I heard something that made me giggle. Chad was singing, not just a popular song, but one from the show we’d seen the other night. I held my hand over my mouth and listened for a second before getting up and following the sound to the bathroom. The door was cracked open, and I wasn’t prepared for his shower door to be so crystal clear. Most have scum or buildup, but not his. Displaying everything God blessed him with, Chad continued belting out tunes as he washed his hair. I stood there admiring him like a peeping tom. It was terrible, but I couldn’t stop. Every inch of him called me closer. I yearned to feel his hands on me again, touching me, and giving me pleasure that took the pain away.
I started to leave, with my hand on the doorknob, but I couldn’t take another step. There I was, in his home, standing a few feet from his naked body, and all I could think about was stripping down and joining him.
I shuffled out of my clothes, each article giving me more time to change my mind. Then, standing stark naked before him, I slowly made my way to the large shower door. I placed my hand flat on the glass and watched him turn. The moment our eyes met I knew what I was getting in to. He put his hand up to match mine on the opposing side of the door. It was a silent moment between us. He was connecting with me, telling me it was okay to be scared, resilient, and also eager at the same time.
We said nothing as the door opened and he pulled me inside. Chad stared in my eyes, once again silently communicating with me without the use of words. He wiped the falling beads of water away from my face and leaned forward to kiss me.
I couldn’t stop it. I wanted it more than I needed to breathe. “Take the pain away,” I whispered.
He pulled my hair back away from my face and brought his forehead to mine. “I remember the first time I ever saw you. You came to my grandparents house for the holiday. I was just a kid, but I could remember how beautiful you were back then. You must have been in your early twenties. I remember thinking to myself someday I wanted to be with a woman as beautiful as you.”
I was speechless for a brief moment. My lips parted and Chad placed his against them. “I never told anyone that before, but I wanted you to know it. I’ve always wanted you to approve of me, not because you worked for the company and I would someday run it, but because you seemed like the perfect woman to strive to impress.”
“You’re doing a fine job. Don’t stop now,” I teased.
“Seriously, Rach. Even if you told me to stop, I’d be okay with it, because I got to know parts of you I never thought I would. You think you’re weak, but I see you as strong. I might be your distraction. Hell, that’s probably all I am. I’m okay with it. I’ll be here for as long as you need me to.”
“Why?”
“I can’t answer that. All I know is, when we’re in the same room I need to be close to you. I want to touch you; to taste you. It consumes me. When you’re around I feel starved. I know you’re forbidden fruit, but I can’t help myself. I have to take a bite.” He kept stroking my hair as he explained. “Tell me you want me to stop. Say the words and I’ll climb out of this shower and leave you alone. Tell me you climbed in here with me because you want to be fucked. Give me a reason to devour you.”
There was no turning around and dressing. I wouldn’t be wearing clothes for the rest of the night, and I think we both knew it without a verbal answer. I couldn’t help myself. I had to feel his body against mine. “I can give you a million reasons why you shouldn’t, but I’m not going to. I can’t help myself.”
Our lips collided and the world around us disappeared once again. Like a magician, he put me under a spell and I was at his mercy. Nothing could help me now, not even my guilty conscience.
Chapter 23
Rachel
Chad’s touch was like fire igniting across my skin then the flame turning to ice