“What has you smiling?’ Tank asked as he followed me into the shared bathroom. It was the only one that had a bath in it, on this floor, and I wanted to soak in a hot bath for a bit of a while, shave my legs and other parts, and ease these tired muscles, done more since being here, physically, than when I was training hard with Grandpa.
“My friend wants to know when the next party is, she likes one of the guys, and wants to see if he is interested. What had me laughing was that she didn’t get or give her number, and that was a first as far as I remember.” I replied, not thinking much of it.
“Your friend, Jenny?” He asked, rubbing his fingers through his beard, something I had seen him do a lot when in deep thought.
“You remember her? Should I worry?” I joked, pushing out my bottom lip, as if I was pouting and hurt.
“What?” We were in the bathroom, and I had turned on the tap and added some bubble bath solution. Replace the solution bottle on the shelf. Tank turned to me and lifted my chin with his hand. His eyes searched my face. He was tired and a little concerned. His eyes flicked to my lips as I licked them, then back to my eyes.
“No, not like that,” he said, raspy and deep, making between my legs throb with an unknown need.
“Why not? All the boys want my Jenny. She’s drop-dead gorgeous, everyone says so.” It sounds whiny even to my ears, but it was fun teasing Tank. Jenny was gorgeous and fun, and like me, a loner; we’ve been friends since forever.
“You are more than a handful. I don’t need anyone else. Besides, who was the guy she was interested in? Did she say?” He pulled me to his chest, trying to reaffirm I was his. Rubbing my back, as if I needed some comfort. Inside, I was laughing, loving that he thought I was seriously worried about us. We aren’t at that stage where I would be worried, or am I? I did get angry when I saw Pixie all over him. I pushed the thoughts away, not wanting to examine them too closely.
“Jenny, with a curved body and brown hair, sat on Blaze’s knee.” I was shocked. I remembered his name. But then Jenny did harp on about him and his large d**k, making me blush just reading what she was saying.
“Will talk to Blaze to see if he’s interested, or if he’s enjoying fresh meat.” I didn’t like the sounds of that, but what could I say? It was the way things were. Most try the field, not looking to get tied down, as they call it, to be part of the family. I have no clue, with me, I guess, it was because I had always been around then, and couldn’t care less about being a member. Now I wouldn’t want to leave; they treat me well.
“You are staying while I take a bath?” I asked cheekily, running my hand over his chest, which had his eyes widen, and looked at the now-filling bath and back to me.
“Not sure that the bath is big enough for both of us. The last time I had a bath was?” He ran his hand through his beard, as if he were trying to remember when.
“That long ago, huh? So showers, or do you like to stink the place out?” I joked, knowing he had been taking showers as often as I had, that both of us got rather grimy over the course of the day. He helps out with the grunt work, being easier to call on to move something than using a lift.
“I don’t stink.” He mumbled and then sniffed his armpits, causing me to giggle. He lifted his head in surprise and smiled, using his hand to move some hair from my face. His face was gentle and kind.
He clears his throat and takes a step back.
“I will leave you to your bath. Call out if you need anything.” He reaches for the door, and I try for some fun.
“Care to wash my back?” I grinned at his face, looking between me and the bath again, uncertainty on his face, like he would love to, but something was holding him back. I have never been this bold, but he had seen me naked when he walked in once, and I had just dropped the towel before getting dressed.
“Thanks for the offer, but I think I will go have a cold shower.” I laugh as he leaves, closing the door. It’s fun teasing him; he tries so hard not to push me, even when I give him little opportunities.
I hope he opens up to me so that we can move forward. I don’t mean taking my V-card, but learning to understand him better and what the hesitation was all about. None of the other guys are like that, as Tank called my friends “fresh meat.” They pounced on them when they were allowed into the patch area to socialize, like flies to rancid meat.
The girls lapped up all the attention.
It’s been a week since I came here. I can hardly believe that time has flown by, and we have our run soon. I have no clue what happened or was happening with the Jones crew. I know they are here in town somewhere, and the boys are dealing with it; we girls are not in the loop, and in some ways, I am glad I am not. Tank hasn’t said anything about me going with them to meet up, but they could have already done that while I was working in the workshop.
If I hope Tank gets a number or asks for Jenny’s, she will be over the moon if he does. I do not hold my breath. It’s early days. She has texted me wanting gossip, asking if I have seen him, and whether he has a girl, and the list goes on with her constant questions. I haven’t told her much, just that I don’t know, haven’t asked, and have been busy with bike repairs. The repairs she understands, when I get in the zone, I can go all day without texting her. She had gotten used to it by now, but that doesn’t stop her fram griping that I hadn’t replied for hours.
I enjoy my bath as I think about my past week, the number of changes in my life in less than a month. Would my grandparents be happy with my life changes? I think Grandpa would be okay. Still, I don’t know about Grandma, although she was never one to judge a person by their looks, she might be hesitant, looking at the monster I have attached myself to. He towers over me by a good foot.
I lift one leg and run the blade over it, eradicating all the hair and my armpits. I sit on the side of the bath and shave my bush, not that there has been much growth since the last time. I pull the plug, turn on the hand shower, and rinse myself off.
After a bath, I always feel more alive, maybe the shaving part, or the smell of flowers, being the bubble bath scent. I place the towel around my body, and one on my head. I looked around the floor and noted that Tank must have taken my dirty clothes with him; I hadn’t noticed them in his hands.
I opened the door and took half a step out, and almost bumped into Zero, who had recently moved his belongings upstairs, taking on one of the larger rooms. We both stopped and stared at each other, Zero, taking his time to travel up and down my towel-clad body.
“Hello, Babe.” Zero greeted, lust in his eyes, and I want to puke.
His voice was so much like Tank’s, but not quite as deep, that it broke me out of the frozen state.
“Zero.” I nodded and walked towards my bedroom door. Just before I reached it, the door swung open, and Tank stepped out, his arms folded, looking past me, towards his brother.
I reached Tank and rested my head on his chest. His arm came protectively over me, and he dragged me back into his room, our room.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.