Page 55 of Keepsake

Heart thumping in my chest, my ears blocked, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Alvaro. His hands were so big, his arms powerful and that pierced cock.

Lord have mercy.

And it was only when he was finished, when he spilled everything, that I came back to myself. A silent gasp left my lips at the same time his groan reached me. Sweaty, my cheeks burning, and soaked. I was so wet it was criminal.

Before he caught me, I moved away, padding silently to my room. I leaned on the door after I closed it, panting, trying to regain any type of composure.

I saw that. He did that.

I rubbed my temple, trying to see if I could erase the image, but no, it was forever printed under my eyelids.

Alvaro used to be the action hero on the screen, but somehow he became the man in my gym.

Masturbating.

Was that normal? Has that happened to other people with roommates?

How the hell was I supposed to look at his face every day and not ask about his pierced cock?

Like a reflex, my head turned to my bedside table where my vibrator lived. I was stepping in its direction when I caught myself.

Nope.

That was a slippery slope. If I did that just once, I knew I would never stop. I couldn’t become the woman that masturbates thinking about her dead best friend’s brother.

To the kids’ uncle.

To Alvaro Castillo.

And with that thought, I marched to the shower.

“Thisisyummy.”

“Good.”

I tried to tell myself to relax, but the food on my plate tasted like cardboard. It didn’t matter how many times Vienna complimented her meal. It was like she could feel my discomfort and was trying her best to lighten the mood.

“Shut up,” Dash started.

Vienna opened her mouth to retort her brother, but I was quicker. “Don’t say that to your sister.” Taking a breath, I looked up and faced Dashiell. “How was school today?”

He shrugged and didn’t answer.

“I made a new friend,” Vienna informed us.

“Good.” I nodded. “Tell me about them.”

Vienna’s long story about a boy at school who was very shy but agreed to play with her was a blessing in disguise.

She was sitting to my right, talking non-stop, and I concentrated on her. Ignoring the heat that came from my left where Alvaro sat helping Lachlan with his dinner.

According to my books, Lachlan should feed himself. Dr. Maya said his motor skills were developing well and he should at least try. I was trying to make him pick up the spoon at least once or twice per meal, but one of us always needed to be there to hand it to him, or he wouldn’t show any interest. Today was Alvaro’s turn.

But I wasn’t paying attention to that side of the table. I was concentrating on Vienna and her little friend. They visited the chickens together.

Did I know Lone Pine had chickens? No. But they did, and kids visited them from time to time. I wasn’t sure if I should be concerned.

“You know what we are eating right now is dead chicken, right?” Dashiell said, taking a bite off his dinner.

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