He may not want me on a permanent basis, but I don't ever want to lose him as a friend again. So a discussion about the expectations is necessary.
"There's another shower," I mumble halfheartedly, unable to sound sincere as I lick my lips.
Damn him and his sexiness.
"The other shower is too small. I hit my elbows on the glass door and tile walls. Just suck it up, Rain. My back is turned."
Mine isn't. I'm worried my eyes will never peel away from him. I watch as the water falls down the perfect contours of his body, and I mindlessly lick my lips again, desperate to taste.
I have to get out of here.
I flip the water to be cooler—much cooler—and I turn my back to him, making sure I don't do something stupid like run my hands over his hard, tempting body.
He brushes against me with his... um... lower half, and my knees wobble as he invades my side of the shower.
"Need my shampoo," he says too close to my ear.
I can feel his smile, and his breath slowly slivers down my naked body, touching it in places where I want to feel his skin.
That's it. Tonight ends the drought and the game of cat and mouse. I just have to figure out how to do it and when to talk to him.
After shutting off the showerhead on my side, I step out and take a deep, shaky breath before putting my towel around me. I have no idea why he's taking a shower here, when the party is at his house. Why didn't he just go home to get ready?
His phone rings on the counter, and I glance at it as an instinctive reaction. My heart leaps to my throat when I see Kode's name on the screen.
"Dane, it's Kode."
He pulls back the shower door, not bothering to cover up, and I might look down. Twice. Okay, three times.
"Put it on speaker for me."
I do as he wants, and then I peek over for glance number four. The man really does have the body of Adonis.
"You coming to my party?" Dane asks, stopping my breath.
I should leave, considering this is his conversation, but I can't help it. Kode hasn't spoken to me in so long, and I've been worried to death about him. It's comforting just to hear his voice.
"You in the shower?" Kode asks instead of answering.
Dane rolls his eyes, still not bothering to cover anything up. So... maybe I look again.
"I'm getting ready for the party. Are you coming?"
"Yeah. I was gonna make sure that it's cool with Rain."
I start to speak, but that might be... misleading, given the fact Dane is in the shower, so I nod rapidly. Dane forces a smile while turning back toward the showerhead.
"She misses you. See you there."
"Does she miss me the way I want her to miss me?" Kode asks, surprising me and breaking my heart.
Dane glances toward me, his eyes on me expectantly, and I shake my head no.
"If she doesn't, are you going to hate her for it?"
I swallow hard and turn my attention to the phone, aching for the friend I lost, and hoping he stops loving me the wrong way.
"I can't hate Rain. I'll be there."
The line goes silent, and I make sure the call is ended before I look back toward the shower.
"Thanks," is my simple response to Dane's back.
He shuts the door, as he sucks in a breath.
"Be ready. He doesn't sound like he's done trying."
This is going to be a rough night. I was planning to seduce Dane, but now... shit. Kode will be heartbroken if he sees that.
"There you are," Raya squeals while running toward me and throwing her arms around my neck.
So wasn't expecting that. Raya is usually only affectionate with Kade.
"I still can't believe it, and it's been weeks since he proposed," she says while pulling back, her eyes going down to her ring.
I smile while running my finger over the large stone.
"Have you set a date?"
Most everyone is already here, and Dane and Maverick are arguing over who is the better griller as both of them neglect the grill. Dale steps in, grinning as he starts flipping the steaks, and Corbin talks up a pretty brunette by the bar.
"Not yet," Raya says through a wistful sigh.
"But soon," Kade adds as he comes to wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her back to his front.
Another stab of envy hits when she melts against him, and my eyes once again travel over to the beautiful man dressed casually in a button-up, long-sleeved shirt and a pair of khaki shorts that hang just right on his waist. Raya and Kade get lost in each other, so they don't even notice when I step away, making my way over to Dane.
But my feet stumble over each other when a familiar set of sandy-blonde locks and a strong face are suddenly in view. Kode stares down at me before forcing a smile.
"Rain," he says softly, and I don't think before launching myself into his arms.
My tears fall as he pulls me to him, and I hold him tightly. I may not love him the way he wants me to, but I still love him in a different way.