“We’ll find him.” He leaves me with those parting words as he pushes back his chair and exits the kitchen.
Exhaling loudly, I down the rest of my coffee, pushing myself back from the table; my body needs to be doing something. The restlessness pulsing through it unnerves me.
Exiting the back door of the funeral home, I take off running. The cool morning air fills my lungs as I inhale. The dew morning throws scents of moss and dirt. I run around thecemetery, to the gate, back up, and to the crematorium and back again, over and over.
No words ricochet around my mind, only pictures. Pictures of Damian when he was just a kid, as he climbed the tree with Lauren. Watching him grow. The broken boy he was the night he knocked on my door, needing a reason to stay alive. The man he has turned into now, and that’s the picture I keep replaying. He still has so much more life to live. So much.
Reaching the back of the funeral home, I see her. Rowan stands waiting for me, the sun shining down on her like an angel. My angel of mercy. Before I even make it to her, her arms are outstretched, beckoning me to her. I fall into them. Falling to my knees, and she follows.
“Shhh.” She rubs the top of my head, smoothing my hair back.
My breath hitches. “I can’t lose him. I can’t,” I break. The tears come, and here I am, a grown-ass man on my knees, holding my woman as I cry for the brother that I’m scared I’ll never see again. I’ve already lost too many; I can’t lose him.
She doesn’t speak, only lends me her strength as I catch my breath.
Finally getting myself together, I look up and see the concern on her face as she watches me. “I’m okay,” I promise her, diverting my eyes.
“Don’t.” She grabs my face, forcing me to look at her. “I don’t need you to tell me words you think I want to hear, Luca. You’re not okay, and that’s okay.” She smiles softly at me. “Cry, scream, and fucking lose it,” she shakes my face, “but once you’re composed, then it’s time to make a plan to find Damian.”
All I can do is nod.
“Come, let's get you cleaned up.” She stands, holding out her hands as if she could pull me up, but I placate her. We don’t speak as she leads me through the halls and to our room; mefollowing her and never letting go of her hand. My fingers rub over her scarred and torn skin.
“Undress.” She calls over her shoulder as she enters the bathroom, leaving me standing in the bedroom.
My hands work as if they're controlled by someone else as I get undressed and head into the bathroom, where Rowan stands, naked and beautiful. Her body is something I’ll worship for the rest of my life and thereafter. Her dark nipples pebble up with just my stare.
She turns and steps into the glass shower, and I follow.
The warm water eases the pain running through my legs.
I watch silently as she soaps up a rag, the scent mingling with the steam. Mint. Breathing deeply, I feel like I can finally breathe. She begins cleaning my neck, leaving suds in her wake as she trails down my body, washing me clean. Slow and easy. Taking extra care of every inch of my skin.
Her eyes trace my tattoos as she cleans my arms. I know she’s still mesmerized by all the hidden names. Still finding new ones.
My dick has a mind of its own and is hard as a rock, just from her bathing me. Even though getting off is the last thing on my mind, my body reacts to Rowan like kryptonite.
My eyes stalk her as she drops the rag, lathers her hands, and gently grabs my cock, a small smile on those perfect lips, eyes locked on mine.
“Fuck,” I groan out, while she tightens her hold. Moving up and down my shaft.
“Got to make sure this is good and clean,” she jokes with me as she speeds up.
My eyes roll back, and my arm reaches blindly out to find the wall, needing to hold myself up.
“We're going to get you clean, get you off, and then it’s time for Luca the killer to get to work.” She has an eyebrow raised when I open my eyes to look at her.
All I can do is nod. She knows what she’s doing to me as she speeds up her tempo.
“Just like that,” I praise her.
She moves to the side, letting the sprayer wash the soap from my dick. I watch her with so much love when she gets on her knees, her hand still stroking me as she opens her mouth, tongue out to take my cum.
That’s my undoing.
My moan bounces around the shower as I cum down her throat and watch as she drinks me down. So fucking sexy.
She smiles up at me as she swallows and stands. Not caring that she just had my cum in her mouth, I seal her mouth to mine, and our tongues dance. Tasting myself on her.
