Chapter 8
Let’s Talk About Sex
GREER
I take the most heavenly shower of my life. Warm water throughout. A door that locks. Bottles of things that smell divine and feel silky against my skin. And the towel. It’s heated and so soft, I want to just go to dinner wearing this.
That would definitely make a statement I’m not ready to make. When I open the door to my bedroom, I’m not really surprised to find Roarke on my bed with the tablet. He’s barefoot, in just jeans. No shirt.
I’ve seen his body oiled down and gritted up for movies, but the real thing is so much better. He’s got pecs and abs and that pronounced V thing that makes me salivate. His jeans ride low on his hips. When he turns his head to look at me, those blue eyes are heated.
“I would have joined you, but the door was locked.” He makes a pouty face that makes me laugh. “That wasn’t very nice, poppet.”
“I’m not ready for communal showers.” I’m not sure I was ready for what happened in my old apartment either. I tighten the towel over my breasts and straighten the one on my head. Two! I have two towels! Both fluffy.
“That’s definitely going on your to-do list.” He taps on the tablet. “Communal showers.”
I shake my head and go to my dresser. The problem I have is what to wear. I don’t really own any blow an actor’s mind type clothes. I’m more of a what’s on sale at Old Navy type of gal, or hey, look what I found at the thrift store for one dollar, and look, it has pockets.
Roarke wolf whistles, and I check to make sure the back of my towel still covers me. Thankfully, it does.
“Those baggy clothes do not do you justice, poppet.” The bed sounds like he’s moving. Him touching me is a bad idea.
I turn with one hand out and the other on my towel. “Stop right there, Benji.”
He cocks an eyebrow and inches forward so he sits on the edge of the bed. “I let you get away with that in the car because you were driving. But those are tickling words.”
“Tickling?” We aren’t children.
I don’t have time to react before he’s in front of me. His hands hold my hips, burning me even through the thick towel.
“You move really quick.” The words slip out. My defenses refuse to cooperate. Mostly because I like when he touches me. My body goes all soft and willing every time he’s close.
He grins as he backs me against the wall. “I played sports in high school and college.”
My breathing quickens as he closes in on me, surrounding me with his intoxicating cologne. The memory of his hands and lips on me makes me weak with anticipation for whatever he’ll do to me.
“Now that I’ve got you here, I’m not sure I want to tickle you.” His voice is lower as his head dips toward mine.
“You don’t?” I feel like everything is hazy as I lick my suddenly dry lips.
“No, poppet, I don’t.” His mouth claims mine. He lifts me off my feet and presses me against the wall as he explores my mouth with his tongue and lips, devouring every inch of me.
I can’t do anything but hold on, one hand on my towel and the other on him as he thoroughly kisses me. No one’s kissed me the way he does.
“For fuck’s sake, Roarke, put the poor woman down.” Wyatt’s voice penetrates the desire fogging up my brain. “She’s been here one day. She hasn’t signed an NDA. Give the woman some space before she goes to the press and tells them how much of a hound dog you really are.”
Laughing, Roarke presses his forehead to mine and shakes his head.
“I’m the best kind of hound dog, poppet.” After sneaking another quick kiss, he lowers me to my feet and turns to face Wyatt. I lean against the wall, letting my knees figure out how to hold me again.
“And what were you doing walking into her bedroom without knocking?” Roarke wiggles his brows at me before giving Wyatt a seriously offended face. “She might have been changing.”
“I did knock. I’m sure you would have heard it if you hadn’t been occupied.” Wyatt’s gaze drinks me in. Fuck, just that look makes my knees weak.
My cheeks heat even more. These guys are overwhelming. I clear my throat. “I need to get dressed.”
“Go ahead, poppet. We’ll wait.” Roarke walks over to my bed and sits on the edge, after adjusting his erection in his pants. I swallow and jerk my gaze away from the bulge.
Wyatt smiles and moves to join Roarke on the bed. Both of them look at me in anticipation.
