Page 87 of Last Light

“We can try. I saw some dog stuff inside, so the guy who lived here must have brought him in sometimes.”

We spend the next hour working with the dog, getting him inside, giving him another bowl of food and some water, then cleaning him up as much as we can. When we’re done, the dog walks over to a small rug in front of the woodstove in the living room and curls up on it to sleep.

I’m smiling like a fool. “That must be his spot,” I say. “Look how happy he is.”

“Poor fella.” Travis is leaning against a wall, his eyes on the dog. “At least he’ll have a couple of days here with us.”

“Yeah.” I notice the way Travis is lifting his ankle to keep from putting weight on it. “You better go lie down again and rest your ankle. I’m going to heat up some water and then take a shower since I feel kind of yuck.”

Travis grunts and doesn’t move, so I just leave him as I go to turn on the water heater in the bathroom and then clean up the supplies from our work with the dog.

I find another soft button-up shirt to put on after my shower since my clothes are still drying on the line outside. Then I close the bathroom door, strip, and step into the shower.

The hottish water feels just as good today as it did yesterday. I stand and let it hit my face and stream down my body. I braided my hair earlier, so I just leave it in the braids, allowing them to get wet. No need to wash my hair again.

I’m just starting to soap up when I feel a draft of cold air. I give a little squeal when someone steps into the shower with me.

Travis. Totally naked and now as wet as I am.

“What are you doing?” I ask, my shock turning into giggles.

“Takin’ a shower. Figured you’d use all the hot water, so I better share.” His tone is warm and teasing, and I love the sound of it. He’s not like this very often.

“And you didn’t think about asking first?”

“You don’t wanna share?” He takes the soap from my hand. “I can help you clean up real good.”

We have a little scuffle over the soap until I give up. “I don’t think cleaning is what you had in mind when you got in here.”

“Why d’you say that?” He’s rubbing the soap all over my chest and belly.

I reach down to grab his erection with both hands. “Because of this.”

“That’s just ’cause you’re naked.”

“So you don’t want to have sex again?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say no. But not gonna push.” There’s still a smile in his voice, and his hands are moving all over me.

I really like how they feel, but I’m feeling more affectionate than urgent. “We just had sex a few hours ago.”

“So you don’t wanna?”

“I don’t know. Better finish cleaning me up. Then I can clean you up. Then I can decide.”

Travis seems perfectly amenable to that suggestion. He gives my body a leisurely rubdown, and then I do the same with him.

I really like how tense his body gets when I touch it, when I stroke it, when I feel him all over. I glance up and see that his blue-gray eyes have gone hot.

I’m having a good time, but he’s definitely more aroused than I am. He hisses every time I brush against his erection.

It gives me an idea.

I’ve never done it before, but it might be fun to try.

And I want to make Travis feel as good as he always makes me feel.

I rearrange myself so that I can sit down on the small seat at the corner of the shower. That gets me closer to the level of his groin.

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