Chapter Ten

T he first problem with sharing a small home with the man Kendall couldn't seem to stop craving presented itself on Monday morning. He was confident it would've occurred sooner if they'd spent more than a few minutes together over the weekend. Kendall had envisioned a bonding scene where they got to know each other over wings and pizza, but Ridge had been called into work not long after they returned home with Sammy.

"I'm so sorry," Ridge had said.

"Why? It's the nature of your job, and you warned me it would happen."

Ridge had rubbed the back of his neck and continued to look unconvinced. "Yeah, but I didn't expect it to happen on the first day I moved in." He took a deep breath. "I can't even say how long I'll be gone."

Kendall had lifted the cat into his arms and felt his insides go gooey when the big beast started purring and rubbing his head against him. "This is no hardship," he'd told Ridge. "Go take care of business, and we'll be here when you get back." Kendall turned the cat to face Ridge and said, "Give Daddy kisses."

Ridge had maintained eye contact with Kendall when he lowered his face to kiss Sammy on top of his broad head. Kendall's heart fluttered like butterfly wings, and it took all his control not to launch himself into Ridge's arms. His absence became a welcome relief, especially when he remembered the photographs he'd accidentally left in the spare closet. Had Ridge seen them? God, he hoped not. Kendall had hauled ass to Ridge's room and was relieved to see his suits still laid out on the bed instead of hanging in the closet. He quickly transferred the canvases to his own room and made sure they were hidden behind seasonal wardrobe items.

Kendall didn't want to be reminded of past bad decisions every time he opened the door, but he'd been unable to throw the canvases away when he'd moved. Kendall hoped one day he could view the images without recalling how stupid he'd been to believe the sexy photographer had actually wanted him, not just sex. The photos had been Kendall's birthday gift to him. What had followed was a weeklong sexfest Kendall had mistaken for love until said sexy photographer ghosted him.

Ridge returned sometime on Sunday evening. He hadn't been there when Kendall left for work, but his SUV was in the driveway when he'd come home around two. Kendall had found it hard to fall asleep knowing Ridge was across the hall, especially since Sammy's side of the bed was also empty. Kendall had finally turned on his go-to show for falling asleep and drifted off sometime around four, only to be woken a few hours later when Ridge turned on the shower.

He was surprisingly quiet for such a big man, but the old pipes…not so much. Of course Kendall's brain immediately scrolled through all the things Ridge might be doing in the bathroom, and none involved him washing behind his ears. The longer Ridge remained in the shower, the lewder Kendall's fantasies became until he faced two problems: a hard-on and a persistent bladder.

Kendall couldn't barge into the bathroom while Ridge was showering, but his only other option was to piss off the porch, which was so not his style. Huffing a breath of frustration, Kendall threw back the covers and left his bedroom. Gravity turned his uncomfortable situation into an urgent one, so he burst through the bathroom door without knocking.

"So sorry," he called out on his way to the toilet.

"What are you doing?" Ridge asked.

"Relieving myself." Kendall released his dick from his boxers and aimed it at the toilet, only nothing happened. Peeing while fully aroused was no easy task, and he willed his mind away from the sexy man on the other side of the shower curtain. "What about you?"

Ridge choked. "Are you asking me if I'm relieving myself?"

Kendall bounced on the balls of his feet, hoping to jiggle something loose. "No."

"Because otherwise, it should be pretty obvious what I'm doing in the shower."

"You've been in there a long time," Kendall said without thinking. He couldn't take it back, so he continued full steam ahead. "I mean, I'm sure it takes a long time to wash all those yummy muscles…" Christ. He wasn't helping his situation any.

The metal curtain rings rattled when Ridge jerked the panel to the side. Kendall looked over his shoulder and saw Ridge had poked his head out to look at him. He caught the big man staring at his ass before their eyes met and held. Ridge's nostrils flared, and Kendall knew he wasn't the only one battling attraction. Ridge's hands weren't anywhere in sight. Where were they? What were they doing?

"Problem?" Ridge asked, wearing a knowing smirk.

"Was about to ask you the same." Finally, Kendall's erection ebbed enough he could piss. He turned his attention back to the toilet to make sure he didn't embarrass himself by making a mess.

Ridge chuckled, and the curtain rattled closed once more.

"I think it's clean now," Kendall called out as he flushed the toilet.

Ridge's laughter meant no further explanation was needed. "Concerned about water usage?" Did Ridge's voice sound thicker, or was that just Kendall's dirty imagination?

"Nope."

"Did you want to inspect my handiwork?" Ridge asked. That time there was no mistaking the desire in his voice.

"And wreck my streak of good behavior?" He knew without a doubt being bad would never feel so good. "Not today, friend."

Ridge's laugh bounced off the tiled shower walls. "And just how long is this streak ?" Kendall knew exactly what he was asking.

Instead of exiting the bathroom like a sane person would, Kendall walked over to the sink and prepped his toothbrush. The shower was directly behind him, but the mirror was so fogged up he couldn't see anything. Kendall wiped a small circle with his fist, but he couldn't even make out a shadow through the opaque shower curtain. Bummer.

"Kendall?"

"Yeah, I'm still here," he said, then shoved the toothbrush in his mouth and got to work.

"So this streak of good behavior," Ridge prodded. "What am I up against?"

Kendall pulled his toothbrush free and spit into the sink. "I don't follow."

"Friends help each other out, yeah?"

"Uh-huh," Kendall said. "Do you want to help continue the streak or break it?" The only sound in the room was the running water and their breathing. "Don't answer that."

Kendall didn't need to hear Ridge's answer to know. He could pull back the curtain and climb into the shower with Ridge, who'd both welcome and cherish the opportunity to end his streak. Ridge didn't plan to stick around, so getting involved with him would be a big mistake. It was best to yank off the man's blinders.

"I haven't had sex with anyone in over a year after ending an affair with my stepbrother," Kendall said. There, that ought to do it.

"Sounds messy," Ridge said, but Kendall didn't detect a single ounce of censure in his voice.

"Very, but that's what I do best. I fall fast and hard and always for the wrong men. This time will be different."

"This time?" Ridge asked. "Sounds like maybe you have someone in mind."

"No," Kendall said. "I'm no good to anyone else until I can learn to love myself. Maybe that's why I keep picking losers. A part of me thinks it's what I deserve. And this conversation is too heavy without coffee." Kendall stuck his toothbrush in his mouth and finished scrubbing his teeth.

"Kendall."

He looked up and locked eyes with Ridge, who'd stuck his head out from behind the curtain again.

"I'm ready to get out of the shower now. I don't have a shy bone in my body, but maybe you're not ready to put your streak to the test."

Kendall turned and leaned against the counter, putting the entire length of his body on display. "You think I find you irresistible?" Ridge raked his gorgeous eyes over him, zeroing in on Kendall's crotch before meeting his gaze once more.

"I think I'm going to annihilate your streak right there on the bathroom counter if you're still here when I get out."

Kendall wanted to hook his thumbs under his waistband and shove his briefs down his legs. That's precisely what he would've done before deciding he deserved better from the men he took to his bed. Instead, he rinsed his mouth and replaced his toothbrush in the holder.

"Have a wonderful day, friend," he said on his way out.

Kendall returned to his bed and fucked his fist with a ferocity that stunned him and left him boneless, replete, and so damn lonely.