“This isn’t going to work,” I mumble.
“You just loosen the knot there.” Roarke points toward my towel. “It should drop, and then you just put on whatever you decide to wear. Or nothing. We’re not formal for dinner here.”
His cocky grin makes me want to throw a shoe at him. Wyatt leans back on his hands. At least he has on a shirt this time, but still wears those sweats with whatever snake he’s smuggling underneath them. My god, he’s big all over.
My thighs clench. I know they want me and I want them, but how much of that is this starstruck feeling, and how much is actual desire? I need to figure that out, but these guys aren’t going to make this easy.
Rules. All new homes have rules and enforcers. The enforcer around here seems to be Mason. But it’s always best to make an attempt to resolve the situation myself before involving the enforcer.
“Look, I appreciate you like to be entertained, but I’d like to get dressed without an audience. At least until I decide whether I want to take this attraction any further.” I hope I sound calm and reasonable and not like a teenage girl whose brother won’t get out of her room.
“See, she admits it, she’s attracted to me. Aren’t you, poppet?” Roarke elbows Wyatt, who shoves him sideways on the bed.
“She’s attracted to all of us, asshole.” Wyatt grabs Roarke’s arm and hauls him off the bed toward the door. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he stays out this time.”
“Thank you.” I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Wyatt smirks back at me as he shoves Roarke out the door. “I’ll claim my thank-you properly later, kitten.”
The door closes behind them. I quickly walk over to it and engage the lock. It may not be very effective, but it gives me a little modicum of privacy.
And I’m left to my dilemma of what to wear. I grab a nice bra and panty set and put those on quickly before rewrapping in the towel. I can use all the barriers between me and Roarke. My lips still buzz from his kiss, and my fresh panties are already damp.
I pick a loose sundress and run a comb through my hair. It will have to do. In the mirror, I just look like me. Not amazing. Not wonderful. Just me. I’m not sure what these guys are seeing.
Bristol!
Grabbing my phone, I pull up my text messages.
Me: Got the job. Moved in already.
Thank you so much!
So much to talk about. Call you later.
I plug in my charger and put my phone on it before heading out the door. Aiden’s door opens and he steps into the hallway at the same time as I do.
“Did you plan that?” I smile suspiciously.
He gives me this half grin that makes my heartbeat skip. His gaze flows over me. “How was the shower?”
“Heavenly.” I sigh. “Whatever I do after this, I need to make a lot of money so I can get a place with a nice shower.”
Aiden lifts an eyebrow, and I almost slap my hand over my mouth. Why do I keep telling him things? It’s bad enough that Roarke saw where I’ve been living and gave me an orgasm while my ex listened. But with Aiden, little things keep slipping out. Some part of me trusts him with my inner thoughts, and that’s dangerous.
“What’s next?” I need to get back on track and focus.
“We need to figure out what’s for dinner.” He gestures for me to lead. As I pass him, he says, “I like the sundress, little warrior.”
My cheeks warm. “Thank you.”
I head down the stairs and toward the kitchen. Mason has a handful of menus. Roarke and Wyatt sit on the island stools.
“What are we ordering tonight?” Aiden’s hand lands on the small of my back. I almost freeze at his warm touch and the sparks rippling out from it, but he guides me forward to join the others.
Mason’s gaze roams over me, heating me even more. I’m glad I chose something light and airy, because these guys make me hot and bothered.
“We haven’t decided.” Mason has two stacks of menus on the island in front of him.
I haven’t seen paper menus in a while. Usually I look them up on my phone, but we don’t order out like these guys probably do. Is McDonald’s even an option?
“Come here, poppet.” Roarke pats the stool between him and Wyatt.
I glance at Aiden. Does he want me near him? I don’t want to crowd him, but I want him to know I’m here for him. He’s my priority in this job.
