Page 34 of I Knead You Tonight

“I can hear you thinking in there.”

I scream, the razor in my hand slicing into my leg. I feel the sting of the water hitting the wound before I can see the blood begin to gather. “SON OF… CHRIST ON A CRACKER, WINSTON! What the fuck are you doing in here?”

He sighs. “Do we really have to go over how this ismybathroom again? I’m brushing my teeth so I can try to sleep through your snoring.”

I poke my head around the shower curtain and throw a shampoo bottle at him.

“Hey, watch it! You could have hit me in the face. How would you feel if I choked on my own toothbrush?”

“I’d think it was fitting, and deserved since I amclearlytaking a shower. Don’t you know what fucking boundaries are?”

“Again,mybathroom.”

“I just cut my leg because you scared the shit out of me!” I say, ignoring his interruption. “Go get me some Band-Aids, dammit!”

Winston groans, but I can hear him stomp out of the bathroom.

I quickly finish shaving my leg and run my loofa over my body, trying to beat Winston in his hunt so I’m not naked when he comes back in.

I’m out of the shower, just tucking my towel into place when he comes barreling back through the door, a small box in hand.

“Took me forever to find these. Here’s your bitch stickers.”

“Bitch stickers?”

“Yeah. Only little bitches use Band-Aids.”

“Then why are they Ninja Turtle themed? Kinda cutesy for a guy who never uses them.”

“Because my sister is a brat and bought them for me as a housewarming gift.”

“What a convenient cover story.”

“They’ve sat unopened for years,” he maintains. “They’re probably expired.”

“Band-Aids don’t expire,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “Thanks. You can go now.”

Only he doesn’t move.

His bright blue eyes roam over my body.

His gaze feels like fire has licked its way beneath my towel, sneaking into all the spaces I will never tell anyone I imagine him sliding into.

I don’t know if it’s the residual steam from my hot shower or his gaze, but the longer I stand here, the more I want to jump back in the stall and crank the water to cold to soothe this burn.

I can’t recall the last time someone looked at me like this.

Like I was something special.

Something desirable.

Worthy.

He takes a step toward me, and it pulls me from my haze.

I’m tired. I’m not thinking straight.

This isWinstonfor crying out loud.

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