Chapter 8

Jake picked at the fries on his plate. Usually he didn't go in for the lunch special at the Midnight Diner, but he was too damned tired to make anything at home.

Peggy refilled his coffee with a glance at his half-eaten burger. "Everything to your liking, Chief?"

He smiled and tapped the side of his head. "Fine. Thinking too much instead of eating."

The waitress moved off.

Jake picked up the burger and took a bite. The swelling on his nose had gone down and he looked nothing like he had almost a week ago, when he'd lost his temper and almost his relationship with Angela.

And Hunter.

The diner doorbell rang and he looked up automatically to see who was coming in.

It was a good habit, one cultivated over the years. It kept him updated on what was going on around him and also let the new arrival know there was a lawman nearby, one who would be available if needed.

His heart sank as Hunter walked in.

He hadn't been avoiding the man but he hadn't sought him out either, deciding to let sleeping dogs with black eyes lie.

Hunter looked around the cafe before heading straight for Jake's table.

He sat across from Jake, smiling as Peggy came over.

"Hey, Coach. Doing a great job this year." She stood there with pen in hand, waiting. "Love to see another championship banner on the walls."

"It's all due to the players. They're doing good, hard work and they're hungry for each and every win. Speaking of, can I get an order of fish 'n' chips and a soda. Pack it up to go, please, and put it on my tab." Hunter waited until Peggy walked away before looking at Jake.

Jake studied the man's face. The black eye was faded but not gone, now giving the impression of too many sleepless nights for the coach.

Hunter glanced around the half-full diner before speaking. "Figured it might be good for people to see us together without trying to bash each other's brains out."

Jake laughed and pushed the plate of fries across the table. "Interesting strategy. What have you been hearing about—" He fumbled for the right word. "All this?"

The low laugh was surprising. "Nothing. No one seems to care. Until Angela makes the big announcement, of course. Think we can put that praise on Mary-Ann's shoulders. People probably figure if she's okay with waiting, then they should be too." Hunter picked up one of the fries and dipped it in the ketchup on the side of the plate. "People like you. They like me. They love Angie. 'Nuff said."

The band of pressure across Jake's chest loosened a fraction. "So we're okay?"

"We—" Hunter gestured around them with the fry. "We're okay." He lowered his voice. "But are we okay?"

Jake nodded and smiled. "Yeah. We're okay. I dropped the ball there. I could say I was tired and grumpy, but that doesn't excuse what I did. Gave myself a good talking-to and got my mind in the right place." Jake picked up his burger again.

Hunter grinned. "Might want to back off on the junk food." He picked up another French fry and pointed it at Jake's torso. "Don't want you having to stop and take a nap midway through. Not that I can't pick up the slack, but…"

Jake let out a belly laugh, drawing everyone's attention to the pair. "Speak for yourself, Coach. I'm going the distance." He reached over and took the French fry from Hunter's hand before popping it into his mouth. "Plan to work all this off and then some."

Hunter smiled. "Got to admit, it's one hell of a workout routine." He stretched his arms out and entwined his fingers before cracking his knuckles with a loud series of pops. "Maybe we should do some stretching exercises before we start."

"You do that. I'll be busy with Angie." Jake chuckled. "Woman like that gets me all loose and tight in all the right places with only her smile."

Peggy came over with the takeout bag and handed it to Hunter. "Have a good day." She eyed the two men as if wanting to ask something, but holding back.

Jake looked up and smiled. "We sure are. And will be." He looked down at his fries. "Another order, please."

"Thanks." Hunter laughed as he got up, stealing another fry on the way. He nodded to Jake. "Later."

Jake watched him leave and went back to work on the burger, trying not to grin at the curious expressions being shot his way by the other patrons.

Hunter had been busy. He'd gotten up before dawn on Saturday and never stopped moving, grabbing breakfast on the fly after going to the local furniture store and ordering a new bedroom set.

No more on the floor, he'd said to himself as he signed off on the form. "I need it delivered today."

The salesman was pleased at making an easy sale. "We can have it there by five."

Hunter slipped the man a twenty. "Make it one o'clock, please."

"I can make it the first stop on the circuit." He eyed Hunter, giving a curious nod.

"Redecorating the house," Hunter replied. "Want to get it done as soon as possible."

It wasn't a total lie.

It'd been weeks since their visit to the Touchstone Hotel and subsequent return to his house, where they'd made the discovery his current bed would barely hold two bodies, never mind three bodies. They'd managed, but Hunter would be damned if he'd let Angie sleep on the floor again.

