Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
RUBY
CLEAN UP MAN
Amari was exactly what I needed in every way, emotionally, mentally, and especially physically. As he listened to my tragic story with caring eyes, I was drawn to him. The shame that usually came when I shared my truth didn’t linger this time.
Was Amari a magician who knew exactly what it took to make my hurt disappear?
I wanted him to wrap me in his strong arms until the sun came up.
Something about him made me believe life would be better if he cradled me.
Within a short time, he cracked a thick emotional wall I never thought another man would, and I liked it.
It was bold for me to offer Amari a shower, but his friendliness and care lured me in like a fish to bait.
Although I didn’t have the words to express how attracted I was to him, I took a chance at inviting him into my private space and giving him a chance to remove some of his layers, literally and figuratively.
The darkness of my bedroom also gave me the courage to remove my mask, at least partially, as the howling winds rattled the two single-hung windows in the room.
Amari walked toward the bathroom, his eyes on mine the entire time. When he turned the round doorknob, he glanced back at me with the smoothest of smiles.
“Wanna join me?”
I perked up, surprised that Amari would be as bold as I was.
I wasn’t ready to shower naked with him, but I wanted to watch him in action.
I threw my cover off my legs and planted my feet on the floor.
I placed my hands on either side of me on the couch to steady my body as my heart rate sped up and then slowed down.
I sat like that for several seconds as Amari’s eyes pierced mine.
“I’d love to be your assistant.” I finally spoke the words, not fully understanding what it would mean to help Amari get clean but willing to do what he asked of me.
The tingling in my belly and the steady flutter of my heart alerted me that this was exactly what my body needed to wake it from its funk.
My small bathroom would be my version of Las Vegas, where I could fulfill my voyeuristic fantasies without judgment.
What happened between Amari and me would stay between us.
“OK.” I lowered my eyes, then took a big breath, mentally telling myself not to chicken out.
I walked to Amari, deeply inhaling his scent, an aroma that reminded me of the earthiness of nature.
Amari opened the door and stepped inside the bathroom, briefly pausing before entering. His head turned toward the medium-sized vanity, where I had lit several glass jars of lavender and vanilla soy candles.
“It’s cozy in here. Very modern.” He pointed to the floor. “Penny tiles were a cool, practical touch given the size of this space.”
I glanced around the bathroom. The minimalist design with gray walls and white and gray tiles on the floor and shower brought simple luxury to my home every day.
“Thanks. The first areas I renovated were my bathroom and bedroom. Welcome to my mini sanctuary.”
“I could help you take your keen decorating skills to the rest of the house.”
“I’d like that.”
The shadows of Amari’s profile filled my frameless mirror, causing me to stare at him through the glass instead of head-on.
“Hey, Ruby.” He drew the word hey out like a Barry White song as he stared back at me in a way that openly displayed his interest.
“Hi.” I blushed and pulled my robe tighter.
My body was hot like he’d given me my first orgasm.
When Amari moved to the end of the room, I crossed the threshold and closed the door. Since Amari was over six feet tall and muscular, he loomed over me in my small space. Any other day, I’d be claustrophobic, but our closeness made me anxious to be under him.
My eyes tracked Amari’s movements when he sat on the closed lid of my toilet.
He lifted his leg and removed his thick socks before folding them slowly and placing them on the bathroom floor.
When his feet were exposed, he wiggled his toes over the tiles.
It wasn’t lost on me that his large feet were flawless and moisturized, as if pedicures were a recurring part of his self-care routine.
When he lifted his head and smiled at me, I smiled back.
He rose from the seat and moved toward me like an animal sniffing its mate.
I stood still as Amari peered down into my eyes.
He removed his open shirt ever so slowly, giving me another enviable view of muscles and tattoos that made him a living work of art.
Although looking away as he undressed would have been the polite thing to do, I wanted to see as much as Amari wanted to show me. My hungry hands landed on his shoulders, then his pecs, gliding down his abs and onto his stomach. They rested there as I dared meet Amari’s eyes.
“You have a wonderful body.”
“Thank you.” Amari lifted my hands and kissed my fingers one by one.
When he was done, he placed my hands over his heart and held them there.
