Page 19 of Tucker
Ifseeing him without a shirt is amazing, then seeing him completely naked is adamned religious experience. Because I want to worship every inch of thattanned, damp skin. I’ve seen those luscious V marks on his hips before when hewas shirtless, but his round, firm ass is new. So is the thick penis bobbingbetween his legs. God, I could look at him forever.
“Didthe hours in the cold make your hand too numb to knock?” he demands, his voicestrained.
Thetiny smirk on his face betrays his feigned anger. Part of him is enjoying this.
Myhand darts up to cover my eyes about two minutes too late, and I swear I hear achuckle. “I’m sorry! I didn’t think…I was bringing you something for yourfever.”
WhenI part my fingers for a peek I’m relieved and disappointed to find he’s put ona pair of boxer briefs. Crawling under the covers, he mumbles, “Thanks, but I’mokay. Just need a nap.”
“No,you need to take these and drink some of this before you dehydrate,” I insist,thrusting the bottle and pills at him.
Sighing,he replies. “If I do, will you go away and let me sleep?”
“Yep.”
“Fine.”
Heswallows the pills and sips on the drink, placing it on his nightstand beforecrawling under his covers. “Thank you.”
“Getsome sleep. Yell if you need me,” I tell him.
Igrab my laptop and settle into the recliner in the living room, but I can’tfocus enough to write. All I can think of is the way Tucker reacted today. Ihave enough problems with Derek trying to police my life. That’s a big reason Imoved out here, to get away and have some independence.
Myphone rings and I grin when I see the name that pops up. Ely Lindon is a youngguy I met while volunteering. He’s an environmental activist who was locked upfor destroying some heavy equipment that was being used to tear out a localpark. His effort was a waste since the park was still paved over and made intoa strip mall, and all he got out of it was thirty days in jail. He was releasedtwo weeks ago, but continues to volunteer with the recycling plant on his owntime.
“Hey,Leah, I just wanted to check on you after that little…scene with your boyfriendtoday,” Ely says when I accept the call.
“He’snot my boyfriend,” I reply automatically. “He’s my brother’s friend. I’mstaying at his place for a while, but there’s nothing between us.” The wordsdon’t sound right to me when I say them, maybe because I’d love for them to notbe true.
“Oh…I’mglad to hear that.”
“Youare?”
“Yeah,I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me some time?”
Elyis near my age with a sweet smile and upbeat personality. He’s the type of guyI probably should be dating instead of drooling over the broody asshole thatjust embarrassed me in front of new friends.
“I’dlove to,” I tell him.
“Great!Next Friday night?”
“Soundsgood. I’m looking forward to it.” This will be my first date in quite a while,so I make a mental note to get my hair and nails done this week.
“Metoo. Talk to you later.”
“Bye,Ely.”
Ilook up to find Tucker standing at the bottom of the stairs looking like deathtimes ten. “Hey.” I get to my feet. “What are you doing up?”
“Water,”he rasps.
Someonestop me from choking this man. “I told you to yell for me. Sit down.” His faceis flushed and he seems really out of it. Not too out of it to ask, “Who isEly?”
“Afriend,” I reply. “Maybe we should take you to the hospital.”
“No,it’s probably just a virus,” he grumbles, sitting at the kitchen table.
Ihand him a glass of ice water and he peeks up at me. “So, you’d better stayback if you don’t want to catch it.”
