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Imaginary-me collapsed on Colin’s chest. The guys softened and slid out of me, Colin trailing his fingers through my hair, and Tanner murmuring, “You’re so beautiful.”
Water sluiced around me, slowly drawing me back to reality, but not taking away the orgasms.
So. Good.
Not the real thing, but I was satisfied with the outcome.
I finished my shower, tiny reminders shivering through me every time my hands drifted between my legs, and forced myself to get out before I spent the whole morning in here.
I wiped the steam from the bathroom mirror, and a flushed reflection stared back at me. The red in my cheeks was as much from the fun daydream and orgasm as it was from the hot water.
My work schedule today was mostly phone calls, emails, and administrative work. I didn’t have any video conferences scheduled, and that usually meant I’d tug my hair into a ponytail, toss on whatever, and be done with it.
But I wanted to feel stunning, even if no one saw me but me. I took the time to dry my hair enough that that natural wave would stay when I worked product into the curls, and grabbed my favorite shade of lipstick—the burgundy color that made me look incredible. The color I hadn’t worn since I stopped fucking around.
I opened the tube and a squashed lumpy stump of nothing laughed at me. One of the girls must have gotten to it before me. At least they enjoyed it rather than it going to waste. I’d have to make do with lip gloss and mascara.
My favorite matching bra and panty set—burgundy satin and lace like the non-existent lipstick—came out of retirement. I didn’t care that no one else would see it; putting it on made me feel extra sexy.
The entire look was topped off with a blouse that was probably a shade too thin for me to be wearing dark lingerie under it, and the capris I knew for a fact made my ass look good. There was nothing wrong with a pair of amazing mom jeans when they were comfortable and complimentary.
Now to take my gorgeous self and sit in a basement all day where no one would see me. The thought should have been depressing, but it made me laugh.
I opened the bedroom door and pulled up short at the sight of Tanner, hand frozen in midair as if he’d been about to knock.
His gaze froze too, right on my chest.
Heat flooded my face. “Can I help you?”
He shook his head and forced his attention up, to look me in the eye. “You look incredible.”
Fuck me, please?The whimper echoed in my head, and I forced it aside. “Thank you.”
“But I bet you have to get to work.” He gave a light cough and the mood shattered. Mostly. “I have a last-minute appointment with a loan officer, and I need to be there in an hour. Colin’s in the bathroom downstairs getting ready for a mural job. May I use yours?”
“Of course.” I stepped aside.
I left him alone in my bedroom, while my apparently-not-sated hormones screamed at me to go back and jump him. Down girl. Fantasies and daydreams were enough for me. Especially when it came to Alana’s coaches.
The thought didn’t carry as much weight as it had in the past, and I had to force it to repeat like a scratched CD while I started work.
6
colin
I hatedthe uneasy feeling in my gut that said Tannercaughtme last night. Doing what? Shoulder rubs for Daria? Big fucking deal. Nothing I hadn’t done for him thousands of times, and that never meant anything.
Or maybe that was the problem. It always meant something to me. The contact and closeness whenever I helped Tanner work out tight muscles. The soft grunts he made. The fact that last night, massaging Daria’s neck left that same light, giddy feeling rushing through me.
And I wanted to think when Tanner saw us, a hint of uncertainty and hesitation splashed across his face. But I didn’t know if that was true or if I just wanted it to be.
I emerged from my room, ready for work, and was surprised to see Tanner’s door open and him not there. Maybe he went to the pool early. Not usually his thing, but he was pushing harder than he should be for the qualifying trials.
My appointment with Deacon wasn’t for another hour. If I got there early though, I could grab a coffee on my way there and spend some time checking the place out. I’d skip breakfast, since we were on a budget, but I always had a couple extra bucks for coffee.
At the creak of a door and footsteps on the stairs, I looked up ready with a smile for Daria, and my throat went dry at the sight of Tanner coming down the stairs, hair damp, and wearing hismake an impressionclothes. The shirt that might be a size too small, but it didn’t matter because it showed off how incredibly defined his chest and arms were. The slacks that made his ass look amazing. The outfit he’d broughtjust in casethat I teased him for thinking he’d need.
Seeing him like this wasn’t new, but seeing him come out of Daria’s room freshly showered sent an unreasonable wave of assumption and jealousy coursing through me.
