Page 48 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

Since when do I find backs sexy?

As if he knows him being shirtless is doing a number on me, he chuckles. “I can feel you staring, River.”

I’m sorry, do you own a mirror? Of course I’m staring!

I gulp and give myself a good shake, turning my attention back to my computer.

Don’t look, don’t look, don’t look.

“Weird, because I definitely wasn’t staring.”

Another laugh. “Just admit you find me tempting.”

I wrinkle my nose and push to my feet, grabbing my notebook. “The only thing you tempt me to do is commit murder. I—”

He turns around, and for the second time tonight, he leaves me speechless.

I’m not usually one to salivate over a man with a chiseled chest but…good gravy.

I can still see the beads of sweat running down the contours of his well-defined abs, the muscles jumping as my eyes rake over his body like he can feel my stare caressing him.

It’s clearly been way too long since I’ve seen a guy shirtless because my lady bits are tingling like they’ve never tingled before. Fuck, even my nipples are hard, for crying out loud!

“I’m sorry, were you saying something, River?”

Like they’re hooked up to his voice, they tighten even more, and I clutch my notebook like it’s my lifeline, covering the evidence. Big mistake because the friction is apparently just what I need, and I nearly let out a moan.

Holy hell am I sex-deprived, getting turned on by a fucking notebook. Has nothing to do with a shirtless Dean, of course.

He steps closer, and I don’t back up, holding my ground.

I shove my shoulders back. “Just that I hate you.”

“Really?” He takes another step. And another. He’s so close I can smell the cinnamon from his gum.

Every inch of my body is on edge because all I can think about is how he’s too close but too far away at the same time.

He takes one last step, then dips his head toward mine. He’s not touching me, but if I weren’t holding my breath, my notebook would be bumping against his chest.

“Hate me so much you’re hiding your hardened nipples behind a notebook?”

The whoosh of breath leaves me in a loud groan, and I flee from the room, careful not to brush up against him.

“Something wrong, roomie?” he calls out, amusement clear in his voice. “Did somethingpop upthat you want to talk about?”

“You leave my nipples out of this!”

His laughter echoes through the apartment as I slam my bedroom door closed.

Asshole.

* * *

I can’t sleep.

I’ve spent the past hour tossing and turning, and it’s entirely Dean’s fault.

It didn’t take long for him to hit the shower after I scurried off to my room. The entire time he was in there, all I could think about was how he was stark naked with nothing but a few feet of drywall between us.

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