Now he stood in the master bedroom, busy breaking down the old bed in preparation of the movers. It was the biggest of the three bedrooms on the second floor and the best suited for the king-sized mattress he'd ordered. He'd stripped off his shirt, choosing to work only in his jeans to stay as cool as possible. A thin sheen of sweat coated his chest as he tried to stay focused on the task at hand and not think about the upcoming evening.

The physical work also helped work off the frantic extra energy he had bubbling up from inside, roaring to get out. He hadn't felt such exhilaration since he'd first started dating Angie, caught between wanting to swing from the trees like Tarzan marking his territory and pounding his chest like King Kong in anticipation of tossing her over his shoulder and carrying her off for an intensive night of love-making.

A knock at the front door brought him downstairs. A glance at the clock showed it was barely eleven o'clock.

They can't be that early—

He opened the door, expecting to see the delivery men ready to hustle a new bedroom set upstairs.

Instead he faced Jake.

Jake wore a brown T-shirt and jeans, his freshly-cut brown hair startling Hunter. He stared at the lawman for a minute, taking in the crew cut.

"It was getting a bit long." Jake smiled and ran his hand along the back of his neck. "I figured I'd stop on by and see if you needed some help. With anything." He rolled his shoulders. "Okay. True confession. I can't sit at home, wait to go on shift, wait to come on over. I've got to do something." He gave Hunter a wistful smile. "Honestly, each time I think about it I go between being as hard as a steel girder and terrified beyond belief I'm going to wake up and it's all been one hell of a dream."

"It is. For both of us." Hunter wiped his forehead. "But you've got good timing. I've got a bed to break down and a deadline to meet. Could use another pair of hands."

"That's what she said," Jake quipped as he stepped inside.

"Coffee?" Hunter grinned. "I can give you decaf if you want."

Jake laughed. "That'd be good." He came in and rested one elbow on the marble counter. "I'm on duty from four this afternoon until eight. Sick officer. Split shift. How's it going from your end?"

"Good. Players still running high on the winning streak. Hope they don't fall too much when we lose, because we will lose at some point. They can't let it take them down. Even the NBA stars lose a couple." Hunter poured out two cups and gestured at the refrigerator. "Milk?"

"Please." Jake sat on one of the stools and watched him.

Hunter finished off doctoring the coffee and placed the mug in front of Jake, the jaunty Glen Barrow Badger image facing outward Jake rubbed his face with both hands. "Been a long week and I'm sort of looking forward to this. A quiet night with one beautiful woman. Our beautiful woman."

Hunter leaned on the counter. "I hear you. Seems like so long since that night at the hotel."

Jake let out something between a chuckle and a snort. "Tell me about it. I'm still sort of wrapping my head around this." He rolled his shoulders back. "I wasn't sure what was going to happen when she told us what she wanted. I thought it'd be too freaky, too strange for us to make it work. I worried we'd be fighting each other the entire time when we were with her. Trying to top each other, if you'll excuse the expression."

"Me too. But it worked out." Hunter smiled. "Worked out damned good, in my opinion. We do make a pretty good team when it comes to giving her what she wants."

Jake sighed. "I'm just not—" He took another sip of coffee. "This isn't what I ever imagined happening to me." His lips twisted up into a smirk. "Well, maybe I did. But not with another man."

"I hear you," Hunter said again.

Jake spun the mug around and around, sloshing the coffee to the edges of the cup. "But…" He chewed on his lip before continuing. "I have to confess it was a real turn-on for me, seeing how happy she was. How damned sexy she looked with you going down on her, the flush on her skin as she reacted to both of us." He shook his head. "I don't know if I've ever been so aroused before." He eyed Hunter. "Don't share that with anyone."

"I won't. Because I felt the same way myself." Hunter let out a sigh, some of the nervousness lifting from his mind with the heartfelt confessions they'd traded. "I used to believe this sort of thing wasn't for me. I'd read about it, heard about it but it was for the freaks, the voyeurs, those types." He tapped his chest. "Not for me. And it's still not, because I wouldn't do it with anyone other than Angie. And with you."

"You and me and Angie. Sounds like a country song." Jake hummed an off-key tune. "Shouldn't be surprised she figured this would be the best solution. Our Angie's a smart woman, always looking for the odd angle."

Hunter arched one eyebrow, prompting a guffaw from the policeman.

