Page 13 of The World

“God, you’re freezing, babe,” he whispered. “Shower. Now.”

I wanted to argue that I couldn’t get much wetter than I already was, but showers meantnakedandwarm,which sounded pretty perfect, so I let him lead me into the attached bath.

I stripped off my soggy t-shirt and shorts while Tai ran the water, letting the steam fog up the mirror. Taika turned toward me and his face froze as he gave me that same hard, penetrating stare he’d given me the first night we met, like he wasn’t sure what kind of creature I was. At the time, I’d assumed it meant he didn’t like what he saw. Now, I knew different.

I stepped toward him and he didn’t move, just glanced down as I slipped each of his shirt buttons from their holes and pushed his shirt over his shoulders.

Damnbut he was gorgeous, all warm honey skin, lean muscles, and broad shoulders. I set my lips against the center of his chest and let my hands skate across his chest to tease his nipples. He hissed out a curse and lifted his hands to cup my shoulders, whether for balance or to restrain me, I wasn’t sure. Either way, it made me smile.

I laid my forehead against his chest and felt his heart beat in double time as I flicked open the button at his waist.

“Shower?” I asked.

It was a real question. Already my blood was boiling hot, the cold a distant memory. I wanted a bed. I wanted his hands on me.

“Shower,” he confirmed. He bent to peel off his clothes, kicking them into the corner to join mine, then stood in front of me, completely naked and half hard.

My mouth watered. But before I could sink to my knees, he pulled the shower curtain open and pulled me under the spray.

I coughed and choked on the water. “That was sorude,” I sputtered.

He chuckled and grabbed the tiny bottle of shampoo, coating his hands with lather. “I know. Rude, arrogant, entitled… what else did you call me?”

“Hot,” I supplied, as he rubbed the lather through my hair, careful not to get any in my eyes. “I mostly remember hot.”

“Excellent. Then my plan is working. Brainwashing is nearly complete.” He tipped my head back, rinsing me off, then admitted, “If I didn’t slow things down, I knew I wasn’t going to last. Just having youlookat me is the sexiest thing I’ve experienced in a while.”

“Is that so?” I grabbed the tiny bottle of body wash and squirted some into my hands, lathering them thoroughly, just as he had. “I wonder what metouchingyou would be like.”

He growled low in his throat.

I ran my hands up the smooth planes of his chest and over his shoulders. His back was rigid, every muscle tight as he held himself still. I let my fingers coast lower and lower until they trailed over the curve of his ass, and then back around to his belly. Every inch of him was pure tactile bliss.

“Slow, you said?” I confirmed, trailing lazy soap circles around his navel and then a little bit lower. “You wanted slow, right?”

“Fuck, Ethan. Touch me.”

“I’m touching you, baby. That’s all I’m doing, touching you.Slow.”

“Maybe a little faster,” he pleaded, hands braced on my shoulders once again.

“No way. I love slow. Slow is my favorite. I could do this all night.” My rigid cock straining toward his, demanding attention, called me a liar. But Ididwant to take care of him.

This trip, this magical day, this time with him, itmeantsomething to me. I wanted to thank him for it, to give him back something meaningful, my Taika who never received presents.

I lifted up and kissed him slowly, thoroughly. But somehow, one of his legs slid between mine, providing the most beautiful friction, and I couldn’t help grinding against him.

“Slow,” I reminded him, my voice half-drunk to my own ears.

“I know,” he said, all aroused confidence. “It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you.”

His hands roamed down my back to grip my ass, his slick finger brushing over my hole, and I trembled. “How do you want this?” he asked.

I leaned into him further and whimpered. “Just like that is good. Just like that isperfect.”

“Fuck, yes,” he agreed, his voice a harsh whisper. “It really is.” And then he kissed me again.

Time spun out as we stood there rocking against each other, with the steam roiling around us and the water warm on my back. My hands roamed through the slippery strands of his hair and down over his shoulders. But as much as I wanted it to last, as much as I wanted to stay that way forever, eventually I broke our kiss on a gasp and pulled back.