Page 16 of Shatter

But would never be allowed to.

Chapter nine

Harrison

Iclose my eyes and let the shower water pound against my back. I rest one hand on the tiled wall and grip my cock punishingly in the other.

She'd asked me if I was hard. In front of her parents. In front of her boyfriend.

And, of course, I was. She looked like a fucking angel - her golden hair piled on top of her head to keep it out of the chlorine, backlit by the patio light, her beautiful blue eyes illuminated by the light reflecting off of the water. And the way her eyes ate up my body...

I had been hoping I'd turn her off - scare her away - show her just how wrong I am for her. But my plan backfired. She looked at me with such hunger; I'm surprised no one else noticed.

And when Parker so casually pulled her onto his lap like he had every right to touch what's mine...

A shiver runs down my spine along with a possessiveness I've never known before.

She's not mine. She can't be mine. She's his. She's theirs. Shit, she belongs to the world before she'll ever belong to me.

But she didn't seem happy to be on his lap. She seemed angry, even as she smiled through it.

What the fuck am I doing here? Who am I torturing more? Myself or Parker?

I won't jack off. I don't fucking deserve it. My balls ache with need, but I ignore them.

I think I hear a noise at the door of my bathroom, but before I can lift my head to look, the glass door flies open, and Mel enters, practically tackling me.

Fear, anger, and embarrassment slam through me as her eyes drop immediately to my hard cock, hanging heavy against my thigh. It's the first time I've ever been naked in front of someone. It's the first time anyone else has seen the full extent of my scarring.

I grip her by the neck before spinning and slamming her against the wall, wrapping my hand around her neck.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!" I whisper-shout, my mouth an inch from hers.

She smiles and licks her lips.

"We're not together."

"Of course, the fuck we're not together. So, why the hell are you in my fucking shower, Melody?! My brother is fucking next door! With your boyfriend next door!?" I hiss angrily.

She chuckles. Fucking chuckles. And I can feel her throat work against my hand.

"Parker and me, I mean. We're not together."

I drop my hand, a sudden reminder that I'm, once again, touching someone else's woman.

I go to turn, hanging my head in shame, but she grips my shoulders to stop me.

At the same time, both of us drop our gazes to where she's touching my scarred skin. No one touches me. It's one of the reasons primal works for me. I keep my clothes on. I know women can see the scars on my neck, but seeing my entire body - never.

I get it. I'm not embarrassed or ashamed of my scars. My self-confidence doesn't come from my looks - it comes from knowing I've already been through hell and was strong enough at eight to survive. It comes from taking care of the people in my inner circle. It comes from being a good man.

Except what kind of man sleeps with another man's woman?

"You need to leave, Mel."

She shakes her head again, huffing in frustration. I'm surprised she doesn't stomp a little.

She's still in her bathing suit, not at all concerned about getting wet again, even though my body is blocking most of the spray.