Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
MORGAN
I heard Rhys in the shower. Couldn’t not. He’s vocal.
I think my brain broke when he said my name. I try to tell myself it’s just a name. But that doesn’t change the fact knowing he was thinking of me has turned me on. I have not been this horny since, well ever, I think. My underwear is damp and my clit pulses. Reminding me she’s still there.
Am I really thinking about Rhys in that way?
Eww no. It’s Rhys. He is Shane’s best friend. I will not cross that line.
I haven’t had an orgasm in… Fuck I don’t know when I came last. It’s a bit hard when sex felt like a chore. And if I had a moment to myself, it was to patch myself up. That’s the only time he left me alone. Even my period wasn’t a “safe time” for me.
I have a moment to myself now though. Rhys is with the cops. Esky is asleep. Oh my god, am I about to…
“Morgan?”
Fuck. No, I’m not .
Molly and I hang out while the men talk to the cops. Brent sent her here for that reason. Thankfully it seems my name, or the events of the previous night, don’t get mentioned.
Rhys comes back and tells Molly that Brent wants her home. I wave goodbye then turn my attention to Rhys who is just staring at me.
Looking at him puzzled, I ask. “What?”
“How about a thank you?” His eyes widen as if it’s the obvious thing.
“Ah, for what?”
He runs his hand through his hair; I watch as his muscles contract with the movement. Is it normal to want to lick them? “For what? How about for killing that guy for you.”
“I want to make it painfully clear, I didn’t ask you to do that.” I stand up to leave. “And besides, whatever do you mean? You haven’t told me shit.”
I don’t hang around to hear his excuse, making my way to my room. But it’s Rhys so he yells out, “I know Davis told you. He is on pain meds, can’t shut him up.”
I continue not to say anything but just before closing the door, I flip him off.
The last thing I see before closing the door is him glaring at me.
It creates a warm feeling in my chest. I love pissing him off.
My favourite pastime, really. The minutes tick past, and I grow bored.
But I don’t want to be the first to crack, so I decide to call Shane since apparently, I have reception.
I haven’t spoken to him in a while and I kind of miss him.
The phone rings and rings and rings. Just as I’m about to give up he answers.
“Mo? ”
I can’t help the frown that takes over my face, “Why are you panting?”
“Workout”
Ah I’ve missed his one worded response.
“Kerry-Anne?” I tease while leaning back on the bed. I watch the fan spin as Shane mutters.
“Not funny.”
I chuckle softly to myself. “You’re right, it’s hilarious.” He doesn’t say anything, apparently not possessing any ounce of humour. An awkward moment passes before I break the silence. “Anything on where Ethan is?”
“No, sorry.”
“That’s ok. Rhys killed someone. Apparently, it was an accident though?” I’m not sure if I’m allowed to tell him that. But oh well, he knows now.
“Ah, so he did it.”
“I’m sorry what, you knew? You’re a cop, how can you condone murder?”
“He was protecting you. Has my stamp of approval.”
I roll my eyes so hard, I’m sure he can hear it. “You know I can protect myself, yeah?”
“I know. Look I got to go, but I’ll call you later.”
“Ok well, tell Kerry-Anne I said to rot in hell.”
“I’m not with her.” Then a dial tone. Seems I struck a nerve.
Instead of putting my phone down, I decide to scroll once again through social media. It’s all pretty boring. I notice I haven’t posted anything since 2022, so I take a quick picture of Esky, curled up at the end of my bed. I post it with the caption: “My favourite girl.”
Short, sweet and my coming back to the world that is social media. Once again reaching out to Paige crosses my mind.
Her profile picture is of her and Levi, no surprise there.
What does surprise me is that she had a baby.
I have missed out on so much of her life.
I don’t want to miss out on anymore, if she will let me.
Steeling my spine, I tap on the message icon and prepare myself.
I write my apologies but the page wont load.
The internet is down. Pilbara living, I guess.
My stomach rumbles, I need something to.
Still not wanting to be the first to crack, I listen for Rhys.
God, how did I go from being prepared to masturbate to the thought of Rhys to being annoyed with him, to social media?
Well, the first part kind of sums up our relationship.
Maybe not the masturbating thing. That’s new.
When I don’t hear anything from outside of my room, I assume he’s at the fire, so I go to the kitchen to get myself some food. When I open the fridge, I hear a male voice behind me. “Thought you were hiding?”
I spin around, my heart in my throat, just to find Rhys sitting in the dark like a fucking creep, the light from the fridge casting a glow over his sharp features.
