A pulse at William’s temple pounded hard with each beat of his heart. At the moment, it worked overtime. He stepped forward and tilted her face to his, running his finger against her jaw.
He sucked in a harsh breath. “Lucy, I’m…I…”
Whatever he was about to say washed away as the storm opened above them. It was for the best, there weren’t words to fix what she’d messed up. Raindrops quickly turned to sheets of water slashing across the trail.
He rubbed his hands up her arms before turning her forward on the trail. “Let’s get you out of the rain.”
She tripped down the hill as her stupid sandals slid against the mud. William gripped her arm to hold her steady while the thunder pounded angrily. They hurried toward the base of the mountain, the evergreen trees providing little cover as they plodded forward, slipping along the soggy gravel of the embankment.
The trail ended at the lake. And, damn, they came out on the opposite side. The lodge was barely visible through the storm. They should’ve turned right at the fork. It would be at least two more miles around to find shelter.
“This is where that map would have come in handy, huh?” she asked, glancing up at him.
He grunted. “This way.”
She followed blindly. When they turned a corner, a small building sat squat among the trees. Canoes, rowboats, and a motley assortment of oars were stacked haphazardly outside. Lightning flashed nearby, and he pulled her along beside him. He let go of her hand to try the door, but it was locked. He pushed harder with his shoulder.
No luck. The rain continued to drench them.
“Stay here,” he yelled over a clap of thunder before he disappeared behind the back of the shack. She wrapped her arms around herself. How smart was it to take cover in a metal shack during a lightning storm, anyway? She was standing there alone, shivering, when the door opened, and William ushered her in.
She stepped inside. “How’d you get in?” The place was stacked top to bottom with life jackets, a wall of fishing poles, and a small desk.
“The window wasn’t locked. I climbed through.” He set down the backpack and unzipped it to rummage around. “Don’t suppose you packed a towel?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“Come here.” The softness of his tone was at odds with the storm raging outside. He motioned to her as he sat against the pile of life jackets. She plunked down next to him, and he drew her close. Surely, he did it to warm her.
Oh boy, did it. She practically turned into a cloud of steam as his hands rubbed against her skin. Each stroke echoed in a much more intimate place.
“Why did you finally open up to me?” he asked against her hair. The muscles in his arms held her firm, andGodthat was nice.
“I don’t want to lose your friendship, Will.” She really, really didn’t.
“Lucy, you have to know by now that I don’t want to be your friend.”
Oh. She glanced up through her eyelashes, and his eyes burned bright, right into her. The atmosphere in the cabin shifted dangerously with the intensity of all that was William.
“You don’t want to be my friend?” she asked carefully.
“No.” His thumb rubbed across her lower lip, and the electricity between them rivaled the lightning outside. “That’s not what I want from you.”
“No?” she asked.
He turned her to face him. “I want more.”
Her heart tripped faster as his mouth got close to hers, near enough she could smell the raindrops mixed with wet earth on his skin. Thank God. Perhaps getting involved wouldn’t be so bad after all.
“You were so mad at me,” she said. In the intimacy of the space, only the two of them existed.
“I’m sorry I got angry.” He rubbed his hands along the wet fabric of her shirt, lifting the cloth as his fingers moved.
“You should have brought a map,” she mumbled.
He laid her back and moved above her before he lifted the edge of her drenched shirt, remarkably close to the waistband of her panties.
Her breath caught. Hells freaking bells.
