Chapter Twenty-Five Alex
I hope the power doesn’t go out. It takes me a second to realize that’s exactly what happened.
Since the bathroom doesn’t have windows, as soon as the overhead lights go out, we’re plunged into pure darkness.
The shower continues to run, and we’ve still got hot water for now, but getting out of here safely will be tricky.
Not being able to see anything is playing weird tricks on my brain. The water hits harder. Euan’s skin feels hotter against my palms. He shifts beneath me, and I have no idea what he’s doing until strong arms embrace me.
“You okay?” His deep voice right next to my ear sends a shiver through me.
“Y-yeah.”
The sandalwood scent of my favorite soap on Euan’s skin creates a spicy, heady mixture that goes right to my head. He smells like he’s mine. And he is, isn’t he? At least for a little while. While he’s here. While we’re married. While we’re doing … whatever this is.
Whatever we’re doing, I need more.
As if he hears my thoughts, Euan obliges.
One hand glides against my wet skin, drawing a path from my side up to my chest. Even once he’s moved on, the trace of his touch lingers, lighting up all my nerve endings.
His hand finally stops and tightens slightly, as if he wants me to hold still for whatever comes next.
Seconds pass and nothing follows. What is he—
A new heat closes over my nipple. Wet tongue laving over the peak.
A gentle scrape of teeth. Then firm suction sends a jolt of pleasure through me.
My knees tremble and I instinctively reach out for something to grab on to.
One hand tangles in Euan’s long, wet hair, the other slams into the shower wall.
The tile is so much colder than the heat around me, making me gasp.
Euan’s hold on me tightens, keeping me upright. But then he shifts, pushing me slightly, and I can’t guess what he’s doing until my back presses against the tile. The cold at my back makes everything else feel so much hotter.
Fingertips burn a trail across my chest and back, down my side. Warm palms grip my thighs. Somehow, it feels like he’s everywhere at once.
Until he finally reaches my cock and everything else disappears. Distantly, I’m aware of him switching to the other nipple, working it up into a peak to match the first, but that seems so much further away than the large hand wrapped around my cock.
The first stroke is slow, leisurely. His warm palm caressing every inch of my shaft. His thumb circling the tip at the same speed his tongue circles my nipple.
Suddenly, he releases me—even his mouth pulls away.
A noise of protest escapes me, drowned out by the running water.
My hips shift on their own, seeking Euan in the darkness, but I find nothing.
It’s like he’s disappeared, left me completely alone, over sensitized and hyperaware of every place he’s no longer touching me.
I inhale sharply but before my arousal can devolve into panic, he returns.
Soft lips and scratchy beard brushing my cheek.
His hand grasps my cock, but there’s something else this time.
On one side, the slightly rough texture of his fingers.
On the other, the velvety, smooth touch of his cock, slippery enough to glide along my shaft.
He tightens his hand and strokes while thrusting his hips.
In the darkness, it feels almost like we’re fucking the same tight hole.
He sets a pace that quickly drags me toward the edge. All I can do is grab his shoulders and hold on for the ride. Dig my fingers into his muscles. Press myself against the shower wall so my weak knees don’t fail me before we arrive.
Please. More. Just like that. Every thought comes out of me in breathy gasps and moans, but Euan seems to understand it all anyway, adjusting the pace and pressure until I can’t handle even that much thinking.
The world falls away. It’s just me and Euan and a dozen burning points of pleasure.
When I finally come, it’s like a release valve triggering. Cum spurts out of me as my panting turns into a scream. Everything that was wound so tight suddenly relaxes. If Euan’s broad chest wasn’t pinning me to the wall, I’d melt into a puddle and go right down the drain.
He continues stroking me through my climax and beyond it, until it almost becomes too much. Then he inhales sharply, and I feel his own release hot against my stomach. His heavy weight settles on me as he leans against the wall for support.
I wrap my arms around him, snuggling my head against his neck. I only have a moment to enjoy the blissful aftereffects when the water spraying against my arms turns from warm to cold.
