Chapter 13

thirteen

. . .

River

Two days later

" O h no, you don't. Walker Cross, get your ass back in bed this minute," I hollered as soon as I stepped out of the bathroom and found the stubborn cowboy trying to swing his legs over the side of his bed.

"I need to take a leak."

"That's what the?—"

"I swear to God, woman, if you try and talk to me about the fucking piss bucket one more time."

"It could be the catheter."

"That inhumane piece of plastic isn't going anywhere near my dick ever again."

His glare was accusatory. As if I should have stopped the doctor from doing his job. Who knew Cock Bodyguard was part of my job description?

"You don't complain about the sponge baths."

"That's different. Especially since you're doing that for me."

"If you need me to hold your dick for you while you're peeing, I'm out. Your arms work just fine."

"Aw, don't be like that. You sure seemed like you wanted to wrap your lips around it last time you two were up close and personal."

"Yeah, sure, but not when you're peeing!"

His sexy smirk dimmed. "This is really taking a sorry turn."

"At least take your meds? I know you've been holding off."

The man tried to hide the pain, but I could see it in the tightness around his eyes and mouth. Not to mention the beads of sweat dotting his brow. "I'm fine."

"Liar."

"I said I'm fine, dammit. Now help me or get the fuck out of my way."

I blew out a frustrated breath. I knew he was hurting, and for a tough guy like him, admitting he needed help was akin to sticking pins beneath his fingernails. That didn't mean I had to tolerate him treating me like a punching bag.

"You can't even walk."

"Then get my damn wheelchair."

"What I'm going to get is your brother."

He lifted his hands and mimed being afraid. "Oooh, no. Not the big bad Cross. I'm so scared."

"I don't want you to be scared. I want you to listen to reason, and apparently you've got your River filter on. Also, I can't lift you when you inevitably fall on your face and injure yourself again."

I pulled my phone from my pocket and texted Cross for the third time today, but just like the other two times, he didn't answer. So I sent him a string of messages, all with no response.

"Where are you?" I muttered. I knew he was here; his truck hadn't left the driveway since Walker was hurt.

Walker sighed. "Just give me the bucket, woman. But do me a favor and leave me alone for a few minutes. I need to preserve what little dignity I still have."

I bit down on my lip but nodded. As much as I didn't want to leave in case something happened, this would give me a chance to hunt his brother down. Walker was getting ornery. I wouldn't be able to manage him for much longer. Especially while he was still upstairs. Time to pull out the bigger, scarier guns.

I just needed the scarier gun to answer my fucking messages.

As soon as I was out of the room, I turned my attention to finding Cross. We needed to have a little chat about Walker management, and he wouldn't be able to ignore me if we were face to face.

With all the elegance of an angry bull, I barreled into Cross's bedroom, not giving two shits about things like knocking or privacy. I mean, if it's good for the goose...

"Don't you dare ignore my texts!"

Instead of finding a surprised cowboy, there was a whole lot of nothing waiting for me. I grunted and made to leave when I registered the shower running.

Well, that was just peachy. I'm over here still wearing the same clothes I slept in three days ago, and he's taking a luxurious shower. Fuck that.

"Where do you get off—" I started as I burst into the bathroom, but the words caught in my throat at the sight of Cross standing in the shower stall.

It was one of those open shower situations, with stonework from floor to ceiling. Jesus, the man's ass was a work of art. Even I could admit it. But the thing that really caught my attention wasn't his muscular form or the way his arm was braced on the wall in front of him. No, it was the long, slow glides of his hand over his fully erect dick that had me swallowing my words.

Apparently Cross gets off in the shower.

I was too shocked to move. I just stood there with my mouth hanging open.

He slowly turned his head and looked at me. "You just gonna stand there, or..."

He let the invitation hang, his strokes continuing at the same measured pace as if I wasn't even there.

"I... uh... are you..." I couldn't seem to form a coherent sentence. Great job, River. Way to be a good feminist and lose the power of speech at the sight of a big dick.

A big, sexy, slippery dick. That I wanted inside me.

Jesus.

"I'm fucking busy, sparrow. In case you haven't noticed."

"Then hurry up and finish so we can talk."

He smirked, a lazy smile that promised me dirty things if only I asked for them. "It'll go faster if you take over."

