“What happened?” His hands moved up and down my back in a soothing rhythm.
I pulled back enough to look up at him. “Scott showed up at Split Pine tonight.”
Lucan’s entire body went still, and his breathing paused. Something dangerous flickered in his eyes.
“Where is he now?” The question came out with a deceptive calmness that scared me more than shouting would have.
“I handled it. Told him no to everything. Money. A place to stay. Another chance.” A strange little laugh escaped me. “And the weirdest part is, I didn’t even feel guilty about it when I walked away.”
Lucan’s hands came up to frame my face, his thumbs brushing gently over my cheekbones. “You shouldn’t feel guilty for saying no and having boundaries.”
His intensity made it hard to breathe. I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed to hear those words until he said them.
He guided me up the steps and through the door of his cabin, closing it behind us. The space was warm with leather furniture, dark wood, and large windows that framed the forest.
“What do you need from me tonight?” he asked quietly, still holding me close.
“You.” I placed my palm against his chest. “I need you.”
He pressed his forehead against mine. “You have me. Always.”
I closed the last inch between us, letting the day fall away as his mouth met mine. His arms tightened around me as he deepened the kiss.
I didn’t pull away until my lungs demanded air. His eyes were dark, intense as they searched mine.
“Shower,” I whispered against his lips.
He nodded, taking my hand and leading me through the cabin to his bedroom. There was a king-sized bed and windows that would let in the morning light. The attached bathroom was spacious, with a walk-in shower big enough for two.
Lucan turned to face me, his fingers finding the hem of my shirt. “May I?”
The gentleness in his voice made my heart clench. I nodded, lifting my arms as he pulled the shirt over my head.
His thumbs brushed against my skin as he worked the button of my jeans open. The zipper followed, and he crouched down to help me step out of them. I steadied myself with a hand on his shoulder, feeling strangely vulnerable yet completely safe.
When I stood before him in my bra and underwear, his gaze traveled slowly up my body, not with judgment but with appreciation. I unhooked my bra, letting it fall away. His sharp intake of breath sent a thrill through me.
I hooked my thumbs in the waistband of my underwear and pushed them down, stepping out of them. Completely naked now, I watched as he quickly shed his shorts.
Lucan turned on the shower, testing the temperature before taking my hand again. The warm water cascaded over us as we stepped in.
Lucan grabbed a bottle of shampoo from the shelf and poured some into his palm. “Turn around.”
I did, closing my eyes as his fingers worked the shampoo into my hair. His touch was firm but gentle, working in slow circles over my scalp. I leaned back against him and sighed. “That feels amazing.”
He chuckled, the sound vibrating through me. “Tilt your head back.”
I did as he asked, letting the water rinse the suds away. He squeezed a generous amount of body wash into his palm. The clean, woodsy scent filled the steamy air between us.
He started at my neck, working in slow, deliberate circles. I closed my eyes, surrendering as his strong fingers kneaded away the tension I’d been carrying all day. Each stroke seemed to erase another layer of stress.
I braced my hands against the shower wall, letting my head hang forward. His thumbs pressed into the tight muscles alongside my spine, drawing a moan that echoed off the tile walls.
“You’re carrying so much tension here.” He pressed into the tight knot between my shoulder blades.
His hands continued their journey, sliding around to my stomach, then up my sides. The touch was no longer soothing; it set my skin on fire. Every inch he covered made me more aware of how close he was, how intimate this moment had become.
His hands slid down to my shoulders, then lower to cup my breasts. I gasped as his thumbs brushed over my nipples, sending sparks of pleasure straight to my core.
