Fit for Love

7. Kendall

Chapter 7

Kendall

As soon as they leave, I secure myself inside the apartment with the door chain, just in case, then head over to the kitchen and grab a garbage bag along with one of those heavy-duty Ziplocs.

As I walk to the bathroom, I can’t help but take in my surroundings. Between the posters of MMA fighters on the walls and the spartan furniture, the place screams “bachelor pad.” Only the dog accouterments take away from that impression.

When I get to the bathroom, I smile at the lack of lotions, hair conditioners, and bath things, like salts, oils, and bombs. No woman has utilized this bathroom for any length of time—or if she has, Ash must’ve been ruthless at excommunicating any hint of her.

I take the soup-drenched clothes off and stash them in the garbage bag. When I get to my socks, I hide them in the Ziploc, making sure to seal in the smell, and stash them next to the bag with the gym socks. Next, I start the shower and use the handled showerhead to rinse off the parts of me that came into contact with the soup.

As I do so, I’m tempted to direct the spray at my clit until I achieve a happy ending, the way I sometimes do at home. But it doesn’t feel right to do it in someone else’s shower. It would be like Ash stroking his cock in my shower.

Holy shit. Why did I go there? The image makes me want to have my way with the showerhead and then go for seconds with my fingers.

No. I’m not going to abuse Ash’s hospitality like that. It will have to wait until I get home.

Proud of my restraint, I step out of the shower, towel off, and put my underwear back on. Grabbing another towel, I wrap it around myself and return to the closet, where I choose a pair of new-looking sweatpants, a T-shirt with pictures of two corgis in identical positions labeled “sitting” and “standing,” and a gray hoodie.

As I put it on, Ash’s distinctive, yummy smell envelops me, making me wet all over again.

Damn it. I should’ve done the taco handshake in the shower while I had the chance. Or, according to Ash’s argument that tacos are hot dogs, would it be the hot dog handshake? No… that would mean something very different.

Grr. Where is Ash? As soon as he’s back, I can rush home and take care of business there, like a normal person.

The doorbell rings.

Speak of the devil.

I head over to the front door and remove the chain. “Come in.”

Sir Ems enters first, dancing with excitement as if we were best friends who haven’t seen each other in a few years. Ash follows, unhooking his short-legged friend from the leash and giving him a bone to chew.

“Feeling better?” He looks me over approvingly.

“Sure.” If by “better,” he means soup-free. As far as my libido goes, I?—

“Did you decide if you want to go to a museum, see a Broadway show, or take a stroll in Central Park for our next date?”

I snort. “That wasn’t as smooth as you probably thought it was.”

At the same time, the idea that there will be another date does all sorts of funny things to the proverbial butterflies in my belly.

“But you’re thinking about it,” he says confidently.

“Am I?” I take my phone out. “Here. Put in your contact info and call your phone so we have a way to get in touch. We’ll work out the details later.”

He accepts my phone and does as I said. When he hands it back to me, his fingers brush mine, and my breath stills in my lungs. My eyes lock with his, and the world around us seems to fade as my skin heats and my heart thuds in a fast, uneven rhythm.

“Kendall…” His voice is low and husky as his gaze falls to my lips. He looks to be in the grip of the same madness, his golden skin tinged with color and his nostrils flaring as he stares at my mouth. “May I kiss you?”

No. No way.

At least that’s what I should say. Because I’ve sworn off men, especially good-looking, charming ones like Ash. Because I don’t need another heartbreak coming so soon on the heels of the last one. Because if he kisses me, it won’t stop there, and it’ll be awkward the next morning. Because?—

“Yes.” The word escapes my lips unbidden, and before I can take it back, he swoops in and claims his kiss.