Round 19

N eema stayed over at Shaun’s place, so the next morning, I was knocking on his door because they needed to fill me in on the wedding arrangements I’d missed.

And I wanted to check on William.

The previous day, I’d snuck out of his room the second I’d heard Shaun and Neema enter, and before either of them could ask me anything, I made excuses to leave.

But here I was.

Shaun opened the door, and I peeked inside. William was on the couch, fast asleep. I lowered my voice when I greeted them but Neema turned on the loud kettle.

“He’s asleep!” I said.

“Yeah, like a log. You can kick him, and he won’t wake up. But he’s okay. Your mom’s concoction worked,” Shaun replied, his voice at regular volume.

I hovered over William, but he barely fluttered an eyelid at Shaun’s loudness. He looked so peaceful in sleep—no smirks, no disdain, no frowning. I resisted the urge to place soft kisses all over him and his long eyelashes.

Instead, I pinched his chin.

He groaned and blinked a few times as he came awake.

“Welcome to Neverland.” I grinned.

He offered me half a smile, the other half still waking up. “Hey.”

“Not healthy enough for a bit of sarcasm?”

He stretched, every muscle in his body flexing until I practically vibrated.

“Give me a minute to wake up.”

His sleepy eyes, light and fuzzy, combined with his soft smile, left me wanting to crawl into the small gap between his warm body and the couch and live there.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

William kicked his feet off the couch and pushed himself upright. He grabbed his glasses and slipped them on.

They made him even cuter.

“Tired, but okay.” He took my hand in his, stroking my palm and sending bursts of light up my arm. “Thank you.”

We let go the second Neema and Shaun joined us in the living room.

Neema filled me in on everything I’d missed with an emphasis on her wedding website. “It’s live! We can track RSVPs and meal preferences. It’s awesome.”

William stiffened beside me, his gaze lifting to Shaun’s, who had been looking at him too.

“Any news?” William asked.

Shaun shook his head, his lips pressed in a thin line. “We’ll know soon enough.”

While I didn’t know what they were talking about, after William’s comment yesterday, I wondered if it was about his father. I hadn’t been able to shake the sound of his voice and how soft it had been. Only then did I connect the few dots I had. William wasn’t in any of the photos of Shaun with his parents. And there were no photos in William’s room of his father either.

It was none of my business, but my stomach twisted, and seeing Shaun lose his smile only pulled it tighter.

“I still have you down for a plus-one,” Neema said to me.

I groaned.

“I’m going to find you a date before then. I already have one very interested party.”

I stammered at the same moment William huffed out a harsh breath.

“Remember Wade, the accountant?” Neema continued. “Well, he’s cute and single and has been asking about you since you came to my office party.”

“Uhm, thanks. But no thanks,” I mumbled, not daring to look at William.

“He’s really nice. Plus, he’s your type.” She nudged me.

“What’s her type, then?” William asked, his tone even.

Neema beamed. “He’s quite tall. Not as tall as Patrick, but still, tall. Very handsome. And most importantly, he’s nice. He’s doing his MBA part-time too.”

“I’m not interested.” It wasn’t a lie, and I wasn’t ready to explain why either.

“What about sex?” She grinned. “Since you deleted the Spark profile I created, this might be a good way to get back in the game. Rebound sex is excellent.”

William’s presence grew larger and darker, and he released a grunt.

Neema turned to him. “What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling sick again?”

“A little.” He stood before making his way to the balcony.

I wanted to join him, but Neema bounced from the couch she was on to mine. “So, coffee? I’ll set it up for after work one evening.”

“Uh…”

“It’s just coffee. Unless there’s another reason stopping you that I don’t know about?” I couldn’t tell if I was imagining it, but there was a knowing tone to her voice.

“Coffee’s fine.” Panicking, I stood, needing to be near William. Immediately.

Out on the balcony, William leaned over the rail. All the color and mischief that had been missing from his face yesterday returned in full force. He glanced at me with eyes alight with that desire I lived for.

I slid myself between him and the rail, enjoying the way he reacted to me. He lowered his head and kissed my neck, taking my breath away. I allowed it, giving in to the way he made me feel. How I burned for him. How I’d imagined him doing this.

Goose bumps popped out over my arms. I was definitely not imagining this.

