Neighbors with Benefits (Anderson Brothers, #2)(53)

The dimples appeared again and his hands went to the button on his pants, popping it open easily and then lowering the zipper with painful, deliberate slowness.

She almost growled in frustration at yet another layer—those blasted black boxer briefs. He let the pants drop, and he stepped out of them, casually picking them up and beginning to fold them.

She snatched them out of his hands and tossed them to the bed before he finished, and he chuckled. “You sure you don’t want to help?”

“Positive.”

And then he did the most unfair thing ever: he stepped into the shower and closed the curtain, then pitched his underwear over the top, where they landed right at her feet.

“You cheated!” she said, fighting back a laugh.

“I never cheat,” was his reply as a wisp of steam crept over the top of the curtain. “I wrote the rule book in this particular instance. You chose to be but a mere observer, remember?” He poked his head around the curtain, dimples flashing. “But you could always up your status to participant and complete the inspection.” He winked and disappeared behind the curtain again.

She closed her eyes and imagined him behind that curtain, all naked and hard and hot with water running down those abs. And then she thought of the luggage closet and the power in his body as he thrust into her, his complete and nearly savage loss of control until he reined himself in at the end, ejaculating silently. She wanted to hear him yell. More specifically, she wanted to hear him yell her name. Her towel joined his underwear on the floor and she pulled the curtain aside.

…

Michael could never be completely certain what Mia would do, but knowing her as he did, he wasn’t surprised when she yanked the curtain aside and stepped into the shower with him, gloriously naked.

Her eyes immediately dropped to his erection and widened, then she raised her gaze to his.

“Like what you see?” he asked.

“You are very sure of yourself.”

“Should I not be?”

She didn’t answer, but didn’t lower her gaze from his. Obviously, she was referring to more than his penis.

“Mia. I am very aware of my strengths and shortcomings. I’ve analyzed why and when I’ve succeeded and failed in business and personally. As you’ve noted, I control my public image fiercely and my personal life with equal aggression. I’m not ashamed or shy about either.”

“I wasn’t…”

He ran his fingers down her jaw, needing to touch her. “I know. I just want you to know that I’m aware of who I am. I know what I want and I usually get it. I would love to see you acquire some of the security I feel.”

She gestured to her body. “I am not self-conscious.”

“No, you’re not. It’s self-confidence—or maybe self-awareness—you lack. How many times have you said someone like me wouldn’t be interested in someone like you? Hell, you even called yourself a nobody.”

“I did?”

“You did.”

“I’m not.”

“You most certainly are not.”

“Well, I’m glad we have that all cleared up Mr. Serious. Back to your recent question,” she said, and his mind raced to figure out which one. Then she wrapped her fingers around him and explored, while he held his breath. “Yes, I like what I see.”

As she pumped her hand over his water-slicked flesh, it was all he could do to remain upright. “Well, good. I can add that back into my column of assets. I was a little worried for a moment.”

“No worries at all here. But I think I need to conduct a closer inspection.”

Michael braced himself on the tile walls when she dropped to her knees and then nearly lost his mind all together when she took him into her mouth, drawing him in, then pulling back until he was exposed to the warm water raining down on them both. Then, after circling the head with her tongue, she drew him in again. He hissed in a breath between his teeth. This was more than physical. Just like in the closet, it was as if he were discovering intimacy all over again. His balls tightened and he found himself perilously close to the edge.

“Stop.” Never in a million years would Michael Anderson ever have imagined the possibility of putting a stop to this particular scenario, yet he found himself repeating, “Stop, please.” She circled him with her tongue one last time, and released him, expression justifiably confused.

He helped her to her feet. “No more fast food tonight.” He soaped up his hands and ran them up her arms and down her back. “It’s about taking our time.” He lathered the washcloth and scrubbed himself down, then pulled her to him, sliding against her, loving the feel of her hardened nipples across his soap-slicked chest. “About learning each other’s bodies.” He handed her the washcloth and turned. She scrubbed his back, and then moved lower to his ass and he propped his hands on the tile as she lathered his inner thighs and balls. He’d regained his control now, and was simply enjoying the adrenaline and thrill of her exploration of his body.

After a thorough rinse, he turned the water off and pulled the towel from the towel bar. Determined to keep things focused on her, he dried her hair, then moved methodically down her body, drying and kissing as he went. By the time he reached her knees, they were trembling.

“We’re going to work on a two to one ratio tonight, which is why I stopped you.”