Beneath the Stars (Falling Stars #4) - A.L. Jackson Page 0,57
I knew that man was worth the pain. Even if I only got to experience him for a short time.
I pinned a smile on my face because the last thing we needed was Royce getting suspicious.
Not when I had no idea where we stood.
If there was any way to move on from here.
“I must have been in the bathroom and didn’t hear you knocking.”
Royce’s entire demeanor twisted in a frown, and he tipped his head toward my toothbrush and toothpaste clutched to my chest. “Then what are you doing?”
“Oh…well…Rhys is in the shower, so I was just going to brush my teeth down the hall.”
Speculation jumped through his expression.
You know, considering I’d just told him I’d been in the bathroom.
Clearly, I was the worst liar in the world.
Awkwardly, I gestured behind me. “I…uh…had a girl thing and figured I’d better get out since I was taking the bathroom up for so long.”
Wow.
Playing the period card.
Royce huffed out in uneasy annoyance, roughing a tatted hand over his pitch-black hair. “You shouldn’t have to do that. You never should have agreed to share a bathroom, especially with Rhys. You deserve your privacy.”
Another tremor ripped through me when I thought back to the way that bathroom had come to feel like a passageway into another world. Another realm. “I assure you that I have plenty of privacy, Royce. It’s fine.”
I sent all the disbelieving skepticism in my brother’s direction. “I mean, come on, Royce. I asked to come with you guys, and now I’m staying at a mansion on the beach for free. I think I can share a bathroom. You act like I’m some kind of spoiled-brat princess.”
Royce grunted. “So what if I want the best for my baby sister.”
“Your baby sister is being drowned in luxury as it is. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
I waved the toothbrush and toothpaste in his face.
He sighed. “Fine…just…keep your phone handy, would you? Don’t like not being able to get ahold of you.”
I released a small huff and gestured at myself again. “Not a child, remember?”
His grin was only half amused. “But you’re still my baby sister.”
“Royce.” I almost whined it.
“Mag Pie,” he whined right back, mocking me.
I sighed. “Fine. But it’s charging right now, so you’re just going to have to be satisfied that I’m in the powder room brushing my teeth and that I’m not in there bleeding and in need of rescue. Sound good?”
He scowled at my sarcasm.
I actually laughed and then mouthed, love you, before I dipped away from him and made a beeline for the small powder room at the end of the hall. I shut the door behind me, leaned against it, and tried to catch my breath.
I caught my reflection in the mirror.
My skin flushed.
My eyes wide.
And I knew I’d never felt so alive.
Fifteen
Maggie
About thirty minutes later, I slipped down the small stairway to the sound of chaos echoing from the kitchen.
Voices shouted and dishes clattered.
Taking a deep breath and smoothing out the printed floral sundress I’d slipped into, I did my best to compose myself as I hit the landing and moved down the hall, worried someone might be able to read what I was putting off.
What I was pretty sure was written all over me.
I just had my first orgasm, and it was freaking spectacular.
Was it wrong what I really wanted to do was walk into the kitchen and throw a fist of victory in the air? Or maybe start tossing out fist bumps? Pop a bottle of champagne?
Because this was undoubtedly cause for celebration.
It felt as if it needed to be recognized.
The way my smile seemed different.
The way my body glowed.
The way trembles kept ripping down my spine every time my mind drifted back to the place that was just for Rhys and me.
Chills lifted as I remembered the way he’d looked at me. At the feelings that had gushed from his spirit. At the connection we’d shared.
No question, I was wound up in the beauty of what had just happened.
The problem was, I doubted very much anyone else would see it the same.
It sucked because I felt like singing it from the rooftops. The way he made me feel. The goodness I saw in a man that I was sure was so misunderstood he didn’t even recognize himself.
And after him?
I wasn’t sure I fully recognized myself, either.
Or maybe I finally did.
Either way, I felt changed.
Like a dial inside me had shifted. Something intrinsic rearranged. A piece of me coming to fruition.