Page 38 of Rooster

"If you don't want to go, then just say so," she says, but I look over at Robert.

"Hot tub?"

He shrugs. "I've got a few minutes."

I fight the urge to jump up from the stool I'm sitting on and rush up the stairs to change into my bathing suit.

"Meet you out there?" I ask Kaylee.

"Sounds good," she says before turning toward the hallway that leads to the stairs that will take her out through the den and into the backyard.

Ellis isn't far behind her, and Kaylee's squeal of delight filters into the living room as I make my way toward the stairs.

I know how silly it is that my heart is sort of racing right now, but it's been a long time since I've felt so excited about something so simple.

I'm nearly breathless as I make it to my room and drag my suitcases from the hallway inside.

I've been in the hot tub nearly every day since I got here, and I've been using one of Kaylee's bathing suits. I feel a certain kind of thrill that I'll get to wear one of my own two-piece suits rather than the one-piece she let me borrow.

When I pull out the two suits I packed earlier, I hesitate.

What I know about men tells me that they are very visual creatures. But I don't want Robert to form an opinion about me worse than it may already be, considering I sent naughty pictures to his brother not long after meeting him in front of that restaurant.

I pull in a deep breath and head to the bathroom. As much as I want to fight the urge to wear a suit that is too sexy, I also need to stay true to myself. Changing how I go about this is one thing. Acting like someone I'm not is completely different and manipulative.

I run my hands over my body to make sure the suit is in its proper place as I spin and check myself out from every angle. I've worked incredibly hard for the body I have, but it's almost like I can see every drink I mentioned to Robert earlier.

I pluck at my hip, hating the imperfections there.

I tilt my head back, lifting my eyes to the ceiling, knowing it would be an even bigger red flag if I was so overconfident to think my body was perfect.

I pull a cover-up over my head and leave my room, yelping when I run into a very warm, very solid chest.

"Shit," I mutter, pulling my face back from Robert's chest. For some reason, my hands stay on his bare chest even when I take a half step back.

I look up, a little enthralled by the sparkle in his eyes as he grins down at me.

"Ready?" he asks, unconcerned about my hands on his skin.

"So ready," I say, my words too breathy to ignore.

His smile widens a second before he takes a step back. "After you."

I've never felt more put on the spot than I do right now as I traverse the stairs. I’m doing my best to look sexy without making it look like I'm trying too hard, all the while making sure I don't make a fool of myself and tumble forward.

Chapter 14

Rooster

My intention was never to scare her or have her press nearly her entire body against me, but I also can't say that I'm sad that I did.

Her reluctance to pull her hand back was very similar to what happened the first night she came here, and that shit had been stuck in my head for days.

I still have a blister on my foot for how many miles I had to walk and run while fighting the urge to be a pervert and jack off to thoughts of it.

I don't know how many fucking miles I'll have to spend on that damn thing now that she has done it a second time.

Now, watching her walk down the stairs in front of me, the hint of her two-piece bathing suit showing through her nearly see-through cover-up is enough that I can imagine it being a sexy negligee.

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