I crossed my arms beneath my breasts and glared at him—not because I hated the idea, mind you, but because I was pissed at myself for being so tempted. "I'm not helping you rub one out."

"Why not? Might make you feel better." He closed his eyes and groaned while rolling his palm over the crown, then sliding back to the base. "I helped you. Remember? You came all over my hand."

My nipples were so hard they ached. "You seem to be doing just fine without me."

Those dark blue irises locked with mine, and hunger burned within them. "I was. But now that you're here and not just in my mind, things are different."

"You were thinking of me while stroking your cock?" The breathless quality of my voice gave me away; I was sure of it.

"Sparrow, it's always you." He took his bottom lip between his teeth and let out a ragged breath as he picked up the pace. "Every." Stroke. "Single." Stroke. "Time."

My thighs quaked from being squeezed together so hard. I wanted to pretend I was unaffected. That he hadn't just obliterated the wall I was desperately trying to keep between us.

Fuck.

"Cross," I whispered.

"If you're too afraid to touch me, at least give me something."

I bristled at the obvious challenge, but I wasn't going to fall into his trap either. I was not getting in there with him. No way in hell.

"I don't want to touch you. There's a difference." I slipped the T-shirt over my head, baring my breasts to him and cupping the full weight of one in my palm. "But no one said I didn't want to touch myself."

"Christ," he grunted, squeezing himself at the base, eyes locked on my fingers as they teased my nipple.

"What's wrong, Cross? You never seen a pair of tits before?"

His lips pressed into a tight line. "You know I have. Yours happen to be my favorite."

"Oh, so you wish it was you doing this, then? God, it feels good, especially when I tug on my nipples while I roll my clit with my other hand."

"Fuck, sparrow. Keep talking."

I was playing with fire. I knew it. But I didn't care. Part of me welcomed the burn.

I slid my other hand down, dipping beneath the waistband of my leggings and finding myself already slick and swollen. I didn't admit all of this was for him, not to myself and not to the man about to come all over his own hand.

"What does it feel like?" he breathed. "Is your pussy as hot and wet as I made it the other day?"

"Wetter."

"Why?"

"Because I'm doing it myself. I know how to get the job done."

A muscle twitched in his jaw. Oh, he didn't like that.

"I know what you like."

I hummed, my eyes fluttering closed as I applied the perfect amount of pressure. "Maybe. But I know what I love."

"Dammit, sparrow."

"Bet I can make myself come before you do."

"Get over here, and I'll get us both off."

"No thanks."

Hand shuttling across his length, he breathed heavily and kept his hot stare on my tits. Knowing he was watching and reacting to me made a simple act into something far more erotic. I was lightheaded from my desire, panting as my climax came racing toward the finish line. His cock swelled even further, the head glistening with precum and his abs tensing over and over.

"Fuck, sparrow. I'm gonna come. Wanna come on your perfect fucking tits."

I shook my head, but secretly, that was a fantasy I'd entertained before. "Say my name when you do."

"River," he grunted, and a pained moan escaped him as his cock throbbed and ropes of his release spurted onto the tile.

I had to lean back on the counter as my own orgasm rocked me, my knees going weak from the blinding pleasure.

The water cut off while I was still coming down from my high. Cross's expression reminded me of a lazy, sated lion as he reached for a gray towel and wrapped it around his hips. "I won."

"What?" I asked, brain foggy from my orgasm.

"The bet. I came first."

I snorted. "Are you ready for your prize?"

"Give me five minutes and I will be."

Tugging on my shirt, I retreated as he began a slow stalk toward me. "Not so fast, stallion. I'm not the prize."

"You are from where I'm standing."

I hated that my stupid heart flipped at that. Traitor.

"Walker is."

That got his attention. He blinked. "Wait, what?"

"Congrats, champ. You're on Walker duty. I need a shower of my own."

I turned on my heels and gave myself a mental pat on the back for not letting him see how shaky I still was as I headed out of his room.

"The detachable shower head has ten different settings, sparrow!" he called after me. "You can thank me later."

Not about to have him get the last word, I paused and glanced over my shoulder. "Oh, I know. Number five is a personal favorite."

Then I winked and got the fuck out of there before I did something stupid. Like sit on his face.