"Yeah, well… you know she always gets what she wants." Jake grinned. "No matter how crazy it might seem. Angie's always been a little high-maintenance. Guess it started with you."

"Oh, no." Hunter wagged a finger at him. "You are not putting all of this on me. Sure, she doesn't like it when you don't spread the butter to all the edges on her toast, and she will toss a fit if you put the near-empty carton of milk back in the fridge." He shook his head. "One weekend, her mom went out of town to visit relatives, and I moved in. Figured it'd be nothing but wild sex for two days. It was, but I found out a whole lot more about her."

Jake arched an eyebrow. "Did she tell you about the socks? Must be folded, not bunched up." He motioned with his hands. "Had me doing her laundry in college and threw a fit if I made little balls out of them."

Hunter paused. "Well, hell. She has us both whipped." He mimicked flicking a whip in the air, making a noise to match.

The two men looked at each other before breaking into whoops of laughter.

Jake wiped tears from his eyes. "Oh, man. If any of the other officers knew about this, I wouldn't be able to show my face in the police station." He moved his hands back and forth, folding imaginary socks. "Grace would remind me of it every chance she got."

"Tell me about it. Doubt I could give any of my students a chewing-out if they knew I worried about whether I was making my sweetie's toast the right way or not. And Sally, well—" Hunter let out a sharp laugh. "She'd have me buying up the entire church bake sale to keep her quiet." He studied Jake's face. "I was wondering, if Angie's okay with keeping this going…"

Jake eyed him. "Keep going."

"Yeah. It's just an idea. You've got total veto over it." Hunter pointed at the ceiling. "I was thinking you could move out of your place and come live here. Since my dad's gone, I've got the entire house to myself. When we were here last time we were in my room. Didn't work out too well, so I'm figuring we focus on the master bedroom for all three of us." He ticked off the points on his fingers. "We could set up the spare room to be yours and yours alone. Me, I'll stay in my old room like I've always done. Officially we'll be roommates. And when Angie comes over, we move to the master bedroom. I've arranged to replace the double in there with a king-sized mattress. It should give us plenty of room."

Jake stayed silent.

Hunter took it as a good sign. "We can't afford a hotel room each time we want to be together, and this way we've got a bit more privacy and a lot more flexibility." He frowned. "Except for the bathroom. That'll need a whole renovation if we want to use it together."

Jake sat for a few minutes, studying his coffee.

Hunter didn't push him—it was a big change he was proposing for both of them, and not one to be made lightly.

Finally, Jake nodded and lifted his head. "Good idea, if we're going to continue this arrangement. Let me talk to my landlord. I'm going month-to-month right now, but I'd like to give them some time to advertise the place before I leave. I'll pay you the same rent I'm paying the Liganos." Jake held up his hand before Hunter could respond. "I'm not poor, and you're not rich. This way, we're equals." He tilted his head to one side. "I don't mind if you want to be the alpha dog in the bedroom, but I've got to be in charge of my own life."

Hunter nodded. "That's fair enough."

"Good. If you want, we can put it toward tearing the bathroom apart and putting it together again with an extra-large tub and shower stall." He paused. "That is, of course, if we can convince her to stay more than just overnight. That's a whole another discussion she'd have to be here for."

Hunter crossed his arms. "I haven't brought the idea up yet of her moving in, but I hope it's going to happen. I figure if we make it as comfortable as possible, she'll consider leaving her mother's house."

Jake took a sip. "Thing is, that'll make it very public. You and I being roomies, that's not going to be a big deal. Be a few tongues wagging, but not much more than that. She moves in with you and I'm staying here… that'll be as big an announcement as if we bought a billboard out on the highway."

"Hell, yeah." Hunter nodded. "But we'll see. Important thing is what she wants—society tends to judge women harsher than men, so it's her call. Speaking of… what's she doing today?"

Jake gestured toward the front door. "She's over in Burgettsville, doing interviews today. Some idiot paternity suit, from what she's told me. Guy's wondering about his son even though the kid's a spitting image. He's doing it to nag the ex-wife into giving up custody and letting him have the kid back."

Hunter let out a chuckle. "Good luck. Angie won't let him get away with anything. She's a damned good lawyer."

"Yes, she is." Jake laughed into his coffee. "Woman can get what she wants, when she wants it." He lifted his mug. "And she wants us."

Hunter grinned and clinked his mug against Jake's.

