Page 171 of Masters of Pleasure
He ignored the little voice whispering in his brain and turned on the hot water, giving it a few moments to warm up before he stepped in.The water beat on his shoulders and head, sliding over his skin, and he sighed as he relaxed under the spray.For a few moments, he allowed himself to enjoy the hot water and steam wafting up around him before he squirted soap into his hand and sudsed up.
Reaching down, he gripped his cock.This wasn’t about pleasure so much as it was about stress relief.A physical need to be met.That was how it usually was.How it was supposed to be.
Closing his eyes, his hand pumping on his cock with fast, sure strokes, he didn’t see the blankness he usually saw or the faceless female body that sometimes popped up in its place.This time, he saw a certain mouthy submissive on her knees in front of him, and he’d found the perfect way to keep her quiet.
Fuck.
His pulse pounded in his ears, hand tightening on his dick.Even as he tried to push the image of Iris’ wide eyes out of his mind, lips wrapped around his cock, he knew it was already too late.The fantasy had taken off on its own, and it wasn’t coming back.
Groaning, Law braced his forearm against the shower and leaned his head against it as his other hand moved harder and faster over his slick shaft.He wanted to finish as quickly as possible, as he always did, yet another part of him wanted to linger over the fantasy.That desire made him work his cock even more vigorously, rebelling against the strange urge.He panted as he came, shuddering from the intensity of his pleasure.
Dammit.She was even invading his brain at home now.
With how often he had to think about her at the club, maybe it wasn’t a surprise.Especially after the way Asad had been teasing him about her all night.
No wonder the thought was stuck in his head.
Finishing his shower, Law got out and dried off, trying not to feel too disgusted with himself.It wasn’t just that she was too young for him—though she was—or that she wasn’t his type—she wasn’t—he also knew deep down, his biggest problem was he knew he didn’t deserve her.
He was pretty sure he didn’t deserve anyone.
Because of that, masturbating hadn’t brought the relief it usually did.It was supposed to be a release of tension.He couldn’t remember the last time it had actually been about making himself feel good.
Feeling more tired than he had in years, Law put on a pair of boxers and flopped down on his bed.A moment later, there was a soft thump, then a purr as Whiskers jumped up beside him and rubbed her furry little face all over Law’s bald head.
Cracking an eye open, Law glared at the tortoiseshell former alley cat.
“Why is it you’re only affectionate when I’m not in the mood to pay attention to you?”he asked grumpily.Whiskers mewed and rubbed her face over Law’s cheek.They both knew if Law had come home and actually tried to pet the cat, he would most likely have been met with a hiss and claws.It wasn’t a certainty—Whiskers liked to be arbitrary—but it was always a possibility.
“Ornery beast,” Law muttered, turning onto his back and pulling up the covers so Whiskers could settle on top of him and knead to her heart’s content without digging her claws into Law’s bare chest.The cat’s purr was like a jet engine.Law yawned, and his eyes slowly closed.Because he wasn’t really thinking, he reached up to rub his chin, and Whiskers clearly thought he meant to pet her and immediately hissed and clawed him.
“Ow!”He jerked upright, but the cat had already sprung away from his chest.As she swished her way out the door, Law glared at her, grumbling under his breath, “Damn cat.”
When he’d found her in an alley, she’d been a pathetic little thing and clung to him when he’d picked her up.It had been the one and only time he’d been allowed to hold her without protest.Gratitude for being rescued?Yeah, not her.
Rolling over, Law turned out the light and closed his eyes again, willing himself to sink into sleep.The problem of Iris would have to be faced soon enough tomorrow.He needed all the rest he could get until then.
ChapterFour
Iris
Talk about dragging.Iris’ eyes felt like sandpaper as she forced herself through her morning routine, glaring balefully at Noelle’s closed door.Noelle worked as a receptionist at a hair salon, which meant she didn’t have to be up for another hour or two to make it to work on time.
Not like Iris, who needed to be at the Hill’s house by eight to walk their dog.Working as a House Manager sounded like a cool job, but it wasn’t the easy work Noelle sometimes teased her about.No, she didn’t have to be on her feet all day like Noelle, but Noelle didn’t have to be up at six in the morning, either.Iris had allowed Noelle to go on for far too long last night and hadn’t gotten nearly enough sleep.Now, she was cranky as hell.
Thank God it was Friday, or she might have been even crankier.
She was also resolved to start coming home from Stronghold earlier, so Noelle wouldn’t keep her up so late.Hopefully.It was worth a shot.
Coffee.Coffee was necessary.
Dressed, showered, and caffeinated, she managed to feel almost normal by the time she was out the door.Maybe she should see if Patrick would let her off this evening.As much as she wanted to go to Stronghold, Noelle had still been mad at Tyler when she went to bed last night and hadn’t been happy to hear that Iris was headed back to Stronghold both tonight and tomorrow.
It had made Iris realize how absent she’d been on the weekends, and even though Noelle spent a lot of time with Tyler, they hadn’t hung out together in so long, which was pretty unusual.No wonder Noelle was feeling jealous of her new friends.To add to her guilt, she didn’t really want to bring Noelle to hang out with them.
Noelle wasn’t judgmental about the kinky stuff, exactly, but she didn’t understand it, and some of the stuff she said could come off as judgmental.Iris didn’t want to lose her new friends because Noelle said something that sounded bad.Plus… sometimes, she needed a break from Noelle.
Damn, I’m a shitty friend.
