Page 76 of Tender Heart
I need Evie.
But more than that, I need her to be happy.
Whatever that means for me.
The house comes into view, and for the first time in my life, I wish it wouldn’t. I wish the last few days, lost to the wilderness and just the two of us, could have lasted forever.
Squash that stupid damn thought, buddy.
Switch it off.
Stomp it down.
Ain’t happening.
Watching her hips sway in front of me for the last hour, those long legs, short fucking shorts... Hell, I’ve been hard for thirty minutes.
“God, look at that beautiful thing,” Evie says, a grin wrapping around her gorgeous face. Her clothes are dirty, her hair is a mess, but her stride is busting at the seams as she all but runs back to the lighthouse. Everything looks in place, no visible damage from the storm. The lamp is still on and oscillating.
By the time we reach the front door, I have a million things I want to say to her. None of them leave my mouth. She pushes through the front door and stops just over the threshold, arms out, head back, and eyes closed. “Did you miss me?”
I chuckle, stepping inside. “Shower, Evie baby.”
“God yes. You want to go first?”
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Why waste water?”
“Okay? But I thought we weren’t?—”
I dump my bag to the floor and grab her onto my waist. She giggles, sliding her arms around my neck. “Fine. Water conservation it is.”
I scale the spiral stairs with her legs tight around my waist and her arms draped over my shoulders, and I feel like the luckiest man alive. We bypass the bed and head straight for the bathroom.
“Down, please.” Her lips roll and she glances at the vanity.
“You have one minute. Or I’m starting without you.”
“I’d watch that.” Cheekiness lights up her face.
Christ.
I slap her ass and step toward the shower, peeling off my clothes as I go. She plucks her toothbrush and toothpaste. Of course.
I hold my hand out to her as I lean over to turn on the faucets. My toothbrush drops into my hand, with paste in a long, neat line on the bristles. The hot water bursts to life, and I adjust the cold tap until it’s perfect and steam starts to curl into the space. Stepping in, I brush my teeth as days’ worth of fishing, hunting, and exploring the forest are washed away.
I can always appreciate the first shower after making it back from the hut, but this is the first time I’ve had someone with me. As if on cue, one elegant foot slips past the curtain. A heartbeat later, Evie stands with her hands by her sides just out of the water spray, her eyes set on mine. Her gaze falls to my mouth. Toothbrush still working my teeth clean, I lean out to the basin and spit. With the toothbrush forgotten, I move back into the water and open my mouth to rinse the paste from it.
Evie’s eyes track over my face, my body. Her breaths are coming in little pants, and I can’t help but reach for her.
God, we are both fucked.
Hands on her shoulders, I maneuver her into the water. She simply watches me as I grab up her soap and wash her body before squirting a generous amount of shampoo into my palm. Her long locks take a while to lather and rinse out. I repeatthe process with conditioner before her arms tangle around my neck, her brown eyes searching. “Your turn,” she whispers.
She sinks sudsy, shampoo-lathered hands into my hair, and my eyes shutter closed. Fine fingers work my messy hair clean. While the shampoo sits, she takes to my limbs, one by one, with her bar of soap. Running it over each muscle, each part of my body in turn.
Every sweep of her hand with the soap sends me higher. I’m hard as stone within seconds of her hands on me. A blush fills her face as she lets her hands wander, not stopping as she finishes her task.
Christ, I need more than I want her to give me.
