They said their goodbyes in the driveway, and Colin, burning with heat, stepped into his new home. The place greeted him with its unfamiliarity, yet it was quite cozy. The dark sofa and armchairs in the living room, along with the stylish coffee table, suggested a masculine taste, but the pink, fluffy, heart-shaped cushions betrayed the touch of one of Brad's nieces in the décor.
Colin's gaze wandered instinctively toward the kitchen and the fridge. Sausages, cucumbers, bananas…
His blood pulsed harder in his veins. A wave of heat struck his back, and his cheeks flushed scarlet. His mouth went dry.
Seriously?
A vision of a man smelling of iris, leather, and cedar flashed before his eyes.
He felt a restless twitch in his pants.
Seriously?!
He needed to calm down. He shouldn't be thinking about Brad. Lipski was probably in a relationship with that sexy, black-haired bartender. The way they leaned toward each other, the tenderness in their conversation…
Colin groaned and bit his lower lip. He grabbed his suitcase and started up the stairs. Every step, however, was torture for both his body and soul. He hadn't expected desire to hit him so hard on his very first day in a new town. In fact, he hadn't expected anyone in this godforsaken place to catch his interest. And yet, Brad Lipski…
A pleasant shiver ran down Colin's spine.
Lipski, lips… even his name had something sensual about it, though it probably wasn't derived from that word. But hey, the association was clear, and Brad's lips were exceptionally enticing. If only those lips could touch Colin's…
No, this won't do. With irritation, he shoved his suitcase into the dark bedroom. He braced a hand against the doorframe and let his head hang heavily. THIS JUST WON'T DO! He had to do something about it. He had to do something about his body, or he wouldn't get a wink of sleep tonight and wouldn't be able to focus on work tomorrow—his very first day.
Yes, he HAD to do something. And he would, even if it was stupid to get himself off while thinking about a straight guy. Not that it would be the first time, but still. He'd do it once, now, just to rid himself of this tension that had been building inside him all evening. Since when exactly?
Since he saw Brad talking so tenderly to the bartender while she bandaged his wound? Or maybe since Brad shielded him with his own body? Or had it started even earlier, when Colin put on his jacket and inhaled that sensual, intoxicating scent…?
Does it even matter? he thought irritably, reaching for the buttons of his shirt. His movements were frantic as he unbuttoned it and shrugged it off his shoulders. The touch of his own fingers burned like live fire. His skin craved touch. Even his nipples were already hard and stiff. Ah! Damn Brad Lipski! What the hell was he doing to Colin's body while existing solely in his imagination?
Brad's strong hands brushed against one nipple. Then the other. They played with the stiffened peaks, taking and giving pleasure. A moan slipped from Colin's lips.
This was pathetic. He was pathetic, fantasizing about a guy he had barely met, about his hands, about his lips—lips that were now closing in on his nipple, sucking it sensually. But the fire didn't die down. Colin was still burning, and Brad refused to leave his thoughts, too busy with his body. What an arousing absurdity!
Dr. Stone stepped into the bathroom, shedding his pants and underwear at the threshold. He hadn't packed any toiletries—he didn't want to burden himself. He figured he'd buy some on-site. In his bag, he only had toothpaste and a toothbrush. He hadn't had time to stop by a store today, but that wasn't a problem. His hosts were considerate enough to leave him some essentials, just in case.
Great, he smiled in amusement, looking at the pink bottle adorned with coconuts and some exotic flowers. Another influence of the girls' taste. But right next to it stood a black, solid, slender bottle with amber and cedar branches on the label.
Colin immediately recalled Brad's scent and reached for the black, sleek column. He opened the bottle. As he stepped into the shower, he felt as if he were stepping into Lipski's embrace.
It wasn't exactly the same scent, but it was close enough to further awaken his senses.…