Jake wasn't sure why he went to Hunter's house early. He put it down to nerves, the anxiety of the ongoing relationship with Hunter and Angela swamping his mind, the memories still clear in his mind's eye.

How she trembled in his arms, how her plump lips looked as she came back to earth and her breathing steadied while she lay curled around the two men.

It was addictive, seeing her in that state.

All he could think about is how he wanted more.

The physical work helped calm him, the simple task of dissembling the double bed and moving it into the garage a welcome distraction. The side tables and a dresser followed, leaving the bedroom almost empty.

"This the payback back from that accident at the college?" Hunter asked as they wrestled the slats up onto a shelf.

"Yeah." Jake swore as he caught his finger between two boards. "Told Al I was cashing in my chip—but it's still half a shift."

Hunter led him back into the house. "The delivery guys will take away the old mattress, so we don't have to wrestle it down the stairs." He headed into the living room and flopped onto the couch. "I also paid to have them assemble the bed, so that's done. Done," he repeated.

The sound of a moving truck pulling into the driveway cut off all further conversation. Hunter levered himself up off the sofa with a grunt. "Hope she appreciates all this work we're doing for her."

"Hey, if you want to sit back and watch all night 'cause you're too tired—" Jake ducked as a rolled-up magazine flew by his head.

"Watch and learn." Hunter headed for the door. "There's more to making a woman happy than only being good in bed."

"And I'm going to take lessons from you on this?" Jake pushed him aside and opened the door. "We'll see about that." He raised a hand and waved to the approaching workmen.

It was close to three o'clock when Jake headed for the front door with a final nod to Hunter. The two of them had ended up helping the deliverymen as they dragged the new furniture up the stairs and removed the old mattress and box spring.

The manual labor helped tamp the nervous butterflies in his stomach.

Hunter wasn't as cool as he pretended to be either. Jake had caught him frowning as he studied the master bedroom, moving at least one piece of furniture around without help from anyone.

He shifted the dresser to one side, a foot closer to the closet in the far corner.

He shoved it back into the original spot, careful to put it back in the exact same place.

Jake hadn't said anything about the other man's fussing.

"I'm out of here. Give Angie my love and I'll see you after eight. Don't worry about feeding me—I'll catch something on the fly." He eyed Hunter, who, like himself, was a hot, sweaty mess after hours of moving furniture. "Don't start without me."

"I'll do my best." Hunter laughed. "Can't speak for her, though."

Jake shook his head and opened the front door.

Angela let out a sigh as she pulled into Hunter's driveway. It'd been a long, frustrating day of hunting wrong addresses and difficult interviews even when she got it right. She'd gotten to Burgettsville easily enough, but her GPS had turned her in circles as she scoured the streets for the right houses.

Add in a vengeful mother hovering over her daughter and advising her what to say and what not to say to Angela, and the day was pretty well a big slice of annoyance pie.

But this, on the other hand, was a wonderful end to the day.

She'd gone home first and dropped off her briefcase and phone, not wanting anything to interfere with her evening. It'd taken a few more minutes to grab her overnight bag and inform her mother she'd be at Hunter's if there were any problems.

Her mother had smiled, nodded, and waved. In that order.

Now, as she approached the front door, she could hardly hold back a shiver at the pleasures that lay within.

Waiting for her.

The door swung open before she could lift her hand to knock.

Hunter smiled and pulled her into a tight hug before kissing her, generating enough sparks to set a forest on fire. He wore a blue dress shirt and khakis, his hair damp from a recent shower.

"Welcome back," Hunter said. "Hope you're okay with meat loaf. Mashed potatoes on the side and for your healthy veggie quota, string beans."

"Sounds wonderful. I'm starved—had a burger and fries at one of the travel plazas. Greasy as hell and heavy on the belly."

"You look exhausted." Hunter frowned as he walked her to the couch. "That bad a day?"

"To varying degrees." She closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders back. "It never fails to surprise me how selfish people can be."

"You're here now. Relax and let me get you a drink." He went to the kitchen. "Name your poison."

She settled on the couch with a groan, sinking back into the cushions. "White wine if you've got it." Angela wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. "Long and short of it. Asshole dad wants to get his son back, get full custody. I don't believe for a minute he's doing it for the kid."

Hunter pulled a bottle from the wine cooler and busied himself with opening it. "Was it shared custody before?"

