Chapter 14
Rooster
My intention was never to scare her or have her press nearly her entire body against me, but I also can't say that I'm sad that I did.
Her reluctance to pull her hand back was very similar to what happened the first night she came here, and that shit had been stuck in my head for days.
I still have a blister on my foot for how many miles I had to walk and run while fighting the urge to be a pervert and jack off to thoughts of it.
I don't know how many fucking miles I'll have to spend on that damn thing now that she has done it a second time.
Now, watching her walk down the stairs in front of me, the hint of her two-piece bathing suit showing through her nearly see-through cover-up is enough that I can imagine it being a sexy negligee.
I pull my eyes away when I realize my swim trunks are getting a little tighter than I'd be able to explain once we get outside.
"I'm going to grab some drinks," I tell her, stopping by the fridge in the den as a distraction. "Want anything?"
"Is there diet in there?"
"Yep," I say, leaning forward a little too exaggeratedly, but I need the cold air to wash over me and help with my rising situation.
I pull out two drinks, and my body threatens to put me right back where it was when I catch her staring at my ass.
"Thank you," she says, holding her hand out for the drink rather than apologizing after being caught.
"Very welcome," I tell her before walking around her to open the back door, holding it for her to walk through.
"It's so nice out here," she says. "I've always loved Vegas weather."
"Not bad for early November," I say as we inch closer to the hot tub.
I take a step past her once we get there, needing to be fully submerged in the water before she pulls off that cover-up.
I give Heathen a nod as I take the spot right across from him, leaving the last spot for Morgan to sit beside her friend.
I can't help but wish I were out here alone with her like we were the first time, but maybe the extra company is for the best.
This woman drives me absolutely insane, and there has never been another time in my life when a woman I was attracted to had such easy access to me and vice versa. I haven't determined if this is a good thing or if it's a recipe for disaster.
I keep my eyes across the yard, focusing on the pool as Morgan pulls her cover-up off.
I turn my head further away, giving her a little privacy when she takes a few steps into the water. When she settles into her spot, I pull my eyes back.
They land on Heathen, and I find the man glaring at me, eyes slightly narrowed as if he's trying to figure out what is going on. If I'm lucky, he won't call me out right in front of her, but I don't know the man well enough yet to know which way he'll go.
Morgan and Kaylee begin to chatter about a mutual acquaintance. I keep my eyes locked on my teammate, feeling like if I look away, it would be some admission of guilt. I've done nothing wrong, but it still doesn't stop the urge to explain to this man that I haven't done anything wrong.
"Arrested?" Morgan says. "For what?"
"Stealing from the store, and believe it or not, Mr. Gillis was the one who pressed charges," Kaylee says.
"I thought he was the one who could do no wrong?" Morgan says.
"Apparently, that's no longer the case. From what one of the girls from my old job told me, Derrick had the nerve to call Mr. Gillis to bail him out once he was processed."
"I never liked that guy," Morgan mutters, her hands floating over the water as if she likes the sensation of the bubbles on her palms.
I find myself fighting the urge to lift my hands from my lap under the water and do the same so that I can experience it as well.
"He's a product of what his family created. It's sad because Mr. Gillis doted on him. The guy could do no wrong in his grandfather's eyes, yet it still wasn't enough," Kaylee mutters. "I'm so glad I don't work there anymore, but with Derrick gone, I don't know who is going to take over the business. Mr. Gillis has to be eighty years old. He can't go on forever."
I can tell by context clues who they're talking about, but I remain quiet since it doesn't concern me and I have nothing to offer to resolve the situation.
I just like hearing Morgan's voice. When I pull my eyes from her so my staring doesn't make others grow suspicious, I find Heathen once again glaring at me, and I know I'm going to have to explain myself at some point. On the other hand, I don't know exactly what I would explain. Calling it a crush seems relatively immature for my age, but I can't help but gravitate to this woman.
I narrow my eyes right back at him, but it doesn't make him break his stare. Nothing seems capable of distracting him until Kaylee's hand slides in his direction under the water, and then it's like they're the only ones that exist in the world.
I watch them for a long moment, wondering what it might feel like to have someone look at me like I'm the only person they're capable of seeing. I hadn't realized that might be something I wanted until this moment. What is it about people in love that makes you ache for something similar?
