Page 74 of Look My Way
“I like him too,” I add. “A lot.”
“And he’s crazy about you.”
I wave her off. “You don’t know that.”
“Oh, it’s so obvious. The man can’t keep his eyes or hands off you.”
My face heats, lips curling. “Yeah. One of my favorite things about him.”
She lowers her eyes at me, shoving a hand into my shoulder. “Look at you. Acting like a schoolboy with a crush.”
“I sure feel like one.”
“Well, I’m only saying this because as your big sister it’s my duty, but . . . be careful.”
“I know.” I’ve learned my lesson after the first time. Or I hope I have.
Both going quiet, we gaze at the sky and watch the kids playing. Zavier finishes up being mister fix-it, and we all play chase until my dad arrives. We all help with dinner, enjoying more banter in the kitchen, and thankfully my dad doesn’t bother Zavier with more questions. They start talking about fishing instead. I’m drop dead tired by the time dinner is finally over and we’re done saying bye to my parents.
Tabitha leads us to the guest room, making sure we have plenty of towels and pillows. “If you two need anything else, just let us know. We’re right down the hall.”
“Will do,” Zavier beats me to responding as I yawn for the twentieth time.
“Nighty night. Try not to be too loud now.” Winking, my sister turns the corner, and I huff a laugh.
“She’s ridiculous.”
“It’s a good reminder, though.” Zavier closes and locks the door. “Especially for you.” His lips crack and I glower.
“Whatever, mister loud grunter.”
“Hey, you love my manly grunting.” He slaps my ass playfully as I make a beeline for the bathroom.
Turning around, I smile. “Yeah. You’re right, I do.” Continuing in the direction I’m going in, I pull off my shirt and slip out of my pants once I’m in front of the bathtub. My hands freeze on the knob and I curse under my breath. “We never brought the bags in.”
“I’ll go get them. Stay as you are and get the water warm for us.” His tone is low and seductive.
My skin buzzes and I shoot a look back at him, wrapping my arms around myself. “Try not to take too long. I need you back here to block the cool air that hits my ass from the gap in the shower curtain.”
He barks out a laugh. “I’ll do my best, and I’m always happy to freeze my backside for you as long as that means my boy is warm.”
My heart warms and I’m all smiles, unable to stop myself giggling like an idiot. Starting the shower, I lean forward and stick my hand under the water. As I’m grabbing towels and hanging them on the rack, I swear something moves across the window. Body stiffening, I step back, and my eyes wander around frantically. I’m tired. The day was a good one but very long.
My eyes blink hard, and I’m about to turn around, but a shadowy figure stops me in my tracks. Someone is staring right at me, face blacked out and only a few feet away, standing between the bushes. The eyes aren’t right. They leave behind thissick feeling in my gut, turning and twisting at my insides. Weird. That’s Zavier. It has to be. And I usually love when we play this way. But right now, it’s wrong. So many ways wrong that I can’t explain.
Breaths cutting like glass in my throat, I swallow them down and step into the shower. I close the curtain, blocking off the man in the dark clothing along with the rest of the bathroom. Eyes closed and legs trembling, I curl myself under the warm water. Those eyes won’t get out of my head. They weren’t anything like the ones I usually yearn for. Something about them lacked passion and lust. They were cold and empty.
Zavier’s are never those last two things. Not when they’re looking at me. The bedroom door opens and closes. My eyes flash open and I straighten my spine as I hear his shuffling in the bathroom. “Bags are all in the room. I sat yours on the bed. Although I really don’t think we need clothes when we’re going to sleep.”
The curtain brushes over my skin as he slides the back end open. His feet pound against the porcelain and his warmth scatters along my back as he steps closer. “Did you hear me?” His hand rests on my shoulder and I flinch, too caught off guard to focus on what’s happening around me.
“Were you just outside?” I say in a tiny voice.
“You know I was. I went to get our stuff from the truck.”
“I don’t mean that.” I put some space between us, resting one hand on the wall. “Were you standing outside the window a minute ago?”
“No. I wouldn’t do that here. This house has way too many outside lights and windows for that. Rather not have your family calling the cops on me.” He reaches for me again and I tense.
