CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 161 HIS FRIENDS

*LORENZO*

My hands were braced on the shower wall. I was panting while steaming hot water cascaded over me. I’ve been reduced to jerking off in the shower...again.

Fuck. What had become of my life?

Why couldn’t I just go out and get laid?

Her eyes, the color of a rich espresso, peek up at me through long lashes.

I groaned.

This had to stop.

She was my fucking cleaner. Last night I tossed and turned alone in my bed again. Her laugh echoed over and over in my dreams. She was carefree and happy, playing the piano for me, wearing nothing but those pink panties, her hair falling long and lush past her breasts.

Ah...

Even my grueling workout this morning had done little to get her out of my system.

There was only one way.

That was not going to happen.

But the smile she gave me that day made me think she wanted me too.

Since I met that girl, the thought of sleeping with anyone else was repulsive.

I met up with my friends that night and we went partying, while they danced and even made out with a lot of girls.

I couldn’t. Even another girl touching me now felt like I was doing something wrong, like I was cheating on someone.

Hell!

I wasn’t even in a relationship with anyone!

****************

It is clear and sunny but bitterly cold, a day where her breath precedes her in a cloud of vapor as she hurries along to her place of work. There were still large patches of snow welded in icy clumps to the sidewalks, but the roads had been sanded. Traffic had returned to normal, and the town was up and running again.

Danica’s train was delayed this morning, and now she was a little late. But she would have happily walked from home just to see him.

Danica grinned. She was finally at the front door to the apartment, her favorite place in the world. She slipped her key in the lock and braces herself for the sound of the alarm but is relieved at the silence.

Closing the door, she was surprised by the smell. The apartment reeked of stale alcohol.

Crinkling her nose at the unexpected odor, she removed her boots and padded barefoot into the kitchen. The worktops were littered with empty bottles of beer and greasy pizza boxes.

She jumped when she saw an athletic, attractive young man standing at the open fridge drinking orange juice directly from the carton. His skin was dark, he had long, knotted hair, and he was dressed only in his boxer shorts.

Danica gaped at him. He turned toward her, and his face erupted in a broad grin of perfect white teeth.

“Well, hi there,” he said, his dark eyes widening in appreciation.

Danica blushed and mumbled, “Hi,” then scurries into the laundry room.

Who was this man?

She scrambled out of her coat, and from her plastic bag slipped on her cleaning uniform: housecoat and headscarf. Lastly she slid her feet into her sneakers.

Danica peeked around the laundry room door into the kitchen. The boss, wearing a black T-shirt and his ripped jeans, was standing beside the fridge sharing the carton of orange juice with the stranger.

“I just frightened your barefoot help. You tapped that yet? She’s hot.”

“Fuck off, Joe. And I’m not surprised you frightened her. Put some clothes on, you fucking exhibitionist.”

“Sorry, your lordship.” The stranger tugged at his hair and bowed his head.

“Fuck off,” the boss said mildly, and he took another swig of orange juice. “You can use my bathroom.”

The dark-haired man laughed and, turning to go, spied Danica watching the banter. He grinned again and waved at her, causing the boss to look in her direction.

His eyes light up, and a slow smile spread across his face, and Danica had no choice but to come out of hiding.

“Joe, this is Danica. Danica, Joe. He’s a friend of mine.” There was a warning tone to his voice, but Danica didn’t know if it was directed at her or at Joe.

“Good morning, Danica. Please excuse my state of undress.” Joe gave her a theatrical bow, and when he was upright, he had a wicked, amused glint in his dark eyes.

His body was toned and lean, likd the boss’. Each muscle of his abdomen was clearly defined.

“Good morning,” She whispered.

The boss gave Joe a brooding glare. But Joe ignored him and winked at Danica before he strolls out of the kitchen, whistling.

“Sorry about that,” Lorenzo said as he turned emerald eyes on her. “How are you today?” His slow smile returned.

Her flush deepened as her heart somersaulted.

Any inquiry he made about her well-being, even one so commonplace, lifted her spirits.

“I am good. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you made it here. The trains running okay?”

“They are a little late.”

“Good morning.” A man with fiery red hair limped into the kitchen wearing only his boxer shorts and a scowl.

“Good God, I shouldn’t have let you guys come over to my place.” Lorenzo mumbled under his breath, and he scraped his hand through his tousled hair.

Danica regarded this new friend who has joined them. Tall and handsome, his limbs were fair, with shockingly livid scars that crisscross his left leg and his left side like the tracks at a railway junction.

He noticed Danica staring at his scars.

“Fire accident,” he growls.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, and she lowered her gaze to the floor, wishing it would open and swallow her whole.

“Tom, do you want some coffee?” Lorenzo asked, and it seemed to Danica he was trying to defuse the sudden tension in the room.

“Bloody right. I need something for this god-awful hangover.”

Danica scuttled back into the laundry room to start on the ironing. At least she was out of sight and won’t offend any of the boss’ friends from in there.