What's he doing?
It was hard to see through the bubbles, but his motions looked suspicious. His forearm was flexed, and it was going up and down in short movements. No way. He couldn't be . . .
His mouth opened and a soft groan escaped his lips.
Oh my god! I quickly stood and splashed water at him. "What are you doing?!"
He sat up, pulling the towel from his eyes. "What the f**k?" he said, looking groggy. "What's going on?"
I turned the dial to lower the jets and pointed sternly toward his crotch. "What were you doing beneath the water?"
His brows narrowed. "Nothing. I'm trying to relax. What are you getting so worked up for?"
"You were jerking off weren't you?"
His eyes widened. "Seriously? That's what you thought?" he said defensively. "I was just adjusting a wedge in my trunks. The jets were pushing into it."
"Yeah, sure you were."
He looked at me skeptically. "Wow. Are you really freaking out over a guy masturbating? I guess I don't know you as well as I thought." He reached down to his trunks again and this time I was able to clearly see how he was adjusting the wedge caused by the jets.
"Oh puh-lease," I said, splashing a bit of water at him before I sat back down. "I'm not a prude if that's what you're suggesting. I was just caught off guard that's all."
He leaned back with his hands behind his head, looking amused. "I just have that kind of effect on you don't I?"
My ears perked up. The confidence with which he said those words hit a sensitive spot. Since day one of this tour, I’d been trying hard to conceal how much he actually affected me.
"You so don't have an effect on me," I replied, flashing a smug smile and leaning back in relaxation with my hands behind my head like he did. "At least not anymore."
His brow lifted. "Not anymore?"
"Nope."
He grinned. "Didn't figure you for a liar."
Damn it. I didn’t like how accurate his read on me was.
I took a deep breath. "You know . . . I probably shouldn't tell you this because I know it'll hurt your ego."
His eyes narrowed. "Tell me what?"
"Well, I hate to say this but I've seen you so often now that I've gotten used to you," I said as I idly put my hand against a jet stream to have it massage my palm. The jet felt good at first but after I quickly adapted to the sensation, it lost its soothing effect.
"I don't think so," he said waving his hand dismissively. "You have the same feelings for me as you did that night we first met. Probably more."
I shook my head lightly. "Nope. You know, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder. But what they forget to say is: abundance makes the heart grow indifferent. And in this case, it only took about a week."
His mouth curved in displeasure. "I don't believe you."
"Doesn't matter what you believe. Facts are facts." I took a sip of my drink and vocalized my pleasure when I found it tasted better than I expected. "I imagine when you first brought me onto the bus, you thought we'd be honeymooning in Pound Town by now. But all you get is a pre-planned, negotiated kiss every now and then. You must be disappointed."
He blinked rapidly for a moment. "Let's not forget that you're sleeping in my bed."
"Keyword is 'sleeping'. And that's all we're doing. You might even call it 'friends without benefits'."
He held up his hand like a stop sign. "Let me get this straight," he said in a serious tone. "You're saying you've 'friend-zoned' me?"
I was surprised he even knew of that term. I couldn’t imagine a man as desirable as him would ever be put into the friend-zone.
I smiled. "First time?"
He sighed, clearly agitated. For a moment, he seemed to be thinking of something to say but instead he shook his head and reached for his drink. The fact that I was able to make him speechless emboldened me.
"Don't get me wrong," I added, "I think you've still got the Jax Effect but it just doesn't work on me anymore. I'm immune to it."
"You’re beginning to annoy me with your lies," he said. There was a small trace of uncertainty in his voice that I honed in on. I sensed that he cared about me much more than he was willing to admit.
"In fact, maybe it's the other way around," I continued, "I'm the one who has the effect on you."
"On me?" He shifted slightly. "You’re hot, I’ll give you that. But I think you’ve been drinking too much, you’re getting carried away here."
"We both know it’s more than that. You’ve been sweeter to me than you probably realize. The way you kissed me a few minutes ago? I imagine it’s a first for you, going out of your way to please a girl." I flashed him a wide smile. "You might even call it the Riley Effect." With my hand, I motioned a whip then snapped it, making the appropriate sound with my mouth.
"Alright," he grunted, "get out of my hot tub." He pointed toward the sundeck entrance. "I wanted to relax, but you're here stirring up trouble."
"So you're admitting it?" I replied, my heart beginning to beat faster.
"I'm not admitting shit," he said, raising his voice. His eyes pierced me, a dark warning that sent a flood of excitement through my body.
"You're not denying it. So that must be an admission."
"You're pushing it, Pepper," he warned.
I knew I was crossing the line, but I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not after everything he put me through since we first met. Not after the mind-blowing kisses we’d had.
"What? Your buttons? Welcome to my world."
He bolted to his feet in the hot tub. "You want to see an effect?" he growled. "Then see it." He reached into his trunks and whipped out his cock. He started stroking himself in a leisurely rhythm, his member quickly turning into an impressive erection in front of me.
I shot to my feet, appalled. "Fuck! I knew it! You were lying earlier."
He shook his head, continuing to stroke himself. "You gave me this idea," he said, smiling. "And it was a good one."
I angrily put my hands on my hips, preparing to get out. "You're unbelievable."
"Guess I do have an effect on you after all," he said smugly. His hand stopped, and he tucked himself back in his trunks as he collapsed back into the hot tub. He pointed to the cabinet on the side with a grin on his face. "Hand me a towel before you leave, would you?"