His tongue traced my earlobe.

“I want you,” I whimpered.

Clearly disagreeing with me, my brain set off alarms, but my body ignored it.

William’s eyebrow arched, and I bit my lip as he cradled my face in one hand. I shuddered with anticipation.

Did he not hear me? I was ready. I wanted it. I couldn’t want it more if I tried.

He kissed me again, setting every part of me alight. “Not yet.”

“Why?” I trembled as though I may explode. “I need it.”

“Not yet. It’s not the right time.”

I wanted to question him further, to figure out what that meant, but his lips pressed against the curve of my ear. “And, Rose, when we do reach that round, I’m going to need a lot more than these stolen seconds with you.”

My breath hitched.

He took a few steps back and gazed at the sky overhead as he released a long, slow breath. “Besides, what about Wade?”

“Neema was suspicious, so I had to agree to meet him for a coffee. But she’s coming along, and she’ll see I’m not interested.”

William shrugged and pinched his lips up on one side. “You didn’t have to do anything.” He glanced at me sideways. “What makes you so sure you won’t be interested?”

“I’m very one-track-minded.” I smiled.

His face relaxed at my words. “Okay, but before your date—”

“It’s just coffee.”

“Before your coffee, I want to see you.” His lips curled into something devious, and his eyes held a hint of playful danger, daring me to agree.

And so I did.

Between work and my studies I was swamped, so my coffee with Wade was arranged about two weeks later on my first free evening. I left the office that evening with Shaun, which meant I could easily follow William’s request. I hadn’t stopped thinking about how he wanted to see me before my meeting with Wade, and my skin tingled at the thought of spending a few extra moments with him. He was up to something, which made it even more exciting.

“Hello!” I called out my arrival, my gaze scanning the living area for William but only finding Neema on the couch.

Neema, who looked stunning at all times of the day because her job required it, looked me up and down, her eyes narrowing at my choice of outfit. “I will never understand how you get away with dressing the way you do.”

Grinning, I shrugged and handed her the bag I’d brought along. “What do I need to worry about when I have you to dress me?”

Rolling her eyes, she rummaged through everything I’d brought along, holding each piece up in front of her and studying it long enough to let me know how seriously she was taking her task.

Shaun went off to the kitchen to prepare a pot of coffee.

Standing, Neema abandoned the bag and approached me before pushing my hair away from my face.

William’s bedroom door clicked open, and my head snapped in his direction, taking him in. His messy hair stood out on one side, his rumpled shirt looked like he’d awoken from a nap, and his checkered pajama pants hung low on his hips. He’d never looked better.

“I’m surprised you’re awake,” Shaun said to him. “You haven’t slept properly in days.”

“I have some more work to do.” William’s eyes met mine before he slipped into the bathroom.

My body buzzed. Was I the work? Did he have actual work? Did he remember he’d asked me to come over?

The sound of rushing water filled my ears, and I couldn’t help but picture William in the shower. People were naked when they showered. Very naked. Fully naked.

Rose, snap out of it.

Neema held up a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. “Try this.”

“I’m not getting undressed here.”

A light laugh from the kitchen made me look up at Shaun.

“I don’t think she meant in front of us, Rose.” Shaun gestured toward his bedroom. “You can use my room.”

I grabbed the clothing and walked into his room. It was the complete opposite of William’s—neat and orderly with a few photos of Neema and his parents and a few business management books. Much like his office cubicle.

After slipping into the chosen outfit, I walked back to the living room and spun around, knowing Neema would demand it.

She nodded and then held up the white dress I’d brought. “Okay, now this one.”

This time when I walked out of the bedroom, William was also exiting the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel. I stopped suddenly, afraid if I took another step I’d slip on my own drool.

William’s shoulders appeared wider with nothing hiding them, and his tan chest and arms seemed bigger with every muscle revealed. His hair was still wet, sending droplets of water racing down his chest and through the center of his abdominal muscles before disappearing into the towel around his waist.

The towel. That damned towel. The thing protecting his dignity and saving me from going feral.

He cleared his throat, and my head shot up in time to catch his smirk. Of course, this was part of his game.

Without changing out of the towel, William sat on the couch and stretched his long legs in front of him. I swallowed hard—he definitely hadn’t skipped leg day.

