Page 16 of Storm

“I still worked out when I was out in the yard,” he tells me, raising his hands once more. “Now focus.” We go round and round for what seems like hours. Sweat drips down my temples as Storm keeps working with me. I find that I like this. I like learning, and I like how he teaches.

When we’re finished, we both drop down into the chairs in my backyard, grabbing the bottles of water I brought out.

“What’re your plans tonight?” He asks.

“I don’t have any. I have to work tomorrow,” I tell him.

“What do you do?” He asks as he catches his breath.

“You’re going to laugh.”

“Doubt it. What is it?”

“I work at a funeral home.”

‘Doin’ what?” he asks, raising his eyebrows.

“The makeup on the bodies.”

“What the hell? You’re serious?”

“Yeah. Been doing it for years. The way I look at it, I don’t have to deal with living people, and I can make them look nice for their loved ones.”

“Do you like it?” I nod as I bring the bottle to my lips and take another long pull before setting it back on the table.

“Yeah, I do. It makes me feel good that they look good for their families. We couldn’t have an open casket for dad,” I tell him, feeling the emotions as it slowly drowns me. I hate it. I hate that even after all this time I can’t seem to move past the pain of losing him and the way I last saw him. It kills me inside.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’ve had to learn to make my peace with what is, right?” he nods his head and sets his bottle on the table before standing and stretching. I almost think he’s going to leave and go back to the clubhouse when he holds out his hand. I look at his hand and back to his face.

“What?”

“We’re goin’ in.”

“No, we’re not.”

“Yeah, we are. A deal's a deal, Kenz.” The thought of having him inside my house, in my space, doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t want anyone in there. But he’s right. I did make a deal. And I don’t back down on my deals.

I shove out of my chair, keeping my head held high as he chuckles, and I lead him inside. Storm follows me through the house and into my bedroom.

“Can I take a shower?” I ask him, crossing my arms over my chest.

“We’re takin’ a shower.”

“Together?”

“Yeah, Kenz. Together.” He strips out of his shorts and ignores me as he heads into the bathroom and looks at me over his shoulder. I sigh and follow him in there, pulling my sports bra over my head and tossing it to the side.

Storm starts the shower as I finish stripping out of my clothes. Then he motions for me to climb in as I stare at him.

“Ladies first,” he says with a grin. I roll my eyes and move past him, stepping into the glass shower. Storm follows me in and closes the door behind him before grabbing the soap and bringing it to his nose.

“Smells like you.”

“Well, it’s my soap,” I remind him. He chuckles and begins to lather himself up when he turns to me. He reaches for me, grabbing my upper arm and tugging me toward him. I raise my hands to keep from falling into him, my hands landing on his chest. My eyes shoot to his as he grins darkly down at me.

Neither of us spoke as he began to lather my body with soap. I bite my lip to keep from groaning as he moves down my legs.