“Ready to see the rest of me?”
I sucked in a breath and nodded, removing my hands so Amari could take off his pants.
As if he could read my mind, Amari unbuckled his black leather belt and carefully removed it from the loops of his low rider jeans.
The cold buckle of the belt tapped my hand before Amari dropped it on the floor.
Within seconds, he unbuttoned his jeans and lowered the zipper, revealing gray boxer briefs. I held my breath.
Would he be thick and girthy, or would his penis tilt like the Eiffel Tower?
I shot a quick look down, then bit my lip.
Definitely thick with a lean that was absolute perfection.
“I’ll put your clothes in the bedroom.” I swallowed and held my hands out.
He stepped closer to me, gently pressing his firm body into mine. He squatted, never losing eye contact, and retrieved each item of clothing before raising himself to his full height again. One item at a time, he placed his clothes in my open hands.
“Thank you, Ruby. Don’t take too long.”
I pulled his clothes to me and departed.
When I returned to the bathroom, Amari stood over the toilet with his eyes lifted and legs wide.
I took in his beautiful, firm butt. I stood at the door, trying to sneak another peek at his size but couldn’t see clearly from where I stood.
When his eyes met mine in the mirror, Amari smiled.
“How’d you like to shake it for me?”
I blushed and looked down.
“Sorry. Not this time.”
Amari finished, flushed, and washed and dried his hands.
“Here’s a washcloth. Body wash, shampoo, and conditioner are in there too.” I handed him the navy towel set.
Amari held my wrist with one hand and received it with the other.
“Are you going to get naked with me?”
I shook my head.
“That’s too much temptation. I don’t want to be ripped apart in a shower.”
Did I say that out loud?
Amari laughed.
“I like your sense of humor.” He reached for my chin and lifted it so I had no choice but to stare into his glistening eyes.
He lowered his hands to the sash of my robe and untied it.
“You’ve been tempting me all night. Take this off and let me see your sexy underwear while I wash up.”
I nodded as Amari reached into my robe and caressed my skin before opening it and pushing it off my shoulders. He bent over and kissed my neck so gently, I barely had time to process it.
“You’re beautiful, Ruby. Thank you for sharing this side of yourself. I promise I won’t abuse this gift you’ve given me.”
I closed my eyes as Amari’s words cascaded over me. I stepped back and turned on the shower head in my combination tub and shower. As steam filled the room, I raised my arms to his shoulders. I hugged him tightly, silently thanking God for this rare gift.
“Thank you for being so easy to talk to. You feel like home. No wonder you’re a handyman.”
Amari chuckled, rubbing my lower back with the pads of his lightly calloused fingers.
“It’s easy to feel like that with someone who’s so warm and selfless.”
I bit my tongue to prevent myself from negating the kind words Amari poured into me. I may have been broken, but I wasn’t stupid. I knew better than to run him away with my insecurities.
“Quick question before I hop in the shower.”
“Shoot.”
“How do you like your men?”
I frowned.
“I don’t have men.”
Amari covered his mouth and stared at the ceiling before looking at me again.
“Let me rephrase my question. If you could choose your type of man, what would you choose?”
“What are my options?”
Amari lowered his voice and got up in my space as my breath caught.
“Do you like a guy who’s soft and sweet or rough and dominant?”
Heat rushed to my cheeks as countless permutations came to mind. I wondered how many variations of Amari existed.
“Um, . . . both?”
He bit his lip.
“Interesting. If I asked you to trust me and do something, would you?”
My eyes darted everywhere but to Amari’s face. When I gathered myself, I faced him head-on.
“It depends. Would it harm me?”
Amari tsked and lifted my chin with his finger.
“Have I done anything to make you think I’d hurt you, baby?”
The hussy in me wanted to raise my leg and pull my panties to the side so Amari could get a quick taste. Instead, I straightened my back and shook my head.
“If you’re not comfortable being naked with me . . . yet, stand in the shower and let me watch you get wet. I want you to lather me up real good so I can have dirty thoughts as you clean me up.”
Amari’s request was innocent yet freaky, the perfect solution to ease my conflicted feelings about being reserved and going all in with my hunk of a handyman.