“Ew, William.” Neema scrunched her nose. “Get dressed.”

“I want to help pick an outfit.” He flashed his dimple, and his muscles danced as he crossed his arms over his chest.

My cheeks heated, watching him watch me.

“Whatever.” Neema blew out a breath and began fussing with my hair, trying to tame the riotous mess of waves that defied her efforts. After a long while and what must’ve been a full bottle of detangling spray, she released my long black hair into a gentle cascade of curls down the center of my back.

William shifted, and the towel moved, but not enough to reveal anything. “I like the dress.” William bit down on his bottom lip, his gaze raking across me.

I’d thought the dress was a modest and safe choice. It landed only slightly above my knee and cinched at the waist, and the neckline barely showed anything, but William’s obvious desire had me feeling completely exposed. An electric current shot straight from his dark eyes, leaped across the coffee table and beyond the dress, meeting me—touching me—right in the center of my chest. I could feel his need, and I wanted nothing more than to climb onto his lap and live there.

My mind wandered to what we’d do if we were alone. I’d rip off that towel no sooner than he’d tear off this dress. I wanted to touch every inch of his skin and then drag my lips across his damp flesh as my fingers slid through his dripping hair. My body pulsed at the thought, and I was moments away from begging him to put me out of my misery.

“I agree,” Neema commented, clearly surprised. “Now, let me fix this face. You’re looking a bit flushed. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

I looked at William again, wondering how his body was so chiseled. I’d never seen him working out. He was always sitting on this damned couch.

He stretched his arms behind his head and flexed. It was so intentional I burst out laughing. A half beat later, his laughter joined mine.

Neema snapped her head toward William. “Don’t make her laugh.” She turned back to me and shot me a stern look. “And don’t move your face.”

Much to my disappointment, William raised his hands in surrender and left the room.

Oh, but he wasn’t done yet. Of course not. He returned a few moments later wearing a pair of fitted black jeans and carrying his shirt. Walking to the closet, he removed the ironing board with slow, deliberate movements. My eyes memorized the way his back muscles moved.

What a back, what a good-looking back.

“There!” Neema surveyed her work with a grin. “That should do it.”

Satisfied with my makeover, she slipped into the bathroom to wash all her brushes. The second she turned on the water, William’s gaze met mine over the back of Shaun’s head, urging me to join him in the kitchen. In only a few weeks, we’d mastered the art of speaking without saying a word.

“I’m gonna wash these,” I told Shaun, gathering the mugs.

“Don’t worry about it. Neema will kill me if you mess up your dress,” Shaun said. “Are you excited for the date?”

“Coffee. It’s just coffee,” I corrected. “I’m gonna wash up. You do it at our place all the time.”

Never in my life have I insisted on doing the dishes.

Who am I?

Shaun shrugged and turned his attention to the TV as I joined William in the kitchen.

Setting the mugs in the sink of soapy water, I ran a sponge over one of them. William crowded behind me, the heat from his skin so close I could feel it on mine. His body pushed closer, pressing against me until my nerves fluttered in response. He ran wet kisses below my ear, moving his lips along my jaw before cupping my chin in one strong hand and tilting my face toward him for better access to my mouth.

After a second of pleasure, I pulled my hands out of the soapy water and pushed him away, frantic to be sure Shaun couldn’t see us. Thankfully, he was absorbed in a meme compilation on TV. And the bathroom door was still closed with Neema behind it.

This was risky. Which somehow made it better.

I admired William’s bare chest up close, running my fingers along every contour, of which there were many.

“Why did you want me here?” I asked in barely a whisper.

“I don’t want you to forget about me when you’re with him.” With one hand, he lifted the edge of my dress and ran the backs of his fingers along my thigh in light, caressing circles, teasing my flesh until tiny bumps rose along my skin. A whimper escaped me, and I slammed my mouth shut as his hand traveled higher.

Curling his lip on one side in a devious grin, William gazed down at me and winked. Then, dropping his hand, he took two steps back and returned to the ironing board.

I closed my eyes and cursed. Because English had abandoned me and curse words were the only words that came to mind. Damn him—my entire body vibrated with desire at a frequency that may very well shatter these mugs.

Furious, I turned to the sink and washed the dishes. They’d shine so brightly when I was done that the next person who used them would be blinded.