Page 16 of Pulse Zero
It feels as though there’s a challenge between us, but I have no idea which one of us is challenging the other.
The moment my fingertips brush the root of my cock, his eyes dips down.
I freeze.
When his gaze meets mine again, there’s a tiny grin curling one corner of his lips.
For some reason, it doesn’t feel like I won.
Finally, he says one word.
“Reese.”
Did heactuallyjust give me something?Finally. At least one fucking answer.
Is it his real name? Probably not. It wouldn’t surprise me if he gave me a fake one, but at least I have something to call him now.
When I haven’t responded, he arches a brow. “I believe it’s your turn.”
“I’m showing you a lot more than you are me,” I mumble, turning around again.
I may be a brat sometimes, but I keep my promises. I just can’t tell him this while facing him.
Getting more soap from the dispenser, I start lathering up my back and ass. I have no idea when I’m going to be allowed to shower again, so I have to make sure I’mveryclean. At least, that’s my excuse for when I run my fingers up and down my crease, paying a little special attention to my hole.
I wonder how much he can see.
He clears his throat.
Yeah, he wasdefinitelylooking.
I continue washing my body—innocently this time, honest—while I keep my end of the deal.
“My parents have always called me Case, but…my dad used Cason when I was in trouble. So whenever someone calls me that, it just reminds me of all those times he was angry. When…when it felt like he hated me.”
“Did he?” Reese asks as though he’s genuinely interested. “Hate you?”
“Nah. It felt like it though. Or maybe that’s just what I told myself so I wouldn’t fuck up again.”
“So you’ve always been a menace then?”
I snort and peer at him over my shoulder. “Oh, absolutely. I came out of the womb arguing with the doctor about his bedside manner.”
One corner of his mouth twitches before he can stop it.
Hey, he’s finally laughingwithme instead ofatme.
Kind of.
I’ll take what I can get.
My grin fades, and I let loose a sigh as I start rinsing soap from my arms. “I didn’t always mean to be a menace. I was…misunderstood. There’s a difference.”
“Is there?”
“Sure. A menace breaks things on purpose. I just break expectations.” I shrug. “And occasionally furniture.”
He huffs softly through his nose. It’s a ghost of a laugh, butitwasa laugh.