"Yes, but the child support was low and with no rider to deal with cost-of-living increases, inflation and so forth. Woman's having a hard time making ends meet, has the kid beg his dad for more money. She's had enough of the situation, mentions officially applying for more child support and he freaks out, demands a paternity test. Putting pressure on her to give him up, to get back at her."

Hunter approached her, glass in hand. "You've done all you can today. Tomorrow you can bust his balls." He gave her the wine glass. "I know you'll shut him down."

She took a sip and sighed at the cool, dry drink. "God, I needed this. Thank you."

Hunter perched himself on the edge of the couch. "How about we eat dinner and you take a nice hot bath? Relax, recover, reinvigorate yourself. Jake should be back any time."

She looked around, berating herself for not noticing Jake wasn't there. "What happened? I thought he had the entire day off."

"He had a shift but split it with Al. Time owed and all that. Be here soon enough."

"Oh, well. He'll get here when he gets… " She paused. "Did you say 'bath'?"

"I know you like your tub time." He smirked. "Then you'll be nice and rested and ready for the evening's entertainment."

"Ooh." She couldn't help batting her eyes. "We're going to eat popcorn and watch old movies?"

"If you like." He lowered his voice. "Then Jake and I are going to have our way with you every which way you can think of."

The low rumble shot straight to her heart. She pressed her legs together to stifle the tingling, her inner core trembling with the memories of their last night together. "I can think of a lot."

"Good." Hunter smiled. "But first…" He reached out and tapped the tip of her nose. "We eat."

The meal Hunter served was the perfect comfort food. It erased the memories of the greasy mess she'd forced down earlier in the day.

Angela couldn't suppress the anticipation building inside, the desire taking over her thoughts. It'd been a busy week, and she'd seen little of both men thanks to all of their schedules and commitments.

She placed her fork and knife on the plate, eying the last bits of potato with regret. "If I finish this off, I won't be able to move."

Hunter swooped down and took it away. "Sure as hell don't want that."

Angela laughed as he swept the remains into the garbage bin and loaded the dishwasher. "So, what's on the menu for dessert?"

"I thought you said you were full."

"There's always room for dessert."

"Yes. There is." He tilted his head to one side, raking her with an intense glare.

Angela flashed back to his office visit.

"Unfortunately, I don't have any ice cream." He licked his lips. "But we'll manage." His tone changed, low and dominant. "Go upstairs and get into the bath."

She caught his eye and tilted her head to one side. "Join me?"

Hunter shook his head. "Unfortunately, the tub's not big enough. Yet."

Angela got up and walked to the couch, where she'd put her overnight bag. "I'll put this in the bedroom—"

"No," he interrupted her. "I'll take it. You go straight into the bathroom, get the water running. I'll be up soon enough to see how you're doing." His eyes twinkled with mischief. "Humor me. It's a surprise."

She matched his smile. "Okay. See you in a few minutes."

There was a small bottle of bubble bath on the edge of the tub, and Angela used it liberally, pouring it into the hot water rushing out of the tap and watching the sweet-smelling foam surge up. It was a common brand, usually found in Christmas stockings and given away as presents for friends you barely knew. She'd fallen in love with it years ago because of the lovely scent.

But she hadn't had the time to take long, leisurely baths when working in Philadelphia. Usually if she was lucky, she could grab a shower and dry her hair while looking over legal papers, eager to please her employers.

These days, there was no rush to do anything and go anywhere. If she wanted to close the office early, she did so. If she wanted to stay late, she would and could.

If she wanted to lock the front door and enjoy a decadent rendezvous with one of her men—she did.

And tonight…

She was getting what she wanted.

They all were.

Angela stripped and edged her way into the water, gasping as the hot water enveloped her.

Heaven.

Angela sighed and laid her head back against the ceramic edge. The old claw-tub had a quiet beauty about it, dominating the bathroom with its presence.

The shower stall in the corner was nice, but there was something about a long hot bath that cleared the senses, the heart, the soul, washing the day's stress away.

She'd put her hair up into a tight bun held in place with a scrunchie from her purse, and now Angela brought up her knees to slide down and let the water lap at her chin. She closed her eyes and sighed, the heat seeping into her body.

"Don't fall asleep."

Angela opened her eyes to see Hunter leaning on the wall, watching her. He held up a red silk robe and hung it on the edge of the door.

"I didn't pack that."

"I know. Consider it a present. I already put your overnight bag in the bedroom."

"Another present? Thank you." She gestured at the bottle now sitting by the sink. "You remembered."