Euan, with his back to the stream, gets the brunt of it. He grunts in annoyance and then his weight lifts away from me. A few seconds later, the noise from the shower cuts off. The water rushes down the drain, and then there’s silence.
The quiet combined with the darkness transforms the close, intimate atmosphere into something eerie. The water on my skin chills quickly, making me shiver.
“We should probably get out.” Hell, we probably should have gotten out fifteen minutes ago.
“Do you have a flashlight or anything in here?” Euan slides the door open, the scrape of metal louder than usual. There’s some rustling, and then a soft towel is pressed against me. I grab it and tug to signal that he can let go.
“Theresa left some candles here,” I reply. “The lighter is in one of the drawers.”
I try my best to dry off with the towel, but my movements are slow, clumsy, and eventually I just wrap it around me.
There are the sounds of items clattering against each other, the squeak of the drawer opening, and then the snick of the lighter. Soft, orange light and the scent of peaches fill the bathroom.
Euan grabs the last towel from the cabinet and begins drying himself off. After being stuck in the dark, I’m greedy for the sight of him. I watch the way his muscles flex with every movement. Admiring the way the candlelight flickers, revealing some parts of him while casting others in shadow.
I step forward, wanting to be closer to him.
When he sees my approach, his eyes crinkle, and he ties off the towel around his waist. Before I can complain about him hiding the goods, he grabs the towel from around my shoulders and tugs.
Startled, I initially tighten my grip before allowing him to pull the towel off me.
I have no idea what he’s trying to do until he nudges my head down and starts carefully drying my hair.
I relax into his touch, enjoying the gentle care. I don’t even realize I’ve closed my eyes until his lips brush my forehead.
“Why don’t we go to bed?” he murmurs.
All my muscles tense at the thought of separating from him so soon. “It’s not even that late,” I protest.
He chuckles and wraps his arms around me, resting his chin on my head. “What else are we going to do when there’s no power?”
Oh. Oh. He means go to bed together. I don’t think I have the energy for any other explorations tonight, but I won’t say no to a little cuddling. Fuck buddies can snuggle, right? We don’t have to immediately part ways after coming.
We finish in the bathroom and Euan uses the candle to light our way. In the hallway, I pause, not sure if we should go to Euan’s bedroom or mine.
Having Euan in my bed somehow seems more intimate than sharing the guest room.
I’ve only ever allowed my partners into that space.
Then there’s the fact Theresa never took her things, so there are still remnants of her scattered around.
A stack of books on the nightstand. Her pajamas in my laundry basket, waiting for the next load.
Small traces of her that once seemed natural but now are like a large, impossible to ignore stain.
I lead Euan back to his room. He doesn’t say anything about the choice.
Heavy rain continues to beat against the window but the few lightning strikes are far enough apart that we don’t hear the thunder. Euan sets the candle down on the desk and we both crawl into the bed.
It’s a little small for two people, only a double, which gives me an excuse to tuck myself against his side, resting my head on his shoulder. One of his arms goes around me, his hand resting on my hip.
Once we’re settled, I wait for the awkwardness to creep in.
For the high of sex to fade away and regret to overshadow everything else.
No matter how much I want Euan, adding sex to our pseudo-relationship can only complicate things.
Especially if it lasts beyond this week.
Are we going to plan our hookups around the court dates?
Spend the day in front of the judge, arguing for our separation, and the night together in bed?
Euan said we can continue even after this week, for as long as we want, but maybe it’s better if we end things sooner rather than later. It would have been better not to start at all, but we crossed that bridge long before tonight.
We’ll have this week together, I decide. After he leaves on Saturday, well … we’ll figure that out later.
I listen to the rain and his heartbeat for a little while.
The storm has quieted to background noise.
My head pillowed on Euan’s chest shifts with his steady breath.
No power means no heat, so the temperature in the room has dropped a few degrees, just enough to need the comforter.
Even though it’s still early, my eyes drift shut on their own, and before I know it, I fall asleep in Euan’s arms.