“No! I just…” he stammered, running a hand across his wet hair. “You look beautiful. I figured she’d have a shirt picked out for you too.”
“She does. I’d say you look nice too, but it might come off a little inappropriate considering you’re only sporting a towel.”
Her gentle teasing eased the tension in his shoulders and he wiggled his brows. “You can still tell me. It’s nothing I haven’t heard before.”
Noel rolled her eyes.
“Oh boy, when did your head swell so big?” She shook her head as she knelt down, collecting the items that had fallen out of his basket.
He dropped to his knees with her, keeping one hand on the knotted towel at his waist. “Here, I’ll get these. You shouldn’t be collecting my dirty drawers.”
“It’s not like I’ve never done your laundry before, Nick. Even your boxer briefs.”
Their hands collided over a pair of his jeans and Nick smoothed his thumb over her knuckle. “Noel, I’ve been thinking about things with us—”
“Nick! Noel! I have your shirt! I hope you both are decent because Mom says if we aren’t outside in two minutes, she’s going to disown us all.”
Merry’s voice carrying down the hallway set Nick’s teeth on edge and he stood up the same time as Noel. Losing his grip on his towel, he scrambled to keep it in place, but his sister’s scream gave him a clue he hadn’t been entirely successful.
“Oh dear lord, I just saw my brother’s butt crack!”
“Go away!” He strode over to the door and slammed it in her face.
“Rude! I’m the one scarred for life!” Something scraped against the other side of his door. “Noel, I’m hanging your shirt on the outside of the door. Hurry up!”
Nick turned his back on the door and leaned his head against it. “Fucking sisters.”
Noel held her hands over her face, her shoulders shaking. When she peeked through her fingers, he heard her hysterical laugher echo through the room.
Reluctantly, Nick smirked. “I guess I’d be laughing too if the roles were reversed and you flashed your ass to a sibling.”
“I’m sorry,” she gasped, bent over with laughter. As if she couldn’t hold herself up anymore, she collapsed back on his bed.
“Really making me feel good here, Noel.”
She giggled harder. “I…can’t…stop…”
Nick grinned devilishly and loosened his hold on the towel. “Well, if you don’t actually want to get a show, I suggest you close your eyes. The last thing I need is my mother barging in here and getting the wrong idea.”
Noel covered her face again.
“No peeking, now.”
“I’m not.”
Nick dropped the towel, his heart hammering in his chest. Even as teens, Nick hadn’t kicked Noel out when he changed, because he’d never thought for a second she would look. Why was it this time, he actually wanted her to?
He’d pulled his slacks into place when he caught her gaze in the mirror above his dresser. She sat up on his bed, leaning back on her hands as she watched him. Her dark eyes trailing over him hungrily.
Nick turned around, his body humming. “Thought you weren’t going to peek.”
“I’m not. I’m brazenly checking you out.”
“See, now that isn’t fair,” he said, crossing the room to stand in front of her. “You can’t say things like that to me if you want to be just friends.”
“I was just being honest, Nick. We’re adults and you’re a lot of fun to look at.”
“Oh yeah?” Nick leaned over her, waiting for her to pull back. To escape. “How’s this for honesty?”
Nick’s hand cradled the back of her head, bringing her up just enough to meet his kiss. After a week of thinking about nothing else but her mouth under his, he deepened it, wrapping his other arm around her waist. He lifted her up until she pressed against him and he slipped his tongue into her open mouth. She tasted of mint and smelled of fresh fruit and honey, sweet and delicious.
“Nicholas Christopher Winters! Get out here now!”
His mother banged heavily on the door and he pulled away, reluctantly releasing a dazed Noel from his embrace. Grabbing his shirt from the hanger, he unbuttoned it with shaking hands.
“I’m just putting on my shirt, Mom. Be out in a second.”
“You better be!”
Once he had his shirt right, he faced Noel sheepishly. “Guess I’ll see you out there.”