he was ever going to make it through the nights.
Nodding, Tea wandered away again, in the opposite direction of his old bedroom. Breathing easier, Johnny followed behind, the Beastie Boys sounding fainter in his head.
"This part of the house is fairly recent construction as well. The Michigan couple wanted a master suite," she said, stepping through the doorway.
Only to make an abrupt stop. He plowed into her, his chest against her shoulder blades, his groin pressed to that glorious swell she tried so hard to hide. His hands palmed her shoulders to steady her. Then, just to make things even, he started to swell too.
And with that, the Beastie Boys put down their instruments and went off to find their own women. This is why he needed Tea, Johnny thought. Somehow she tamed the forces eating away at him, and redirected their malevolent energy into something more earthy, pleasant, present.
Tea glanced back at him. "There's furniture in here."
So there was, utilitarian stuff that he wouldn't be sorry to see go when the time came. "Thanks to Cal, I guess. I ordered a bed, a recliner, a big-screen TV, and a desk. All present and accounted for. They promised to deliver early." Someone had even made up his king-size bed, complete with a sleek gold comforter. Probably the housekeeping team Cal had arranged to clean the house and the bungalows before their move-in today.
"You're going to be living here!"
"That's the plan."
She swung around, frowning at him. "I mean, here here? I thought one of the guest - "
He was shaking his head.
"But we'll be tripping all over each other," she protested. "I'll have to be in and out all the time."
What a punishment, he thought to himself.
Her frown deepened and her sloe eyes narrowed. "Did you - " She broke off, her eyes suddenly shifting upward.
"Oh, my God," she exclaimed.
"What?" The hairs on the back of Johnny's neck jumped on end. "What?" Suppressing a cringe, he looked up, half-afraid and half-expecting to see a ghost.
No ghost. Relieved, he let out a laugh and let his gaze roam the sight above them. Oh my God was right, he thought, with a low whistle. Overhead, the ceiling was mirrored. Not with a simple XXX-rated motel, over-the-bed mirror, but with reflecting panels that covered the entire 40 x 40 space.
"There are people etched into the surface," Tea said, her voice sounding strangled.
Johnny nodded. "Naked people." Lots and lots of naked, life-sized people, some in artful, but odd poses, others doing what came naturally when you were naked and well, well-endowed.
Tea continued to stare upward. With her pretty neck arched, he could see a flush inching up her neck. "Your ceiling, it's... it's..."
"Orgiastic?" he supplied.
"How elegantly put."
He stifled another laugh, he who never expected to find anything humorous in this house. Oh yeah, thank you, Tea. "I'm surprised, that's all. Who would have thought the Michigan snowbirds had it in them?"
She glanced over. "You didn't already know this was here?"
He shook his head. "I told you, Cal must have let the delivery people in early this morning."
Her gaze was back on the ceiling, and she turned to get another view. "I mean before that. Before you bought the house."
Uh-oh. "I, well..." She would think it was strange if he confessed to buying the place sight unseen, wouldn't she?
She cast another, sharper look at him. "Johnny?"
The lies were starting to pile up. He gazed upward, hoping for inspiration, and then a grin broke across his face. With any luck, he could distract her. "Check this out," he said, moving toward the bed.
She took wary steps after him.
He flopped down on his back onto the mattress then scooted over to make room for her. "I think I know what those singles in the strange poses are up to," he said patting the free space beside him. "Let me show you."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Why don't you tell me instead?"
His grin widened as he redirected his gaze skyward. "Okay, but you asked for it. When I lie just like this," he folded his hands behind his head, "that little gal with the open mouth in the kneeling position up there appears to be sucking my - "
"Oh my God!" Her face flushed and she looked up, down, then up again. "You're making that up."
'Try it for yourself." He loved the blush. "If you're squeamish about the girl-on-girl thing, there's a lonely young man right above the recliner in the corner."
He loved the expressions chasing across