I chance a look in Morgan's direction only to find her eyes closed and chin pointed to the sky. Water droplets cling to her skin, the warmth of the water bringing a slight pink glow to her throat.
I lick at my lips, taking only a brief moment to wonder how soft the skin is there and how it would feel on my lips. Would her skin be salty or sweet? Would my warm breath ghosting over her ear make her moan or gasp?
And now I'm hard all over again. Getting out of this hot tub without everyone noticing will be impossible.
I pull my eyes from her and concentrate on getting myself under control, knowing full well I may have to just sit here, the skin on my hands and feet pruning until everyone else leaves. I see no other option.
"This is the perfect evening right before returning to work," Morgan says, her voice soft and appreciative.
Her words draw Kaylee's attention, but the other woman doesn't speak. I can see by the slight squint in her friend's eyes that there is some contention about her leaving the villa.
Kaylee took to this place easily. She left once, and that resulted in the bullshit that happened with Henry. I don't think she has stepped off of the property since. Kaylee is quite content to stay in the safety this place provides. Morgan isn't the type to sit around and be bored. I imagine the woman can relax, but she also has goals.
That's not to say Kaylee doesn't have goals, but the sting of what happened at Morgan's house has to be more traumatizing because she's the one who experienced the brunt of whatever twisted game Henry is playing. Morgan witnessed the aftermath, and as upsetting as that might be, no one can expect it to have the same effect as Kaylee's experiences.
"You're really going to go?" Kaylee asks, disbelief in her tone.
Heathen stiffens beside his wife, clearly growing uneasy with the direction the evening is taking.
"Yep," Morgan says, lifting a palm full of water and pouring it on her shoulder.
The sun has begun to set, and as warm as the days in the desert can be, the night turns chilly very quickly.
I'm enthralled with the way the water rushes down her skin, and the situation that I started to get under control comes roaring back to life just under the surface of the water.
I internally chastise myself and argue in my head that getting horny for a girl who has shown literally no interest in me other than her natural flirty demeanor is creepy as hell. She's here because it's not safe to go home, and I've done nothing but lust after her and watch her with eyes that are less than protective. Which is the reason why she's here in the first place. It feels like a violation, but even knowing all this, my body aches to inch closer to her, to feel her warmth and determine if her skin is warmer than the water swirling around us.
I pull my eyes away, shifting my legs in order to try and readjust my junk without physically having to reach down and do it. But even the bubble in my shorts from the air trapped in them doesn't offer a reprieve.
"Rooster."
I snap my eyes in the direction of the voice. This cannot be happening right now.
Right at the edge of the pool is Bandera. As always, he has that look on his face like he's annoyed that everyone isn't performing some type of work task. I swear if the man becomes the president here, we may all be in for a world of hurt.
"What's up?" I ask as casually as I can manage, wondering if the others can hear the hint of fear in my voice.
When Heathen chuckles, he makes it very clear that he's aware of the exact situation I'm in. I have no doubt he's in a similar state, but the difference is the man is hot for his fucking wife, not some woman he hardly knows.
"I need you to look something up for me," he says, dipping his head to acknowledge Morgan.
"What about Google?" Morgan offers. "He's taking a break. Wanna join us?"
Morgan draws every ounce of his attention, and the smile on his face is pleasant. The man doesn't feel insulted by her concerning herself with the situation, and I'll be damned if her sort of standing up for me and insisting I get some downtime doesn't strengthen the issue I've been worried about.
"I'd love to, but I have something to take care of first," Bandera says before looking back in my direction. "Rooster?"
I dip my head, throat working on a swallow, and just bite the bullet, standing and not bothering to worry about my swim trunks as I inch past her. The position of the stairs to get out puts my front damn near in her face, but I hold my head as high as I can manage and get out.
"Have a good evening," I tell them.
"You too," Heathen says, and there's no missing the humor in his tone.
I don't reach down to adjust my junk until I step inside the house. Bandera notices, but he doesn't say a word. I don't know if the grace he offers is a gift or not. He's the one who caught me watching a livestream of her reading a book the other day. He has to know there's some level of attraction there, but he also has no business voicing his opinion about any of it. Although, I know that won't exactly stop him either.
I grab a towel and wrap it around myself before following him upstairs to the conference room.