Fuck. Is that all she thinks I care about?
I thought things were finally headed somewhere with Scar but trust me to fuck it all up. “Okay.” My voice comes out quiet and we bask in the silence for a few moments.
Scarlett juts her chin at me as a sign to follow her. We walk through the halls quietly, save for the slight murmurs coming from outside. She walks inside the bathroom, but I stop outside the door, not wanting to make the wrong move and go in just in case.
I hear some rustling before her hand reaches out, grabbing my shirt to pull me into the bathroom. Scarlett is walking backward, toward the counter and I notice some type of pain relief cream sitting out.
My eyes snap back to meet hers, my posture dropping slightly. I really just wish I didn’t have to be reminded of this injury all the time. I know that she’s concerned, but it just makes things harder to deal with. I already feel weak enough being limited without the constant reminder of it being worse than I had thought originally.
She cups my jaw, stroking her thumb softly against my cheek. “Just get out of your head, Lev.”
I let out a shaky sigh as I reach down with my good arm, wrapping it under her thighs to lift her onto the counter.
Scarlett grips the edge of my shirt and looks up at me, seeking permission. “May I?” Her voice is soft, almost as though she’s trying to avoid startling me.
I nod my head ever so slightly and she starts to drag my shirt up my torso. A shiver runs through me as her cold fingertips skim my skin. Once she gets to my shoulder, she meets my eyes again as she starts to slide my good arm out of my shirt. I grit my teeth at the dull pain through my bad shoulder as she pulls my shirt all the way off.
Scarlett contemplates me for a second, her eyes dragging over my skin before her hands follow, making their way from my shoulders down to my abs. Leaning back slightly, she grabs the cream, uncapping the lid and setting it to the side. An intense smell fills the room instantly, making me scrunch my nose involuntarily. Squeezing out some of the cream, she begins to warm it by rubbing it between her palms.
Looking up at me through her lashes, I can’t mistake the intensely serious glint in her eye - one that I wouldn’t dare to challenge. “Tell me if it starts to hurt.”
I nod yet again, though she shakes her head at me. “Words, Levi.”
“I’ll tell you if anything hurts, Scar.”
“Good.” Her hand makes contact with the front of my shoulder, and I flinch away slightly from the contact before relaxing.
She starts to dig her hand into the muscle, slowly working her way toward my injured joint, my muscles growing more tense under her touch.
Her eyes snap to mine, quickly checking in. “Too much?”
“No. We’re good for now.”
She searches my eyes for a second before continuing, adjusting her pressure this time, growing a little bit lighter with her fingers the closer she gets to the sore part of my shoulder.
My muscles start to flex underneath her fingertips - though, not really from the injury. More from the effect she has on me.
“Relax, Levi.” Her voice is soothing, yet my muscles just can’t seem to relax yet.
“I’m trying. It’s… hard.”
Her hand slows, coming to an almost stop on my shoulder. Her eyebrows are drawn together, green eyes swirling with confusion. “What do you mean?”
I shrug my good shoulder softly. “I don’t know… Just everything that’s happened between us has made me a little tense. That’s all.”
Her hand drops from my shoulder as she twists to rinse off her hands before turning back to me.
“What exactly would help you with that situation, Carter?”
I look down at the floor before her hand tucks under my chin to lift my head back up. “Use your words, Levi. I won’t ask you again.”
My heart skips a beat at the demand, wanting to do nothing but obey her every single time. “I want you. In any way that you’ll have me.”
Only a second passes before she starts to lean in. Then, I realise that I’m also leaning in as well. Scarlett’s hand reaches out to cup my jaw. “What happens at the lake house stays at the lake house?”
A low chuckle comes out. “Yeah, Quinn. What happens at the lake house stays at the lake house.”
And before I know it, her lips crash into mine.
