Page 136 of Flare

Shayne had confessed to the fire after the accelerant found in his apartment matched the evidence from Flare and residue was also found on his clothes and on the watch. The idea of Shayne stalking Rhys creeped everyone the fuck out, but it did support Shayne’s insistence that Gloria wasn’t involved with the fire. He said he’d offered to give her an alibi to keep the cops off her back, becauseheneeded one.

I wasn’t so sure about Gloria’s innocence myself, but since her label had tanked as a result of the scandal and her association with Shayne, I could live with it. Shayne was denied bail and remanded for a psychiatric evaluation, but as long as he was locked up, I really didn’t give a fuck.

After a few deep relaxing breaths, Rhys slowly opened his eyes and rested his hands over mine. “I love you.”

I brushed my lips over his and ran my nose up through the apple scent of his new shampoo. “I love you too.”

He swivelled off the bed and fisted the ends of the tie, using it to tug me to my feet. “Come on, shower time.”

I tottered after him into the bathroom, smiling at the silver gleam in those Apollo holes as his hips swayed and the brand-new dragon tattoo on his hip, something he’d done to own the strength he’d discovered in himself.

And he’d earned it. The show. Gloria. The fire. Getting Flare back up and running. The work Rhys was doing to heal and the work we were doing together to make a life.

Rhys poured a ton of body wash into his palm and lathered me up as I faced the wall, my hands spread on the tiles. In that position he could work it everywhere including jerking me off.

“If you’re a good boy.”

I intended to be a very, very good boy.

“Do you have to work this afternoon?” He pressed a line of kisses down my back.

“Mm-hmm. Just an hour or so. I’ve got a zoom meeting with the online class that I need to prepare for.” I’d made a smooth transition from the English faculty to a vacant position in the distance learning department with fewer hours and almost half of them working from home.

Rhys wrapped his hand around my shaft and I groaned.

“Mmm, what was that?” He leaned against my back and started a slow, determined stroke.

“Nothing, nothing at all.” I spread my legs and dropped my forehead to the wall. “Damn, that feels good.”

“Well, if you’re going to work, I might catch up on some emails and collate those orders.” He nipped my shoulder.

“Ow.”

“Don’t be a baby.” He kissed the spot. “I don’t know if I can meet the demand for that jacket and Kip is tearing me a new one about getting that new assistant.” He pumped harder.

“You need to get onto thaaaat... Fuck. Me.”

He chuckled. “Not today, baby. And the ad goes in next week.”

“Jee-sus.” I thumped my fist on the wall as Rhys powered up his efforts and tipped me over the edge, painting the tiles with my come as I collapsed against it.

He slapped my arse and stepped out of the shower leaving me leaning on the wall. “You owe me twenty bucks.”

I didn’t need to lift my head to see the smirk on his face.

“It doesn’t count in the shower,” I protested, turning off the water. “We were done with the exercise.”

He whipped his head around the glass and handed me a towel. “Baby, it always counts. Always. And the shower is supposed to be a part of it now. Remember what Callum said?” He turned and walked his very naked pert arse out of the ensuite with me glued to his every step.

I grumped and wrapped the towel around my waist and followed. “You can’t just change the rules to suit yourself.”

He snorted. “Aw. It’s so sweet that you think that. Now get moving. We’re expected at Mum’s by five.”

“I was hoping you’d forget.”

He grinned. “Tough luck. Mum’s making her margaritas and Drew’s cooking lasagne.”

I stabbed a finger at him. “That there is exactly why you needed to forget. I’m going to be so trashed. I’m damn sure she doesn’t measureanythingthat goes into those.”

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