Once Upon A Half-Time 1(14)

I groped for my towel and shouted into the steam.

“Hey…could I have another minute? I’m…kinda a walking horror show right now.”

That laugh.

Of course it’d be him.

I didn’t need the cat-call whistle. Lachlan’s amused chuckle echoed off the walls. I might have flailed and attempted to smack him, but missing would have entertained him too much.

“So you’re the one who took my stuff…”

I peeked open my eyes just as Lachlan tossed his towel away.

Holy shit.

He grinned at me. I was lucky my gaze stayed on his dimples.

“I never thought I’d be jealous of soap,” he said. “I’d trade places with those bubbles any day.”

He flipped on the water beside me, winked, and ducked under the stream.

Naked.

He was naked.

And I struggled to catch my breath in the sudden heat.

Impressive didn’t begin to describe his body. Muscle on top of muscle. Lachlan decorated his perfect form with tattoos on his biceps and one very sneaky, very sexy tribal pattern that curled below his belt and twisted around the part of him that didn’t need any more attention.

That tattoo had been a surprise when I’d found it. The team probably gave him hell for it, but I assumed Lachlan’s only fear in the locker room was tripping over his massive cock. It defied gravity. He glanced at me, enjoyed what he saw, and somehow moved heaven and earth to raise that monstrosity until it nearly hit his bellybutton.

Staring was bad, but so was guiltily twisting away for peeking.

I didn’t bother reaching for my towel. If he wasn’t covering up, then I wasn’t hiding.

“What the hell are you doing in here?” My demands still sounded shocked. “Shouldn’t you be on the field?”

Lachlan winked. “I’ll get your back if you get mine.”

Oh, for the love of God.

I angled away from him, huffing as I beat the shampoo from my hair as quickly as possible without appearing like I was intentionally drowning myself.

Might have been a preferable situation.

I wouldn’t let him get me angry. “Can you please give me a minute to finish?”

That was a no.

“This is the team’s locker room.” Lachlan was loving this. “Maybe you should respect my privacy…or at least offer to soap me up.”

“Not a chance. Sean went full Exorcist on me. I’m not leaving until I am squeaky clean.”

Lachlan made no apologies for his receiver which happened to go long. “Funny. Having you here makes me feel very dirty.”

“You’re always dirty.”

“You’d know best.”

“And maybe I prefer to forget?”

“Ain’t gonna happen, Red. You’ll never forget me, not after all that kissing, licking, touching, and fucking we did.”

I silently groaned. “You hardly leave a girl anything to her imagination.”

“If you can imagine it, I can make it happen. I love a challenge.”

“Okay…I’m imagining you…” I twisted my hair in my hands, ringing out the suds. “Staying quiet. Keeping your eyes ahead. Remaining professional about this particular shower.”

Lachlan faced me, his excitement so obvious the pointing almost felt rude. “One fantasy at a time. This one is mine.”

“Of course it is.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll act out yours next time.”

Now I would drown. “Next time? No thanks…I’ll pass.”

“Red, I’m a tight-end. I’m used to getting blocked.” He winked. “But I always win in the end.”

My kingdom for a toilet to flush and scald his ass. “Good thing I’m not a game to win.”

“No, Elle.” Lachlan’s voice lowered. “You’re the prize.”

The warm flutter inside me was not welcomed. I angled away from him, hiding as much as I could without looking like I was hiding.

Most men might have turned as well. Not Lachlan. He took in the sight while offering his own show, cocky and carefree, as usual.

“Did you just…follow me in here to hit on me?” I asked.

“Think that little of me?”

Now I did glance down. Briefly. Nothing little there.

“I have an interview in a few minutes, gotta look my best.” His smile was too damn proud. “Pass the soap?”

I shook my head. “I’m almost done. You can wait. In fact, you should wait on the other side of the wall.”

“I’ve seen you naked before.”

“But you shouldn’t be seeing me naked now.”

Lachlan shook his head. “Don’t be shy.”

“Don’t be a pervert.”

“Don’t be a prude.”