“Rhys.” I place my hand over my racing heart. “You scared me.”
“Sorry, Princess.”
With I sigh, I try to make a demand, “Stop with the Princess thing.”
“Nope.” He pops the P, pissing me off even more.
I give him my back and go back to hunting for food. Seriously, how do men live on just the basics? When I stand up, I feel Rhys at my back. Again, he causes me to jump.
“Rhys.” It comes out in a breath .
He stretches one arm out over my head, allowing his hand to rest on the fridge, propping him up. The other ghosts past my hip. Almost like he’s scared to touch me.
My heartrate has picked up. I don’t know if that is from the scare or from Rhys being so close.
He groans before saying, “Don’t say my name like that.”
“Like what?”
He bends down. His mouth grazes my ear. “You know how.”
I let out a stuttered breath. Turning to face him, his hair has fallen over his forehead, almost getting in his green eyes, that are lit with an emotion I don’t want to name.
His eyes dance over my face before resting on my slightly parted lips. My eyes drift down to his lips, and I watch as he licks them, before biting on his bottom one.
Seeing him do that does something funny to me.
Just as I think he’s going to lean down to kiss me, he pushes off the fridge and turns. Muttering a quick ‘fuck’ while rubbing his face with his hands.
I’m stuck standing where he left me. My eyes still glued to where he departed.
My alarm beats Rhys to waking me up. Today we have the muster. They said it’ll only be a couple of days. I don’t know what they’re doing, I just know I have to go with them.
I wish I could stay back, but no, Rhys is back to must protect Morgan mode. It’s annoying. He’s annoying. This whole situation is annoying .
Begrudgingly, I get up and get ready, mindlessly walking to the kitchen with one thing on my mind. Coffee. But I’m interrupted by a wet wall of muscle.
“Careful, Princess.”
Rhys. Of fucking course.
He has me in a tizzy. Kissing me. Saving me. Teasing me. Killing a man for me. Walking around half naked as if his tattooed torso isn’t going to add to my torment.
I remind myself he is Rhys. So, no.
But even as I peel my face from his body, I take in a deep breath of something that makes him smell so damn good. He smells like a man. But I’m confident that the something is entirely him.
“You’re in my way.” Is all I say as I walk around him.
Coffee. Then muster. Then maybe some solo time. Because I need to scratch this itch.
As soon as I’m holding the hot mug of coffee, I go outside to wait for the others with Esky is close behind. She goes and does her business and sniffs around for a bit, before she stops and looks in the direction of a twig snapping, then she’s rushing over to the cause.
“Jesus Esky, there’s no sneaking up on you.” Beau says as he rounds the corner.
“You broke a twig, even I heard that.”
“Fine, I can’t sneak up on either of you.” We look at each other then start laughing. “You have her trained well. Never seen any animal take to a person the way she’s taken to you.”
Esky makes her way back in my direction. Patting her head, I look at Beau. “It was meant to be.”
He makes faking gagging noises, and I throw my now empty cup at him, but he catches it. “That wasn’t very nice. ”
I stick my tongue out. It’s not an effective argument but it’s all I got.
“Tweedle-Dee getting a rest day?”
“Yeah, getting stabbed will do that to ya.” He looks down but then snaps his head back up, “Wait, if he’s Tweedle-dee, that makes me Tweedle-dumb?”
I shrug, “Well if the shoe fits.”
Before he can retort, Rhys exits the house and stands next to where I’m sitting. I look at Beau with a look of triumph.
“You two are bickering like an old married couple.”
“Eww.” We say at the same time. Then lose it laughing again.
This is the way you should start the day: with banter and laughter. And coffee, always coffee. Beau is like the sibling I never asked for, and I’m sure he sees me the same.
Rhys narrows his eyes. “Right well, let’s go meet Brent and the others. The quicker we get out there, the quicker we can get back.”
“Fucking aye.” Beau leads the way.
“Come on Esky.” I stand picking up her bowl and a couple of water bottles.
Rhys tries telling me she isn’t coming.
“Yes, she is.” I give him my back because as far as I’m concerned, the argument is over.
“No.”
I spin to face him. We are standing toe to toe. “Yes.”
“Morgan.”
“Rhys.”
The air shifts. Growing heavier. Electricity fills the small gap between us.
“Fuck, fine.” Then he turns and stomps off, and I do a little happy dance in victory. Maybe today won’t be so bad.