Page 82 of Stick Around,
Reid stepped out of his jeans, leaving them pooled on the tile floor before sliding the shower door open and stepping inside.
He didn’t immediately reach for me or pull me into his arms the way I half-expected. Instead, he stood behind me, a silent presence. Only when I leaned back, did his arms encircle my waist and his chin rest on my shoulder.
My eyes met his in the reflection of the wide chrome showerhead. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he reached for my shampoo bottle, pumping a dollop into his palm.
His fingers worked through my hair, massaging my scalp with firm, circular movements. The day’s stress dissolved with each stroke, my eyelids growing heavy as he guided my head under the spray to rinse.
I turned to face him, water cascading between us. Rivulets traced paths down his chest, navigating the lean muscles I’d trailed my fingers along so many times.
He pressed his forehead against mine, water beading on his eyelashes. His hand cupped my cheek, thumb brushing away droplets from the corner of my mouth.
We remained like that for several heartbeats, breathing the same shampoo-scented air, saying everything without a single word.
His lips found mine, gentle at first, then with a quiet hunger that spoke of relief rather than urgency. I melted into him, my hands sliding up his slick back, feeling the muscles shift beneath my palms.
When we finally broke apart, I buried my face against him, listening to his heartbeat beneath my ear. His fingers trailed down my back creating a path of warmth.
Reid reached behind me, turning off the shower with one hand while still holding me close with the other. The sudden silence felt as intimate as a confession.
He stepped out first, grabbing a towel and holding it open for me. I moved into it, into him, letting him wrap the soft fabric around my shoulders. His hands lingered, rubbing the towel gently over my skin with a care that made my throat tighten.
Something had shifted between us all tonight. The chaos of the fireworks, the animals in danger, running through the darkness, had stripped away any pretenses, leaving only what mattered. And somehow, impossibly, I was what mattered to these three men.
Reid toweled off quickly, then draped another clean towel around my hair with careful movements. His eyes never left mine as he lifted me into his arms, one arm beneath my knees, the other supporting my back.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, feeling oddly vulnerable despite having been intimately acquainted with every inch of his body. This tenderness was more exposing than any amount of physical nakedness.
He carried me into the bedroom, water from his hair falling onto my shoulders. The lamp on the nightstand cast a glow across the room, illuminating Kellan and Enzo, who were both waiting on the bed.
Kellan’s usual smile had softened, and the worry lines around his eyes from the night had disappeared. He’d showered and changed into a gray T-shirt and basketball shorts.
Enzo sat with his back against the headboard, arms crossed over his chest, watching us with dark eyes that missed nothing. His hair was damp, curling slightly at the temples. Unlike Kellan, he was only in his boxer briefs.
Reid set me on the bed like I was a porcelain doll who might break.
Kellan picked up a bottle of lotion from the nightstand and poured some into his palms, warming it between his hands before gently lifting my foot into his lap. His thumbs pressed into my arch, working out knots I hadn’t known existed. I bit my lip to keep from moaning at the immediate relief.
Reid grabbed my hairbrush from the bathroom and knelt on the bed behind me. He took the towel off my head and began brushing my hair like he’d done it a million times before.
Enzo’s hand found mine, his thumb tracing patterns across my palm. “You were incredible out there tonight.”
I leaned back against Reid as he continued to gently brush my hair. His steady strokes were hypnotic, each sweep lulling me deeper into a state of contentment I hadn’t known existed before these men.
“I wasn’t incredible.” I wiggled my toes as Kellan’s strong thumbs worked magic on the arch of my foot. “I just reacted. Anyone would have done the same.”
Kellan’s eyes met mine, his fingers pausing momentarily. “Not anyone would have run into the dark to rescue Pancake while Debra was having a meltdown.”
Enzo’s fingers moved to my wrist, his touch adding to the heat pooling in my lower belly. “You have a knack for handling the animals. Even Debra… although we’ll see if that sticks tomorrow.”
I laughed, and my cheeks heated at their praise. “I was terrified the whole time.”
Reid put my brush on the nightstand and began massaging my scalp, his fingertips making small circles that sent tingles down my spine. “Being brave isn’t about not feeling fear. It’s about feeling it and doing what needs to be done anyway.”
I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the safety of this moment, surrounded by them. Any moment I’d wake up from this epic dream and find myself in my apartment again.
Enzo shifted on the bed, his weight dipping the mattress as he moved closer. His fingers traced up my arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. His hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip. “Do you have any idea what you mean to us?”
The sincerity in his eyes made my breath catch. Before I could respond, Kellan’s hands moved to my other leg, his touch firm but gentle. “I think we should show her.”
