Page 31 of Intangible
Sputtering, he tried to open his eyes again. Thayer was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
“What are you doing?” Memphis growled, feeling his erection growing hard again already. He had almost gotten it under control before she strolled in.
“It seemed fair. You were ogling me, I figured it was my turn.”
“I said I was sorry.”
“Then you said you weren’t really sorry. I heard you, Dr. Prescott. So were you really sorry?” She stood staring through the shower door before adding, “Has anyone ever told you that your ass is amazing?”
“Yes… I mean about the sorry thing, not the ass thing. I really meant sorry, but mostly just because I got caught. Are you going to leave so I can finish?”
“Nope.”
“Did you at least turn the chili off?”
“Yep.”
Memphis sighed loudly before reaching for the soap. Even with the steam from the shower frosting the glass, she could watch as he ran the soap over his body.
Before he realized what was happening, Thayer pulled her flannel shirt off and stepped out of her panties. She quickly opened the shower door, stepping inside to meet him.
Now that she was here, however, she suddenly seemed unsure of what to do. Her face heated up when Memphis let his eyes make their lazy path down her naked body.
“Is there something you need?” Memphis growled at her, winding his hand in her wet hair as he pulled her closer.
“I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Do you want to get back out?” He pulled her head back, tightening his fist in her hair. Bending, Memphis brushed his lips lightly across hers before taking a small step back and turning her hair loose. He watched as a myriad of emotions swept through her eyes. “Thayer?”
“I don’t know. My brain tells me I shouldn’t be here.” Looking up at him, she took a deep breath before continuing. “I’m supposed to leave tomorrow, you’re twelve years older than me, and you have a lot more experience at all of this. I don’t think we are supposed to be together, but so help me, I can’t seem to stay away.”
Cupping his face in her hands, she searched him as if looking for answers. “Why can’t I get enough of you? Why does my heart skip a beat every time you look at me?” she whispered.
“Maybe…” he began, watching as the water ran down her face. Clearing his throat, he started again. “I don’t know, Thayer. When they were throwing water on you in that cell, I knew I had to do something. But you waved me off. You held your head high, never giving in to your fear. It was the most courageous thing I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen a lot. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since.”
He gave her one of his lazy grins. “I know I was in junior high when you were born and that we might never see each other after tonight. By the way, I’m not quite the manwhore you just alluded to.”
“Memphis, I didn’t mean—”
“Shh, let me finish,” Memphis said, placing a finger against her lips. “I don’t think society gets to decide what’s right for us, we do. So how I see it is you have three options. Option one, we dry off, dress, eat some chili while watching a movie, stay up half the night talking, then get a little sleep before Knox shows up.”
Taking a step toward Thayer, he ran his hand back into her hair, wrapping it around his fist. “Option two, we stay in here, I drop to my knees and see how many times I can make you scream my name before you pass out.”
Memphis watched as Thayer’s nipples beaded to a hard point as her breath hitched. Dropping his mouth to her neck, he ran his tongue up to her ear, gently nipping at her earlobe.
“Option three,” he said, standing back up. “I turn the water off, carry you to my bed, hunt around desperately for wherever I left the condoms I bought a while back, pray they haven’t expired, then spread your legs so I can make love to you all night.
“But think about this option very carefully because once I bury myself in you, you’re not walking away from me tomorrow. I won’t agree to just a one-night stand with you.”
Thayer stood quietly, looking at Memphis as he waited for her answer. He knew this was the woman he was meant to be with, even if she didn’t yet.
She was the one he would protect at any cost, love without question, and be by her side through every hardship. For him, she was everything strong in this world. He would fight to give her the ability to trust in someone again, to be vulnerable knowing he would be there beside her.
“Do I still get chili regardless of what option I choose?” She smiled when she saw him laugh.
“Yes, chili is always on the table. Unless Murphy found it, he does love chili.” Turning loose of her hair again, he waited patiently for her to make the first move.
Chapter 12
