Hell or High Water (Deep Six #1)(86)
“Leo!” she squeaked. “Good grief.” Without thinking, she covered her breasts with one hand and cupped her privates with the other.
He bit the inside of his cheek, eyeing her protective stance. “I hate to say it, darlin’, but the cat’s out of the bag. There’s no need to hide what I’ve already seen, touched, and tasted.”
She dropped her hands with a huff. It caused her breasts to bounce, and he tilted his head, groaning like a dying man. Movement in her peripheral vision had her glancing down. And sure enough, he hadn’t been lying about those regenerative powers. His penis was twitching and swelling, the skin growing turgid, the heavy veins standing out in harsh relief. An answering rush of liquid heat gathered at her core.
She should have been satisfied after the shower. He should have been satisfied. Her orgasm had been explosive, transcendent. And all evidence suggested his had been the same. But obviously, neither of them was completely appeased. She bit her lip, wondering if they would ever be completely—
A shushing sounded behind her, interrupting her thoughts. When she turned toward the door, she saw a white piece of paper lying on the gray slate tiles. Lifting a brow at Leo, she wondered aloud, “What the heck is that about?”
“Only one way to find out.” He tilted his head toward the paper. Shrugging, she bent to grab the missive only to hear him growl, low and guttural, like a wild animal warning its prey of its presence. “That might just be the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.”
When she realized he was staring at her bare ass poking up into the air, she straightened so quickly she felt dizzy and the towel fell off her head, landing in a navy-blue heap on the floor. “You meant for that to happen,” she accused, turning to find him clutching his heart.
“Meant for it to happen? Hey!” He held his hands up. “I’m not the one who slipped a letter under the door.” She narrowed her eyes. He chuckled, shrugging those massive shoulders of his. He needed new butterfly bandages, she noted absently. The old ones were starting to curl loose around the edges. “All right, so maybe I took advantage of the situation when it presented itself. Can you blame me?”
“Hmph.” She pursed her lips, easily falling into their familiar banter. The truth of the matter was, when she was with Leo like this, teasing and tormenting, she was the happiest she’d ever been. And, Jesus, that just makes it hurt worse! “No, I suppose I can’t. Once a pervert, always a pervert, right?”
“As it ever was and ever shall be, darlin’.” He winked. Then, “What’s it say?”
She unfolded the note and read aloud, “‘Congratulations on the ax waxing.’” She looked up at him and he shook his head, making a face that said, You don’t want to know. “‘I gave the package to the contractors and they’re well on their way to Key West. Romeo is still a ways out, so take your time.’” When she read further, her cheeks ignited. “It’s signed ‘Jeeves.’”
Leo’s face took on the mien of an Abrams tank, bristling with menace. When he stomped past her, there was no ignoring the erection that bobbed heavily between his big thighs. She was staring unabashedly when the side of his heavy fist landed against the door. The resultant sound was that of a cannon shot. She jumped at the same time a yelp sounded in the cabin outside.
“Get lost, suckwad!” Leo bellowed through the wood.
Bran’s chuckle drifted into the bathroom. “Can’t blame a guy for wanting a little vicarious thrill!”
“Pervert!” Leo yelled back.
“From what I hear, it takes one to know one!” Bran’s voice was growing fainter.
Leo opened the door and stuck his head out. “Sorry about that,” he said after he’d slammed it shut again. “In case you didn’t know it, Bran is an asshat and a board-certified idiot.”
And despite being completely abashed at having gotten caught waxing Leo’s ax—yeah, she finally lightbulbed that one—she heard the undeniable affection in his voice. “But you love him in spite of it.”
He rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. And, yes, he was still one hundred percent, holy-shit-would-you-get-a-load-of-that-thing aroused. But if he could ignore the giant cock in the room, so could she. Maybe. Okay, probably not.
“Right,” he said. “Like I love flat beer and tofu burgers.”
She slid him a sidelong glance. “Why do men have such a hard time admitting affection for one another?”
“It’s not so much admittin’ it as talkin’ about it,” he told her.
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“Nah.” He shook his head. “We admit it when we slap each other’s asses, talk shit about each other’s mamas, and give each other colorfully repulsive nicknames. But we’re not talkin’ about it.”
She made a rude noise that caused him to grin and start moving in her direction. Her heart took off like a startled rabbit. Instinctively, she took a step back. Instinctively because, even though he was smiling that Leo smile of his—the one that crinkled the corners of his gorgeous eyes and made his teeth flash white against his tanned face and beard—there was something decidedly predatory about his advance. In fact, she probably would have retreated another step had her butt not bumped up against the bathroom vanity. The cool stone countertop was almost as much of an assault on her senses as Leo’s looming nearness.