Page 34 of Fire Harbor

“I had a difficult time keeping my mind on what I was doing,” he admitted as he got to his feet. “I couldn't stop thinking about you all night,” Linus confessed, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation.

But Lake felt only the rush of excitement coursing through her veins. This was what she had been yearning for, what she had been dreaming about. “Would you like breakfast?”

“Later.” Without another word, Linus closed the distance between them, his lips captured hers in a tender yet passionate kiss. The world around them seemed to fade away as they lost themselves in each other.

When they finally pulled apart, both breathing heavily, their hearts racing, Linus hauled her toward the staircase.

They climbed the stairs two at a time, their hands intertwined, their laughter echoing through the house. Lake’s heart felt like it might burst with joy as she guided him toward the right bedroom.

He could see her love of books displayed throughout the room, a reflection of her compassionate spirit. The morning sunshine filtered through the window, bathing them in warm light as they stood facing each other.

Linus brushed a strand of hair away from Lake’s face, his eyes full of tenderness and longing. “I’ve wanted this for so long,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lake’s breath hitched in her throat as she searched his gaze, seeing all the love and desire she needed to see. Without a word, she captured his lips in a searing kiss.

The world fell away once more as they shed their clothes, taking that first step to surrender, the lust building between them.

As they melted into each other’s bodies, she locked her arms around his neck. With his strong shoulders, he lifted her onto the bed.

Linus traced the curve of her jawline with featherlight kisses, igniting a trail of fire along her skin. Each touch, each caress, fueled the flames of need until they were consumed by an inferno.

Lake’s hands roamed over Linus’s muscled chest, feeling the rapid rhythm of his heartbeat echo her own. At that moment, there was no past or future, only the present, where two souls intertwined in a dance as old as time.

His hands roamed over her body, each touch sending shivers down her spine. She felt like she was burning from the inside out, consumed by the intensity of something she’d wanted for too long.

In that moment, nothing else mattered. The outside world ceased to exist as they lost themselves to each other. Time seemed to slow down as they explored each other, the curves and angles, their bodies joining in perfect harmony.

She clung to him as if he were her lifeline. As the first wave of pleasure crashed over her, she let out a moan of pure joy. Her entire body trembled, arching against his touch as he continued to treasure and explore. It was as if his fingers were made of fire, each touch bringing her closer to the edge. Her pulse throbbed in time with each thrust, her heartbeat a steady rhythm echoing in her ears. As his body pressed against hers, she was consumed by a shockwave, every fiber of her being alight with yearning. He drove into her, his breath ragged and desperate. Each gasp, each moan, an offering to the gods as they joined in this wild, primal mating.

Their bodies rocked together, every touch sending electric shocks coursing through her veins. The world faded away, lost in the haze of pleasure that enveloped them. Her climax built like the stormy tempest from last night. She clawed her way to the top until the tides surged. When she shattered, the pleasure broke loose. It slammed into her, washing over her like a fierce rising tide, obliterating everything and everyone else who had come before.

As the shudders and quakes subsided, they lay tangled together, hearts still pounding in the afterglow. The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, flooding the room with light and providing warmth for their naked bodies.

Lake reached up to trace the outline of his jaw with her fingertips, savoring the feel of his skin beneath her touch. “That was amazing.”

Breathless, Linus chuckled as he bent to layer kisses along her face. “Imagine what I could do with eight hours of sleep behind me.”

Before they could enjoy each other more, though, three dogs bounded into the room like a pack starving for attention and leaped onto the bed.

“Eww, wet paws, smelly dogs,” Lake shrieked, sitting up and pushing Scout to the side of the bed. “They must’ve gotten outside. I should’ve mentioned that’s the downside of having a doggie door. They come and go as they please. Even when a nasty storm results in stinky, wet dogs playing in the mud.”

Jack and Farley weren’t about to let Scout have all the fun. They joined in the wrestling match as Linus tried to corral the muddy canines as best as he could. He grabbed his jeans and tried to dress while Farley wanted to play tug of war with the end of his pants.

In the midst of the madness, Lake couldn’t help but laugh, shaking her head at the sight of the furballs running around like crazy. She joined Linus in the effort to catch them, wrapping her fingers through Jack’s collar, she cradled him in her arms. “Calm down, you little stinker. It’s not playtime. Aren’t you guys hungry for breakfast?”

After several more minutes of chaos, Linus managed to wrangle Scout and Farley and find a towel to wipe off some of the mud and dirt.

Lake glanced at Linus, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “I think we need a new rule," she proposed. “From here on out, when we have…sex, the dogs need to be contained…somewhere else.”

Linus chuckled, feeling the heat of her gaze as she playfully batted his arm. “Or maybe we should just lock ourselves in the bedroom and let them have the rest of the house,” he whispered, his voice low and filled with promise.

After throwing on a robe, she studied the paw prints all over her grandmother’s quilt. “Look at this mess. I’m not turning the house over to the dogs. There’s a limit to search and destroy.”

Lake glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “Oh, my, God. Is that the right time? I need to get moving if I want to shower, dress, and get to work by ten.”

“We could all use a shower,” Linus submitted. “Or we could just embrace this mess.”

“Embrace? Are you talking crazy because you need sleep or what? After being awake for almost twenty-four hours straight, I’d think you’d be ready to crash by now. And what about food? You must be starving. I know I am. I need to call Greta and tell her I’m running late.”

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