Page 34 of Rather: The Therapist

Her request. I was quickly reminded. “Understood.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m awake now.”

“Yes. Yes, you are. I’ve been bored without you.”

“You haven’t gotten out of bed?”

“You haven’t told me to.”

I hadn’t.

“I have to piss.”

I slid from underneath the cover, itching to take the fucking mask off. However, I was too committed to the thrill it produced to break the rules once contemplated abiding by. It was highly unlike me, but they were to my benefit so I settled with them. For them. For Rose and I.

“Breakfast?”

“I have business to tend to.”

Though I hated to break the news, business came first. And, Princeton wouldn’t touch his plate until he saw my face. It was best I got my shit together and got my ass home before his stomach was touching his back.

“Come,” I instructed, extending my hand for her to grab.

“Okay.”

Across the cold floor, she tiptoed behind me. The large shower was tempting, but I wasn’t ready to clean her remnants from me. Instead, I emptied my bladder with her standing near the sink. She hadn’t taken her eyes off my shit since I’d leaned over the toilet.

“Something on your mind?”

“Besides the fact I’d like to hold it next time and that it’s very, very handsome… no.”

“Next time,” I promised her. “Handle your business so we can brush our teeth and get out of here.”

“Yes, sir.”

I flushed the toilet and maneuvered for her to get to the toilet. I located the towels in the bathroom while she did so. New tubes of toothpaste and packs of toothbrushes were in the cabinets as well. I began opening and discarding the paper. By the time she finished, her toothbrush was on the counter with paste across the bristles.

I made room for her at the sink I was using though it was Jack and Jill style. Together, we scrubbed our teeth of gunk and the sex that was still on our breaths. I warmed the water in the other sink and drenched the towels once it was a suitable temperature. Because I knew women loved burning their skin half off when cleansing, I burned my hands squeezing the excess water from her cloth.

“You first,” I suggested, handing her the towel.

I slowly backed out of the bathroom so she could remove her mask and properly clean her face. Beside the door, I waited, wondering exactly what she looked like beneath. Her beauty was obstructed, but still radiant. I only had pieces, so I knew the full puzzle was ravishing.

Check on Princeton.

Morning meeting with Pops.

Forty-five minutes in the gym.

Lunch with my mother at Stadium.

Make my way to Spectrum to meet the new chef.

Wrap up the logistics for the upcoming shipment by five.

Dinner with a potential partner at House of Dragons. Eight, precisely.

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