Page 58 of Mine to Keep

I’d just shut my door when there was a knock. I looked in the peephole since my phone was in my back pocket and my hands were full of my coffee and bag.

Nicole.

I opened the door and maybe it was rude but I said, “Oh, you chose knocking this time?”

Her shoulders slumped. “I’m so sorry, Matt. I was absolutely in violation of your lease. I thought someone was?—”

I held up my hand. “Nick explained it all to me. While I appreciate you trying to watch out for me, enough of my privacy has been violated. Don’t do that again, or I’ll find a new place to live.”

I didn’t give her a chance to respond; I shut the door in her face. I was dealing with a lot of crazy right now, and my head was going in a million different directions. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I put my coffee and bag down and answered.

“Hello?”

“Mr. York, it’s Officer Mendez.”

“Oh, hi, Officer.”

“I wanted to touch base with you. There weren’t any fingerprints on any of the shards of glass from the heart or the note. I’m sorry. We’ve gone through all video footage we can on any time they entered the apartment building, or accosted you, but we can’t get a facial on anything. I will continue to have patrol driving around your building. I wish I had better news, I’m sorry.”

Damn. The Saint brothers were right—the police wouldn’t be able to do anything.

“Thank you, Officer.”

“Have a good night, Mr. York.”

Dejection weighed heavy on my shoulders. I meandered to my room and stripped. A shower was the only thing I wanted right then. Washing off this day seemed like the best plan.

I slid the glass door open and there was a Post-it note on the wall. I panicked for a beat until I read it.

There are no cameras in the bathroom. Some things I don’t need to see.

A smile bloomed on my face. Suddenly, a shower wasn’t the only thing I wanted. I walked back into the bedroom, realizing Nick could probably see me. I pulled out my phone and texted him.

I need you.

I tossed the phone onto the bed and went into the shower. I let the water beat down on my weary bones. Head hanging, I breathed in the steam as if it could force out all the negative shit in my life. I grabbed the shampoo and soaped up. The lemon mint filled the air and mentally, it made me believe it would take it all away.

I was just starting to soap up my body when I heard a noise. Had Nicole come into my apartment again? A second later the bathroom door opened, and Nick sauntered in looking like sin.

“All wet, just how I like you.”

My heart went from beating in fear to arousal. “You scared me.”

“You texted, and I told you I’d be right there and I’d use the key you gave me.”

I leaned against the shower door, knowing he was getting a good view of my hard cock.

“I didn’t wait for your reply.”

The glass was foggy but I saw enough of Nick to know he was drinking me in. He began removing layers, and once he was naked he walked right in and wrapped me in his arms. This was better than a shower any day.

“You said you needed me. What happened?”

I pushed away, and he took my loofah and washed my body while I told him everything Officer Mendez had said.

“You were right.” I sighed.

“About what?” He put his finger under my chin and lifted my head so I was looking into his eyes.

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