Aiden smiles and gently urges me to go with his hand on my low back. I sit on the stool and probably look like a small child compared to the guys on either side of me. Everyone is pretty much taller than me, but these guys are taller than almost everyone else.
“If you want, I can cook.” There were the makings for salad and some fish in the freezer.
“Not tonight, mouse.” Mason spreads out three menus on the counter and glares at Roarke. “Choose from one of these three.”
The restaurants are all names I’ve barely heard of and never could afford to eat there. I’m really curious about what they serve. Somehow, I don’t think I’m going to get a burger and fries from any of these.
Roarke narrows his gaze at Mason. “We could order from multiple places.”
“And someone always ends up with cold food.” Mason shakes his head. “Choose one.”
“Fine.” Roarke taps on the one in the middle.
Mason looks at Wyatt, and he taps a different one. Rolling his eyes, Mason looks to Aiden. When Aiden winks at me and chooses the third one, I cover my mouth to keep from chuckling.
Mason sighs, and those penetrating eyes pin me in place. “Guess the mouse gets to cast the deciding vote.”
“May I look at the menus?” I don’t even know what cuisine any of them serve. What if I accidentally pick a sushi place? Not my favorite.
“After you vote.” Mason runs his hand through his black hair, making it stand every which way.
Biting my lip, I choose the one Aiden picked. He grins at me and then grins at the others like he just won.
“Come on, poppet. I wouldn’t lead you wrong.” Roarke sighs. He leans in close to my ear and whispers, “Guess I’ll have to settle on eating something different for dessert.”
Arousal rushes through me, hot and fast, remembering his promise at my apartment. I cross my legs against the building ache. If he got me there with his fingers, what could he do to me with his tongue?
Fuck, I’m curious.
Wyatt opens the menu in front of him and moves it my way. I glance over the menu. No prices are listed next to the items.
How am I supposed to pick something if I don’t know how much it costs? I don’t know when I’ll get my first paycheck, and I’ve got less than a hundred dollars in the bank currently. I think I have a twenty in my purse.
“How much is this going to cost?” I lean in to ask Wyatt, trying to be quiet. He seems like the most down-to-earth of the guys. “I’m not sure I can afford it.”
He turns and smiles. “Kitten, we’re paying your room and board. Pick whatever you want. Mason’s buying. He lost a bet.”
“What bet did he lose?” My gaze trails down the length of the menu. Half the stuff I don’t even recognize the names of. This definitely isn’t a burger-and-fry type place.
“He thought it would take a week to replace the drug dealer.” Wyatt turns the menu to the next page.
I glance up at Mason.
He shrugs. “Aiden’s particular. It took almost a month to lock that guy down, and we all know how that turned out.”
I swallow. “Oh.”
Maybe they’ll tell me to leave before I even sign anything. I haven’t been here twenty-four hours yet. They haven’t run a background check or anything on me. Not that anything bad should come up. But maybe I shouldn’t get comfortable.
With new homes, I never know how long one is going to last. Some have personal reasons to move me on. Others thought I did something I didn’t. I don’t like to think about my time in the foster system, but between that and my mother’s drug addiction, my childhood was less than ideal.
Roarke steals the menu from Wyatt, but I don’t flinch at his sudden movement. I just absorb this beautiful place, because I could lose it all again tomorrow. I can’t get attached to anything here. Not the shower, not the beautiful room, not the outside, not these guys. It’s all temporary, and I need to make sure I remember that.
When I lift my gaze, Mason watches me like a hawk. I quickly bottle everything back up and give him a practiced smile.
“I’m not sure what I’d like,” I confess.
Roarke leans toward me. “Personally, I’d prefer a burger, but there’s this one item that’s pretty good.”
When I turn to look, Aiden’s eyes catch mine. He’s worried about something. I give him a slightly softened smile to reassure him. Right now, I’ve got nowhere to go, but as soon as I start getting paid, I’m squirreling away as much as possible.
I’m going to need money to find a place when they decide I’m not a good fit after all.