Page 45 of Shelter for Morgan

Before Morgan came to live in San Antonio, his apartment felt cavernous when he was there by himself.

He'd rarely spent time just sitting around in the apartment. He'd go to the gym in the basement and work out. Or he'd go for a run around the neighborhood. Then he'd come back to shower and eat and sleep to get ready for his next shift.

Now, he found himself looking forward to the afternoon on one of his days off. An afternoon where Morgan would come back to the apartment, and they'd have time together.

First, he'd get a shower so he could wash his uniform.

No, not his bunker gear, which was different. But his slacks and T-shirt needed to be washed, along with his regular clothes that he wore during his time off from the firehouse.

He took a sip of the coffee and felt the warm brew pool in his stomach. Perfect.

Rhett set it down and crossed to the bathroom to grab the hamper. He picked it up and moved it through the heart of the apartment to set it down in the laundry nook. It didn't take long to put his clothes in the washer. He'd offered to do Morgan's laundry, but she'd begged off, insisting that she needed something to do when he wasn't around.

Right before he shut the lid, he reached for the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it off. Before, when he'd been alone in the apartment as its single occupant, he didn't think twice about stripping down to put his clothes in the laundry. Now that Morgan was living in the apartment, he always looked just to be sure. Even though he knew she was at work, he looked around.

Part of it was because he liked having her around.

And another part of it, he didn't want to scare her.

It had been a good long time since he'd gotten undressed in front of a woman.

Since he'd had sex.

He had opportunities, but he just hadn't been interested. Aylin had read them stuff from a woman's magazine, explaining that there was sex for enjoyment and release and there was making love which meant that there were emotions wrapped up in the act. He wasn't sure how much of Rook's blushing meant that he and the Chief's daughter had... um, made love, but Rhett had seen the logic in it.

When he was alone later, he'd given it all some thought.

There was truth to that article from the magazine. Sure, he'd enjoyed sex. It felt good.

Being with a woman, feeling her react to his touch, hearing the sounds she made when she was enjoying herself, gave him release, but there had been something missing.

Rhett pushed off his slacks and his boxer briefs went with them all the way down to his ankles, where he'd forgotten to take off his shoes.

Laughing at himself, he bent over to untie his shoes, feeling like a total idiot.

He kicked his shoes off and dumped everything in the washer to get it started.

Once the washer was filling with water and humming along, he dragged himself into the shower, enjoying the hot water pouring from the shower head.

As he worked shampoo into his hair, he remembered a call that he'd made to Morgan when they had some downtime at the station.

Morgan had picked up almost on the first ring. "Palmer! Hi!"

"Hey. I hope I'm not bothering you."

Her laughter was beautiful on its own, but hearing it after the call they'd just returned from?

He needed that relief.

"Of course not. I was just about to crawl into bed. But I bet you knew that didn't you."

Her tone was teasing, but the image she'd put in his head was something he'd carry with him if they got a chance to get some sleep.

When she'd first moved in, he'd wondered if she slept fully dressed.

No matter how late she'd stayed up, she wore the same thing as the rest of the day. Showering before she'd gone to bed. But over the next couple of weeks she'd relaxed a little and showered earlier in the evening and then she'd moved around the apartment in the same clothes she slept in.

Loose T-shirts and shorts.

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