Page 18 of Midsummer Masquerade
Flicking the cap, I inhale the spicy masculine fragrance and pour a small amount into my palm before lathering up, my body still tingling from the way he touched me. I get aroused all over again as I think about what comes next but choose to ignore it as I rinse off and then shut off the water.
I grab a big, fluffy towel off the rail, pat myself down, and wrap it around my body. Stepping back into his room, I’m disappointed to find it empty.
On the bed is a pair of his loose-fitting boxers and a t-shirt. I pull them on, having to roll up the boxers once at my waist tokeep them from falling. I take a moment to glance around his room, taking in all the details.
Of course, his bed is made, and everything appears to have a place, but it’s the photo on the dresser that catches my attention, because it’s one of him, Ric, and me.
I remember this day like it was yesterday. A day at the beach, right before they both started Uni, and I was heading back to my mum’s.
But it’s the way he’s looking at me in the photo, and for some reason, it gives me a brief moment of hope, like maybe whatever this is could be more.
I have to step away from the photo and mentally shake myself. Or better yet, I should probably stop this before I end up getting hurt, because that’s the truth of it. I’m the one who always gets hurt. ‘I’m not a keeper’ was what my last situationship told me right after we’d had sex.
Sighing, I force myself to go in search of Tobias. It’s not hard. I follow my nose and the soft melody of music playing.
Tobias stands in front of the stove, only wearing those damn joggers again.
I take a moment to admire his physique, as he swirls oil into a wok, clearly at home in the kitchen.
“I can feel you watching me,” he says before glancing over his shoulder with a lazy smile. His eyes rake the length of me. “I thought you naked was a distraction, but it has nothing on you wearing my clothes,” he says, turning to face me fully as I approach him, my stomach growling again.
“And yet you’re wearing these again.” I reach out and pull at the waistband, tugging him towards me and peer down. Sure enough, he’s commando.
I let go quickly, the elastic pinging back into place, and he chuckles.
“Hey, why are you going all shy on me?” he asks, his thumb and forefinger moving my chin so I’m staring up at him.
“No, I just wasn’t expecting that,” I reply, licking my lips.
He flicks the tip of my nose. “You’re really adorable,” he says, smiling. “Right, how does chicken stir-fry sound?”
I smile. “Perfect, it’s one of my favourites.”
Tobias leans in and kisses me softly. “I know,” he murmurs against my lips, kissing me again before pulling back, leaving me both breathless and speechless.
He goes to the fridge and pulls out some ingredients, and I glance around. His kitchen is the same layout as my brother’s, but it has Tobias’s stamp on it.
“What can I do to help?” I ask, moving beside him and leaning back.
“You can sit right here and keep me company,” he says, moving in front of me. His large hands grip my hips, lifting me onto the counter.
“I’m not sure this is very hygienic,” I say.
He laughs at that, spreading my thighs and stepping between my open legs.
“Fuck, you smell like me,” he whispers as he breathes me in, his tongue flicking out and caressing my heated flesh just below my ear. My entire body breaks out in goosebumps. “You know, if I had known you were going to take a shower, I’d have joined you and washed your back.”
Tobias leansback to stare at me in that way that has my insides melting and my lower stomachclenching.
“Something tells me you would have done more than just that.”
“I love that you know me so well,” he says, his hands moving to slide up my thighs, and just like the cock block it is, my stomach growls again.
He chuckles. “And on that note, I need to feed you before you get hangry.”
I swat his shoulder. “I don’t get hangry,” I reply with indignation.
He laughs. “Whatever you say, beautiful,” he winks, and returns to his task.
