Under Your Skin by Shannyn Schroeder Page B

enough of a turn-on regardless of the words he read. Suddenly, she wanted the audiobook of that.
    â€œSorry,” she said again and they both knew it was an empty apology.
    â€œIt looks good on you.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œThe uncontrolled laughter. It looks good. Even if I’m the butt of your joke. And for the record, I will not be reading porn to my mom.”
    A giggle bubbled up in Norah’s throat, so she swallowed. She couldn’t afford to think of him and porn in the same sentence. “Okay, then. I’m going to the store.”
    He grabbed his earbuds and held them near his ears. Before putting them in, he said, “Be careful.”
    As if she needed a warning from him. Careful was one thing she sucked at but it was necessary now more than ever.
    * * *
    No matter how loud he turned up the music, the only sound blaring through Kai’s head was Norah’s laughter. Although he didn’t want to consider the topic that made her laugh—his mom and sex—he enjoyed the sound more than a man should. He added more weight and lifted until his muscles burned.
    He finished his workout and went upstairs to shower and get ready for work. To his surprise, his mom was on the couch actually using the motion machine she’d sworn she wouldn’t. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he pointed to the machine. “I thought you hated that thing. Told Tanya you wouldn’t use it.”
    â€œNorah nags. She locked me into it. Reminded me that the faster I get moving, the faster I get back to my friends and my grandbabies.”
    Looked like his mom was as anxious to get back to their real lives as he was. “I’m going to take a shower and then to work. You need anything?”
    â€œI’m fine.” She picked up the book in her lap and all Kai could think about was Norah’s comments about sex.
    He clenched his jaw and left the room. He yanked on the rubber band holding his hair back and turned on the water. Once under the spray, he considered his options for getting laid. With his mom living with him, bringing someone here was out of the question. He had a few women he could call, but as he tried to bring their faces to his mind, all that popped up was Norah’s bright blue eyes, smiling with laughter.
    Fuck. He needed to get those images gone. He wrapped his hand around his dick and stroked himself hard. He gripped and stroked, thinking of sinking into warm, wet pussy, the shower not quite doing him justice. Since he couldn’t imagine Norah not pregnant, he envisioned her on her knees taking him in her mouth. Lips tight around his cock as a glint of laughter sparked in her eyes. She’d like to watch him while she sucked him off. Fuck, yeah.
    It didn’t take long for his balls to tighten and his already-strained muscles to tense with his release. As he leaned against the wall recovering, he told himself it was better to fantasize about taking Norah than to actually make a move. She’d never know what happened in his mind when he was alone. As he washed, he refocused his brain around his workday.
    He stepped from the shower and used a towel to wipe the steam from the mirror. He studied the beard he had growing before trimming it. With a towel wrapped around his hips, he stepped from the room. Normally, he’d walk out naked, but he didn’t want to risk running into his mom.
    Running into Norah was almost worse. As he turned the corner to get to his bedroom, she yelped. Instinctively, he grabbed the knot of the towel.
    â€œYou need to wear a bell or something.”
    â€œMe?” she asked with her hand over her heart. “You’re the one springing out at me when I thought you left for work.”
    â€œI’m heading out now. I shouldn’t be too late, so after my mom goes to bed, feel free to leave.” He didn’t want to find her sleeping on his couch again.
    â€œI have an appointment tomorrow morning, so I