Page 40 of Vodka And Virtue

Because it’s what you wanted.

Rory started the shower for me, making the bathroom fill with steam. He laid out a fresh towel and washcloth on the counter.

“You’ll find everything you need in the shower. Shampoo and conditioner, body wash, and facial cleanser. You can borrow this robe hanging on the back of the door, or I can give you a pair of my sweats to wear.”

The disappointment I felt was probably written all over my face. ”You’re not joining me?”

“Carly, if I get in that shower with you and wash your body, it’s going to be difficult for me not to—”

He adjusted his groin, and I was able to finish his sentence in my head. He wanted to fuck me and was trying to restrain himself. I wanted him, so much so that it surprised me, but I wasn’t quite ready yet. I was still too nervous. It was all happening so fast.

“Your clothes would probably dwarf me. I’ll just take the robe.”

He seemed reluctant to leave. I peeled off my shirt and dropped my jeans, standing awkwardly in just my briefs. He’d had his hands all over my junk less than thirty minutes ago, but he hadn’t actually laid eyes on it yet. Slowly, I tugged one side down over my right hip before doing the same with the left side, shimmying them little by little until the elastic band teased the base of my cock.

Rory cleared his throat, his eyes glued to my pelvis. “Well, I’ll just leave you alone then.”

Except, he didn’t leave. And I was a coward for turning my back to him before letting my underwear fall to the floor. He had a great view of my ass as I stepped into the shower. I waited until I heard the bathroom door close before turning back around.

There was no way I wasn’t going to be hard all night as I lay beside him. Not even if I jacked myself off in the shower. Heck, not if I jacked it three more times would it help. I knew without a doubt, once he laid down beside me, the heat of his body, the scent of him, would keep me achingly hard all night long.

Why had I agreed to this again? Oh, yes, because I was a glutton for punishment. The sexy kind.

I felt like a teenager who didn’t want to hang up the phone with their first crush. If I had gone home, the magic would have ended too soon. Rory made me feel incredibly good. Alive. And I wanted more of that. Even if it were only for a handful of hours.

Turning off the water, I stepped out of the shower and wrapped myself in his extra large, fluffy towel. It made sense that it was so large because he was huge. When I was dried off, I finger combed my damp hair smooth and slid the robe over my shoulders, tying it around my waist. Predictably, I could almost wrap it around myself twice, it was so large.

Why did it make me feel ridiculously giddy to wear his clothes?

I padded barefoot through the living room and into the kitchen, perching on a stool at the island.

“Are you hungry for a snack? I made you hot cocoa and a plate of cheese and grapes.”

“I’m never leaving,” I teased.

Apparently, it was exactly what he wanted to hear. His nostrils flared. His dark brown irises melted like warm chocolate.

“I hope you mean that,” he murmured.

His eyes traveled up and down my body, blanketed in gray terry cloth. He must have x-ray vision because he looked at me as if he were seeing me naked, despite the fact that only my bare feet were showing.

“Where would you like to sit and eat this? Outside on the patio? On the couch? I could put a movie on.”

“Are we allowed to eat in your bed? Is that a thing here?”

The suggestion of climbing into his bed with me visibly affected him. I watched his throat bob as he swallowed, laying the knife down on the counter. He curled his hands into fists, seemingly fighting for control of himself.

“Is that what you do at home?”

“Sometimes.” I shrugged. I shared a living room and a TV with my brother and my cousin, who had vastly different tastes than me, so I usually ended up in my bed with a snack and a movie.

“Then, that’s what we’ll do here. It’s a thing if you want it to be.” He closed the distance between us, and I turned in my seat to face him. His big hands circled my waist. “Carly, I want you to feel comfortable here. Think of this as your second home. Anything you do at your house, we can do here.”

His hospitality and his need to please me made my heart flutter in my chest. I was quickly becoming addicted to the way Rory treated me, catering to my needs. He reminded me of a big cuddly, doting teddy bear. I just wanted to bring him to bed with me and squeeze him like a body pillow.

A body pillow that I could maybe rub up on and hump.

He carried the mug and the plate into the bedroom and set it on the nightstand. I assumed he was assigning me that side of the bed. The huge king-size bed had a wood and leather headboard and a thick overstuffed mattress, covered in the softest, fluffiest white down comforter. It looked like a large floating cloud.

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