GAVIN
As we make our way up the steps to cabin four, the familiar front deck and lights around the railing feel like a welcome home sign.
The buttons are icy under my fingers as I punch in the code, but when I open the door, the warmth inside greets me like an old friend.
The cozy cabin has a plush king bed and two armchairs by the large windows overlooking the forest in the back. The fireplace is already crackling with heat; Gary or Joe must’ve come over to warm it up for us. In the small kitchen, they’ve placed a T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants on the counter.
Lena kicks off her heels at the end of the bed and makes her way to the back windows. She presses her fingers to the glass and squeals, “There’s a hot tub.”
My gaze slips down her frame. I’ve spent the entire evening trying not to devour the sight of her in that silky dress. It hugs every fucking curve of her body in ways I wish I could.
She spins toward me, raven curls swinging out around her. In the fire’s glow and the dim lamplight beside the bed, I let myself stare at her. Really take her in.
And the sight of her wrenches all the oxygen from my lungs.
I feel like I’m drowning. No air left in my body because my lungs are filled with Lena instead.
She’s all sass and softness. Forbidden and perfect.
The pads of my fingers itch to feel that smooth skin under mine as I touch her slowly. Desperately. Possessively.
“Want to relax in the hot tub for a bit?” Her small smirk makes my stomach clench.
“Lena,” I practically growl. “I don’t have a swimsuit, and I’m pretty sure you don’t either.”
She lifts a shoulder carelessly. “We could just not look at each other.”
A laugh tumbles out of me. “I’malwayslooking at you.” At my words, her cheeks flush pink, and I follow the color as it cascades down her throat. “Even when I tell myself not to, I can’t help it. So getting in that hot tub wouldn’t be relaxing at all.”
Her chin dips in a nod as she takes a step toward me. “I have an idea,” she offers. “Can we pretend for this one night that we can be together?” She lifts her head, drawing another step closer. “We pretend my family doesn’t matter. We don’t worry about where we live. We don’t think about any of the shit standing in our way. We simply give in for one night.”
I go still. My pulse hums in my ears.
The words hang in the air. They strangle me when I try to take a breath.
“It doesn’t have to mean anything tomorrow.” She scoffs a hollow laugh. “Hell, remember, you might meet your soulmate tomorrow. But tonight, we could just be … us. Together.”
My stomach tilts like I’ve dropped into the steep descent on a roller coaster. I’m tumbling down like it’s completely inevitable, and I can’tfuckingstop it.
My gaze jumps between her dark caramel eyes, then down to her tempting lips. God, she probably tastes like sugar cookies and eggnog right now, and my mouth waters to find out.
The tension churns like a winter storm, clouding my judgment and obscuring the lines.
I hear myself say, “I don’t know,” like I’m in a trance. Like her goddamn curves have drugged me without even touching them.
She nods and whispers, “Okay. I’m going to wait in the hot tub, and you can either join me or …” Her words flicker out as she shrugs. Then she turns around and looks coyly over her shoulder at me. “Can you unzip me, please?”
My jaw clenches, but I move closer anyway.
The buzz of the zipper fills my ears as I lower it slowly. It’s excruciating to watch every centimeter it moves down, but I’m careful not to let my fingers touch her body.
This is a reversal of our movements yesterday. Instead of zipping her dress up, covering her body, I’m revealing it, and that absurdity almost makes me laugh. How did I get here?
The zipper travels past the strap of her bra, down the silky skin of her back, and then reaches the top curve of her ass.
My mouth dries out as I reveal the tiny strap of her black thong. “Lena.” The word scrapes out of my throat, raw and jagged.
Without thinking, I press the knuckle of my index finger into the warm flesh right above her thong. I drag it up in a slow line, relishing the goose bumps that peak under my touch. Her skin glows in the firelight, smooth and creamy, and I desperately wish I was doing this with my lips.
