The Bucket List (A REVERSE HAREM ROMANCE)

4. ALBANY

I wasn't in my bed.

My bed wasn't as comfortable and it didn't have silk sheets. Shifting, I froze when my bare legs brushed against the sheets. I was wearing panties and a shirt that had ridden up to my waist.

A part of me was too afraid to open my eyes and it had nothing to do with the pounding headache I could feel behind my closed eyes. God, why had I agreed to go out with him? Why had I drunk so damn much wine?

Licking my lips, I slowly turned onto my back and after a moment, I found the courage to open my eyes. I blinked up at the cream ceiling before I pushed myself onto my elbows and looked around.

The room was big and nearly empty. The king-size bed stood in the middle of the room with bedside tables on either side. There was a half-circle platform with a small step down onto a thick carpet. Across from the bed was a wall made completely out of mirrors, a door that was closed to the right and two more to the left.

There were no windows which were a bit confusing. Aren't all bedrooms supposed to have windows?

Frowning, I sat up and winced as my muscles protested. What the hell happened last night after the third glass? I tensed when the door to the right opened and Severide walked out.

He had a small towel wrapped around his hips with one hand clutching the ends together in the middle and the other was busy rubbing his hair dry with another towel.

My eyes darted over him and my mouth watered.

The man was ripped—not too much like those gym freaks—but enough to make a woman drool. To top it off he had washboard abs and that deep V with a trail of dark hair that disappeared underneath the towel.

As he walked, the towel slipped a little, giving me a glimpse of the dimple on his lower back and the tops of his firm ass.

A sound fell from my lips before I could stop it.

He froze and then slowly turned around to face me. Severide lowered the towel he had been using to dry his hair and smirked at me.

"Good morning."

"What's so good about it?" I grumbled. "Where am I?"

His smirk slipped a little. "At my house."

"Since it's your house, couldn't you have chosen another bathroom to shower in? I don't like the fact that you're parading in front of me half-naked," I told him with as much distaste as I could master.

There was no trace of that smirk left on his face. He looked a bit pissed at me. Taking a step forward, he frowned at me. He paused before he stepped onto the platform and moved forward until his legs brushed the edge of the bed.

"First, this is my house, my bedroom, and therefore my bathroom. Second, you're my guest who so happens to be in my bed."

"A-and third?" I questioned.

His lips slowly curled up into a sexy smile that made butterflies flutter around in my stomach. Throwing the towel in his hand aside, he placed one knee on the leg followed by one hand. His other knee followed and his hand gripping the towel slowly loosened.

I stared at it, waiting for it to slip away so I could get a full few of his naked glory.

His chuckle made my eyes snap up to his. "How far are you willing to go, sweets? How badly do you want me to drop my towel?"

"Very badly," I breathed.

My eyes widened and my hand shot up to cover my mouth. Why the fuck would I tell him that? I looked up and my eyes instantly locked with his. They were filled with amusement.

"Albany—"

"I told you to take me home!" I yelled at him to change the topic. "I was drunk and you took advantage of me. How could you do that to a young—"

"You're not that young," he interrupted me.

"I am!" I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. "Compared to you—"

"Do you even know how old I am?"

"N-no." My eyes shot up to his hair. "But judging by all those grey hairs you're well over fifty!"

Severide stared at me silently for a few seconds before he burst out laughing. It was a deep belly laugh I hadn't expected from him. I mean, seriously, I just insulted the man and he was laughing at me like it was the funniest thing on earth.

Kicking off the sheet, I was about to get up when his hand closed around my ankle. A gasp and small cry fell from my lips when he pulled me down the bed and towards him. In the next second, I found myself pinned under his big body with his face only inches from mine.

His eyes laughed into mine, but the smile from his lips had faded. I swallowed and tried to lower my eyes, but I couldn't look away from him.

"Albany," he said softly. "I assure you that I'm not well over fifty, as you said." His lips twitched. "Besides, my age doesn't affect my performance in bed."

Come on Albany, where's that smartass replies you usually have ready?

I blinked at him. My eyes dropped to his lips. Were they as soft as they looked? Soft pink full lips. . .I looked into his eyes again and frowned when I realized that they had changed colour.

"I'm waiting."

"F-for what?" I breathed.

"For your smart-ass reply."

I shook my head. "Don't h-have one."

He tilted his head to the side slightly and glanced down at my lips before looking up at me again. "Why not?"

"Because I can't think with you so close to me."

"Is that so?" he whispered.

Severide raised his other arm and pressed his hand to my cheek. More colour flooded my cheeks when I realized that it was the hand he'd been using to hold the towel. There was enough space between us for me to have a perfect view if I lowered my gaze.

I bit my lips as I debated my dilemma. In the end, curiosity got the best of me, so I lowered my eyes—slowly down his chest and then lower and lower.

But he moved before I could catch a glimpse.

Severide stood with the towel once again clutched around his hips. "If we're going to have sex I need to go out to get some condoms. I'm afraid—"

"We are not having sex!" I hissed as I stumbled to my feet on shaky legs. "Ever!"

"Is that a challenge, sweets?"

Throwing my hands in the air with frustration, I stomped my foot and ran towards the bathroom. His laughter followed me into the bathroom.