Best Friends (New Species Book 15) Read online

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  Nice?

  Mary gawked at his massive bathroom. It was fantastic and gorgeous. It had a glass-enclosed shower in one corner that was all stone tile from floor to ceiling. Four people could use it at once and never touch. Five showerheads were positioned on the ceiling and walls.

  The bathtub next to it was the size of a six-person Jacuzzi that most people kept in their backyards. There was an open door that revealed where the toilet was located. Two sinks sat on a long counter.

  It took her a second to realize there were no mirrors in the room.

  Lash removed his loincloth, just dropping it on the floor. He strutted to the shower in a way that once again reminded her he wasn’t totally human. Water flowed from those multiple showerheads as he twisted the handles. He put his hand under the water and adjusted the temperature.

  She dashed into the smaller room and closed the door. Her bladder was full.

  She was just finished relieving herself when the door jerked open, and she gasped, staring up at a wet Lash. He frowned.

  “Close that! I’m going pee.”

  “Why did you close the door?”

  “Because I’m not two years old and my mommy isn’t making sure I don’t need help. OUT!”

  He sighed and backed up, pulling the door closed. “Humans,” he growled.

  “That’s what I am,” she called out, reaching for the toilet paper.

  “You’re mine!”

  She flushed the toilet and shook her head, jerking the door open and exiting the stall. “I heard that.”

  “I roared it. I meant for you to hear.” He stepped into the shower and glared at her. “I’m not leaving. You’re sharing the shower with me. Be two, but get your ass in here.”

  She washed her hands at the sink, then approached the shower. “Some things are private. Anything I do in that little room included.” She thought about it for a second. “And start closing the door when you go in there, too. I never want to see you sitting on the toilet.”

  He frowned.

  “I mean it. There’s just some things we never need to share, and that’s one of them.”

  “Is that a human thing? Like washing your hands before getting in a shower?”

  She didn’t like the way he was looking at her as if she were nuts. “Yes.”

  “Is it important to you?”

  “Very much so.”

  He shrugged. “Fine. But we shower and bathe together. That’s fair. We both get what we want.”

  She was impressed that he seemed willing to compromise. If he could do it, so could she. “Deal.”

  “Sleeping without me isn’t an option. Don’t even bring it up.”

  “I didn’t.”

  She turned to study the bottles on the shelf and grabbed body wash, pouring some in her hands and rubbing them together. Her attention focused on his impressive chest, which was face level with her. The damn man was distracting.

  She got under one of the lowest showerheads, which hit her mid-chest, and spread the soap on her body. It smelled like fruit. It was nice.

  Lash stepped under the water that came from the ceiling and tipped his head back, just standing there.

  It gave Mary even more time to study his body. He had the kind that any woman would really appreciate. He was all strength and hard male. It was probably from all that jumping around he did. His muscles rippled along his arms when he raised both hands, running them through his thick hair to probably make sure all of it got wet. He stepped out of the direct spray and pushed that hair all the way back off his face. He opened his eyes.

  He looked different without that fluffy mane. Good, less lion-ish. The bones of his face and that small mat of fur on his chest, though, made certain he’d never pass for full human. His size, too. He had to be at least six and a half feet tall.

  He made her feel super short, and she stood at a respectable five-five. She glanced down at his large feet. He would have to buy his clothes and shoes from some specialty store that sold exclusively to extra-large men.

  “How much do you weigh?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t care. Why do you?”

  “I was curious.”

  “You’re examining me.”

  There was no denying it. “You’re really fit.”

  “I’m Species.” He openly gazed at her body. “I like that you’re not.” He reached out and brushed his knuckles over her stomach. “I like your softness.”

  She felt insulted. Was he saying she was flabby? “I work out.”

  He grinned.

  “I do yoga and Zumba. I just don’t lift weights or have the time to do them every day. I have this thing called a job.” She turned and pointed her toe downward to flex the muscles in her calf. “I have great legs. I spend a lot of time walking at the diner.”

  “I like your legs wrapped around my waist.”

  She turned her back on him and stepped under one of the showerheads, closing her eyes to wet her hair and face. She was done talking to him. He was being a man. She had tried to have a serious discussion with him but he seemed fixated on sex.

  That soft remark irritated her. She did have some extra pounds, but he didn’t have to point that out. She was at least trying to lose it. Her problem was pie. It loved to tempt her, and her boss’ wife made killer ones that Joel sold at the diner. She got free slices working there. Who could resist that? Not her.

  Lash wrapped his arms around her from behind and jerked her against his front. “You are perfect for me. Feel how I react to looking at you?”

  She twisted her head and stared up at him. “There’s no missing that thing. It feels like a lead pipe against my spine. What did you name it?”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Come on. All men name their dicks.”

  “I didn’t. That seems strange.”

  “It is, but it’s a man thing.”

  “It’s a human male thing. I’m not one of them.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Do human females name their sex?”

  “Not many, but some give their breasts names.”

  He leaned forward to glance at hers. “Did you?”

  “I just call them my girls.”

  “Stop. It is silly.”

  She laughed. “It is.”

  He reached out and grabbed the shampoo. “I’m going to wash your hair.”

  “I can do it.”

  “I want to.”

  That surprised her enough to agree. “Okay.”

  She’d never had a man do that for her. Lash was either really out to impress her, or he just wasn’t like anyone else she’d ever dated. She did have a type of man she was attracted to, despite being more than aware of their flaws. They were usually conceited, a bit selfish, but she’d liked their confidence.

  Lash gently fisted her hair and tugged. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes. It felt really good when he used both hands to massage in the shampoo. He gently scrubbed her scalp, too. There was something very personal and intimate about the act. He took his time, as if he wanted to make sure he cleaned every strand.

  He turned her around until she faced him. Then he rinsed her hair, using his hands in the same way to make sure all the soap washed away. He tugged her closer and out of the spray of water.

  She opened her eyes and met his gaze. He was extremely handsome, now that she could see past his wild mane of hair, his strange facial structure, and the fear that had come with her first glimpse of him. He smiled…and she realized she was starting to like being around him too much. He wanted to keep her, and it didn’t seem like such a bad thing anymore.

  What am I thinking? I have a life.

  He distracted her from her thoughts by breaking eye contact to get the conditioner. Her eyes lowered to stare at his chest as he massaged the creamy substance into her hair.

  She ran her fingers over the patch of fur there. It was short but soft, even wet. It looked good on him. It was sprinkled between his nipples and little higher,