Page 127 of The Illicit Play

“It’s cool, man.” He flicks his hand at me. “Five days in the forest would do my head in. If you want to come down and use our shower, you’re welcome to. Sienna and Zoey are on a video chat with her parents. They won’t mind if you use our bathroom.”

“Thanks, man, but I’ll just wait.” I shake out my pack,having emptied it completely, then fold it away for storing at the top of my closet.

He stops by my door, his eyebrows buckling. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m great.” I clear the tickle from my throat and force myself to face him. “How was your thing? Have a good time?”

His lips twitch, his shoulder hitching. “I think there’s a chance you had more fun than me.”

“Really?” I rest my hand against the closet door frame. “What do you mean? Did something bad happen?”

“No, it was just very family intense, and Zoey was unsettled for some reason.” He lets out a weary laugh. “I would have given anything to just be away with my woman for a couple of nights in the middle of nowhere, you know?”

“I take it you didn’t get any while you were away?”

He snorts and shakes his head.

I give him a pained wince. “If you ever need a babysitter, just let me know. You two obviously need a night to yourselves. We can make that happen.”

“Yeah, thanks.” He raises his hand at me. “I’m gonna have to take you up on that, man.”

“Done.”

He raises his chin in gratitude before heading out the door.

I listen for the shower and hear that it’s stopped, which means the bathroom might be free.

Taking my time, I gather my clean clothes and towel, giving Blake a chance to get back to her room without me walking in on her again. It’s been established that when itcomes to her, I basically have zero control, so it’s best that I give her space.

By the time I get to the bathroom, it’s empty, and I can’t help the slice of disappointment that takes me out.

But it’s okay. This is the way it should be, right?

I rinse off pretty fast, soaping every inch of me until I smell like African Storm shower gel. I manage to wash the last of the suds off my body just before I lose the hot water. Jumping out before the cold spikes get me, I towel off, my mind consumed with thoughts of Blake… and the tears I heard before Zander interrupted me.

When I ease out of the bathroom, a towel securely wrapped around my waist, I stare across the hall at Blake’s bedroom door.

I have no idea if she’s in there or downstairs, putting on the show Wily’s expecting.

Or maybe she’s tucked up in bed, pretending to study.

Or maybe she’s curled up in a little ball, whimpering against her knees.

Fuck, I hate that image the most.

Padding across the wooden floor, I pause outside her door and gently knock before thought can stop me.

My heart starts to drum a wicked beat when I listen to her shuffling behind the wood.

And then the handle is turning and her face appears, all wide-eyed and blotchy.

Her eyes. Damn, I can’t get enough of them.

They’re all glassy and are such a vibrant blue, they look like a crystal-clear lake on a cloudless day. Her tear-streaked face begs to be touched, kissed, comforted.

“I know I shouldn’t be standing here right now,” I croak, straining for noises in the house.

Her supple lips part, her eyes trailing down my body and turning my insides to molten lava.