The Vessel - Jenika Snow Page 0,12

hot even further. “I had my earbuds in. The music was loud. I didn’t hear the shower.” I was rambling because of my nerves.

I just need to get the hell out of here.

I snapped into motion then, walked over to grab my bucket off the floor then straightened. My knees felt weak, my legs like pudding. Walking past him was going to be a feat.

He didn’t move, his body hard like stone, intimidating in a sexual way because of its power. I forced myself not to look anywhere but in his eyes, and I gave him a small smile as I walked past him. I actually smiled at him, like I hadn’t just seen every God-given part of his body a minute ago.

God. This is mortifying.

And as I walked by him, I could see out of my peripheral that he shifted his body toward me. I could feel his eyes tracking me. And it took everything in me not to look over my shoulder, like I had when I left the kitchen last night, to make sure, to see if he was actually staring at me.

How in the hell was I supposed to work comfortably after seeing that?

How in the hell was I supposed to keep my libido and my emotions in check when all I would think about, all I would see in my mind, was Lucius Blacksmith buck-naked in all his masculine, he-totally-works-out glory?

Yeah, impossible. It would be absolutely fucking impossible.

9

Elise

“Earth to Elise.”

I blinked a few times and focused, pushing my thoughts away—thoughts that had been about Lucius ever since our extremely awkward run-in yesterday.

I avoided him the rest of my shift, which hadn’t been too hard since his house was so massive, but still, I expected him to be around every corner I took, that sexy-as-sin smirk on his face.

“Girl, what is on your mind?”

I turned to glance at my aunt. She lifted a brow, but there was a knowing smile on her face, which in turn had my cheeks heating.

I quickly looked away, cutting into the carrot cake I made last night to bring with me when I visited my aunt and mother today. I cleared my throat and said, “What? I’m fine. I’m good.” There, I was doing it again, rambling because of my nerves.

I could feel my aunt looking at me, the weight of her stare heavy. And I knew if I showed my thoughts were thick with something that was clearly important, something that was taking my attention off my surroundings, she’d press me.

And then I’d end up caving and telling them everything. Not like there was much to tell, but I really didn’t want my mother and aunt to know about my attraction to my boss, or the fact that I’d just seen him in all his male, naked glory.

So I looked at her and gave a small smile, feeling like it was forced, but knowing enough that I played it off so it appeared genuine. I hoped, at least.

I held up the platter of cake and gestured with a tilt of my chin toward the cupboard. “Can you grab a few plates and some forks, and I’ll meet you out on the patio?”

Auntie Frannie’s stare was still heavy, but she gave me a smile in return and got the utensils.

I made my way outside, my mother already sitting on the patio, her eyes closed and her head tilted back as she let the sun warm her face. She was in her wheelchair, with a blanket thrown over her legs. Although my mother was a paraplegic, she didn’t let that stop her. She wanted to be as independent as possible, but she was also very weak, the medication she was on sucking the literal life right out of her. And I hated seeing her like that, but I loved seeing her like this, a small smile playing across her lips as she just enjoyed being alive.

She didn’t let things get her down, not her situation or her problems. She took every day as it was, was grateful for everything, and she was my hero.

I set the cake on the table and pulled the chair out, sitting down next to my mom. She opened her eyes and gave me a warm smile before looking at the cake and making a pleasurable humming sound. “My favorite, and you make the best.”

I smiled in return, giving her a nod. “I know how much you like it.” Carrot cake was my mother’s all-time favorite. Although I