Page 45 of Elliot

“And yet here we are.”

“Yes, we are.” He smiled at her. “I find I’m incredibly okay with that.”

She leaned in and kissed him. “So am I.”

He felt it the second the water turned from warm to ice cold. Maya shrieked and jumped up from his lap, which put the full force of the ice-cold water on him. He jumped up and slapped the water off. “Holy shit,” he gasped.

“Yeah.” She stood looking at herself. They were both covered in soap, and she was shivering. “We need to rinse off.”

He looked at her and then at the shower. “No.” He shook his head.

She nodded. “Just to get the soap off.”

Elliot shook his head again. “I can wait. I’ve taken my share of cold showers in the field. Warm water will show up.”

Maya rolled her eyes. “Don’t be a baby.” She reached forward and turned on the water. Elliot plastered himself to the side as she squeaked and danced under the cold water. She was done in five seconds and had a towel wrapped around her in the next five. She pulled a towel out of the cupboard. “Hurry up.”

Elliot groaned and clenched his jaw shut. The ice water hit him, and he rinsed as quickly as he could. He slapped the water off, and Maya wrapped him in the bath sheet. “Holy hell.” Elliot shivered as he wiped off.

Maya chuckled. “It wasn’t that bad, was it?”

Elliot grumped, “I think my balls have retreated permanently.”

Maya blinked and then laughed. “Poor baby. Maybe someone should encourage them to come out and play again.”

Elliot cocked his head and gave her a side-eye. “I think someone should.”

“Well, then, let me get this hair in a braid, and I’ll be right there.” She turned her back to him and wiggled that pert and perfect ass at him. The woman was going to kill him, but as she said, what a way to go.

Silas and Robmet them at the office. Maya wore jeans, a T-shirt, and a pair of tennis shoes. Her hair was up in a ponytail, and she barely looked legal, even though she was in her mid-thirties. Elliot thought she was hot in a skirt, but damn, jeans hugged all her curves in the best possible way. After she put the food she brought from home in her refrigerator, he followed her to her desk, then went into the bathroom and checked the closets before coming back. “I’m meeting Asher downstairs in five minutes. Do you need anything?”

She smiled up at him. “Sleep?”

He leaned down and whispered, “Sorry, I’d offer you my bed, but my roommate is ravenous and insatiable. She kept me up all last night.”

“Lucky you.” She lifted her eyebrows and smiled at him.

“Damn straight,” he growled.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Jessica’s voice at the door was a surprise, at least for him.

“That’s okay, I was just leaving.” Elliot smiled at Maya and headed out of the office.

“What on earth are you wearing?” Jessica’s shocked question would probably be repeated, at least in people’s heads, all day long.

“Clothes. Just a change of pace today.” They’d take care of clothes shopping tonight. He’d called in a couple of favors, and a department store not far from the office would stay open late for Maya. She’d be able to replace the clothes that had been slaughtered without a crowd of people and the security issues involved with a huge store.

“Oh, Jessica, could I please have the keycard you have for Maya’s apartment?” He stopped and looked at Maya’s assistant.

Jessica frowned and looked at him and then at Maya. “Why?”

“The apartment is being rekeyed, and we have to turn it in. I’ll issue you a new one as soon as we get it.” Elliot held out his hand. “Now, please.”

“Sure. Ah … let me go get it. It’s in my desk.” Jessica walked past him, and he watched as she slipped into her office.

“We’re getting the apartment rekeyed?”

“Oh, definitely,” Elliot said, still staring at the office Jessica disappeared into. “How long does it take to pick up a key?”

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