This should be easy. When I’ve done this in the past, my lover was always faceless. It wasn't a person I was fantasizing about. Unfortunately, that’s changed. Now when I close my eyes, all I see is Barrow. He didn’t look as though he wanted to leave me alone to take a bath. He led me into the bathroom, and then stood there for a moment.

He finally exited the room, but he left the door cracked open. He made sure to inform me how dangerous bathrooms could be, especially given that my balance is off. My eyes flick over to the cracked door to make sure the coast is clear. I don’t see anything, so I sink deeper into the tub and widen my thighs more. This will need to be fast. I’m sure that won’t be a problem.

I let my eyes fall closed. The first thing I see is Barrow. Dammit. I tell myself to go with it, because I’m running out of time, and my body needs the relief. I let out a deep breath and give in to my dirty thoughts of Barrow as I inch my fingers down my stomach. He’s standing over me. His eyes are filled with so much hunger for me.

He orders me to touch myself in that deep voice of his, causing goosebumps to break out over my skin. His hands are fisted at his sides. He wants me so badly he doesn't trust his own hands not to take what they want. My fingers slip further down until they are spreading the lips of my sex. I rub my clit.

My other hand goes to my breast. I tug on my hard nipple. I’ve always been a curvy girl. My breasts are plump. They’re more than a handful. Thoughts of Barrow’s big hands caressing my breasts has me rubbing myself quicker.

I pinch my nipple, picturing Barrow’s teeth biting it instead. I push down more on my hard clit. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten off. Add in the world’s hottest man calling me beautiful, and I’m done for. A whimper leaves my lips before I can try to stop it.

The orgasm races through my body. I feel myself finally relax for a moment. I take a deep breath, feeling slightly better, and allow my eyes to open slowly. Barrow is staring down at me. I sit there in shock. A good portion of my body is covered in bubbles, but not all of me.

“What are you doing in here?” That on-edge feeling I had comes back with a vengeance. The throbbing between my thighs is worse now. I’m getting turned on thinking about him watching me. Of course I do. I was fantasizing about him only seconds ago. My fantasies can’t hold a candle to how he’s looking at me now. His breathing is heavy, and his hands are fisted at his sides.

He looks as though he wants to fall to his knees next to the tub and use his own fingers on me. Would he whisper dirty sweet things in my ear? Would he call me beautiful as he brought me to orgasm?

“I heard you let out a moan. Then you called for me.”

“I didn't call for you.”

“You did.” It’s possible, but I don’t recall doing it, so I’m not fessing up. My eyes drop to see the outline of his cock in his jeans. I suck in a breath. It seems that Barrow is big all over. I’m going to need some more alone time sooner rather than later.

“You shouldn’t be in here,” I say.

“Shouldn’t?” His lip twitches. I thought he was going to kiss me earlier. I lick my lips and wonder what he’d taste like.

“Barrow.” His name slips off my tongue slowly. I’m not sure if I’m begging him to touch me or begging for him to leave. I can’t think straight when he’s around. I see the same inner struggle in his eyes. “We shouldn't,” I add after a long second. Even though I said the words, something inside me hopes like hell he doesn’t listen to them.

“There’s that ‘shouldn't’ word again.” He’s right. I’m dancing around the fact that I really don’t want him to leave the bathroom, but I’m not ready to admit that yet. He parts his lips to say more, but there’s a hard knock on our bedroom door.

“Open up, Barrow!” I hear Aurora shout. “You can’t suck up all her time. She’s my best friend.”

Barrow drops his gaze to the floor. Aurora knocks again. “Bust it open, Diego,” she orders her man.

“I’m coming,” Barrow says and lifts his head to get one last look at me before heading out of the bathroom.

The water suddenly feels cold. He took all the heat with him. I bite my lip to keep from calling him back.

I don’t, though. I do, however, get the next best thing. My best friend.

5

Barrow

First Leonard and now Aurora. I can’t catch a break from these cockblockers.

She was right there. Her body open for me, her mouth calling my name as she pleasured herself.

I scrub a hand down my face at the thought of it, at the fucking memory of her seared into my brain. How am I supposed to live like this? She tempts me constantly, whether she intends to or not.

This has to end. Maybe I should bust back into the room and tell Aurora I need to tend to Bells’ head wound. I mean, that’s not entirely a lie. I should look at it and wrap it back up now that she’s done with her bath.

I reach for the door handle, but then I hear a burst of giggles break out inside the room.

“You really flicked the bean while he watched?” Aurora snickers. “You are a wilder woman than you ever let on!”

“Oh, shut up!” When Bells giggles, I can’t stop myself from smiling. “It was an accident, okay? Just a total misunderstanding.”

“So you moaning his name while you imagined him doing the bow-chicka-wow-wow with you was just an accident, too?”

“Me? What about you? I’m surprised you’re not on your back right now instead of in here talking to me.”

“Diego kind of likes me on top, to be honest.”

“Do tell.” Bells’ voice turns more conspiratorial.

I want to hear more about Bells, but I’m definitely not down to get a play-by-play of Diego balling Aurora, so I force myself to back away.

Turning, I grit my teeth as I stride to the living room. It’s a huge space that overlooks the snowy woods and far in the distance, the town of Frozen Falls. I’m already itching to get back to Bells, but I need to calm my ass down. She needs girl time. Fine.

I can still be there for her. Just … out here. I spin and fix my gaze on the snowy woods. A plan comes together quickly in my mind, and I head to the big doors that lead onto the frosty patio. After a quick dig through the closet, I find my heavy coat and gloves and a knit hat. Once I’ve pulled on my boots, I stomp down to the garage and dig around until I find a rusty metal cage.

Returning to the main floor, I glance down the hall. If Aurora’s gone, I can give up on my current plan—but no, the door’s still closed, and I hear laughter. Bells is busy. Dammit.

The plan continues as I jog to the kitchen and dig around until I find what I want in the fridge. Then I walk out into the freezing air and glance around. It’s clear. No would-be assassins hanging around like usual. I guess getting rid of Aurora’s Kent Kingston problem cleared that up.

I push through the snow and walk around to the woods near my bedroom window. Though it takes more self-control than I knew I had, I don’t look in the window. Even though I know she’s in there. Even though I could get a glimpse of her, I don’t. Because she’s doing girl time, and I need to respect her boundaries—God, I hate her boundaries! Okay, calm it down, Barrow.