"Your favorite bubble bath? Sure I did." He moved closer. "Wasn't sure you would remember it. What with you being in the big city and all. Plenty of fancy expensive stuff there."

"Expensive doesn't always mean good." She watched him approach. "And sometimes the best isn't what you expect it to be."

Hunter knelt and ran his fingers along the edge of the tub. "True."

The doorbell rang, startling her.

Hunter smiled and gave her a light kiss. "That'll be Jake."

She made as if to get out of the tub and he frowned.

"Stay right there." He wagged his finger.

He disappeared before Angela could say anything.

She lay back in the steaming water, sighing as the aches burned out of her muscles.

Jake appeared in the doorway, grinning. "Need someone to wash your back?" He wore a white dress shirt and jeans, the black tie loose around his neck. His hair was damp, and she realized he'd likely showered and changed at the station.

Angela sat up, sloshing the water almost over the lip of the tub. "You're here." She couldn't help grinning. "I thought you'd come over later."

"Hightailed it out as soon as Al showed up. And I might have gone through a few red lights to get here." He reached for the folded washcloth sitting on the far edge of the tub. "Now, about your back."

Angela shifted her hips. "Yes, please."

He paused before picking the washcloth up. "Wait a minute. Don't want to get my shirt all wet." Jake unbuttoned his shirt slowly, keeping his eyes on her.

Angela smiled. "My own private strip-tease. How kind of you."

"Not much of one. And no music." He undid the buttons on his shirt with a slow, leisurely pace. "But you can hum if you'd like."

She laughed and clapped as he pulled the shirt off his shoulders and hung it on the hook next to her red robe. The tie followed, carefully hung up as well.

The breath caught in Angela's throat as she studied his bare back. The strong, defined shoulder muscles were those of a warrior, a man used to fighting for what he wanted. She knew the feel of those muscles, how they flexed under her fingers, how they tensed up and got even harder, if it were possible.

She knew how to freeze them in place and snap taut, straining for release.

He turned with a sly look on his face, catching her ogling his physique.

Without a word, Jake faced her, hands on his hips, and stood still, letting her drag her eyes over him without comment.

She urged him closer with a crook of her finger.

He came to the edge of the tub, just out of reach.

She gestured at his pants.

Jake reached out and tapped her fingers away. "Not yet."

Angela pouted as he picked up the washcloth.

Jake dipped it in the steaming water. He wrung it out and reached for the bar of soap. "Can I assume you're feeling relaxed?"

"In some parts of my body." She leaned forward to give him access to her back. "In others, I'm feeling quite tense."

"Well, then. Let's see what I can do about that." The damp cloth slid over her shoulders, the hot water soothing her skin. Angela closed her eyes and let out a grateful sigh as he continued to run it along her bare back, dunking the cloth in the bathwater every few seconds.

His hand slipped around to dab at her face.

She arched her head up, giving him further access.

The warm cloth touched the base of her throat before running under her chin and between her breasts.

His voice was hot in her ear, holding her in place. "Pace yourself," he warned. "We've got all night." He ran the cloth under her breasts, the gentle swipes raising and lowering each breast in turn. "Cleanliness is next to godliness."

Angela's eyes flew open and she let out a squeak as he brushed over each nipple, teasing her with the rough fabric. She shifted her hips, the simple contact sending tremors over her skin.

"Where's Hunter?"

"Downstairs, doing the dishes," Jake said. He slid the washcloth lower, locking eyes with her. "Wanted to give us a little private time. Think he wants to balance the scales."

Her breath caught in her throat, remembering what Hunter had done to earn Jake this bonus round.

Jake leaned in and captured her lips with his own, the kiss as hot as the water in the tub. His hand dipped between her legs and brushed the fabric against her thighs, running up to her knee before going back along the other leg.

Jake pulled away as she kept her eyes closed, reveling in the intimate care.

Angela pressed her hand to his chest, tangling and tugging in the light chest hair as he continued to stroke back and forth, moving from leg to leg. Each time he sank deeper between her legs and drew the washcloth up between her folds.

Then… nothing.

She opened her eyes to see Jake holding the washcloth in front of her, lips twisted up into a mischievous grin.

"There. All cleaned up." He dropped the cloth in the now cooling water and kissed her. "See you downstairs."

Angela scowled as he snagged his shirt and tie from the peg and exited the bathroom, leaving her aroused and frustrated.