shower, I comb through my wet hair, studying my completely makeup-free face in the mirror. I’d intended on re-painting my liner and lashes, but for the first time ever, I don’t want to. Tyler and Shaun are the only ones who have seen me completely natural, and they told me I’m stunning and beautiful that way. Were they being serious?
Leaning closer to the mirror, I rest the comb on the bench and examine my face again, turning from side to side.
“You ok?” Tillie asks, gaining my attention. She’s standing next to me, brushing her pixie hair as she looks at my reflection.
“Do I look weird without makeup?”
Her brows shoot up at my question, and she turns to me, her eyes no longer watching me in the mirror.
“Are you kidding? You’re fucking beautiful, Rhys. Why would you think you look weird?”
I shrug and face her. “I don’t know. Maybe because everyone is used to seeing me in my war paint.”
She shakes her head. “You don’t look weird without makeup. You just look different, and not in a bad way. You look like a fucking model, Rhys.”
I turn back to my reflection, taking in my dark brown eyes and naturally thick dark lashes. My eyes look bigger without the frame of black liner on them. They also look softer. Sweeter. I’m not sure if that’s the correct representation of who I am. I’m not sweet.
“What if they don’t like me this way?” I turn back to Tillie. “What if they prefer the sexed-up look?”
Tillie offers me a sympathetic smile. “I’ve seen the way they look at you when you’re not aware. It’s more than lust, Rhys. They care about you, and if you show them the real you,” Tillie reaches out and takes a lock of my dark, damp hair and lets it slide through her fingers, “They are going to care about you even more.”
“What do you mean?”
