Page 60 of These Rough Waters

My daughter pouts, “But Torin helped! And his brother, Everett!” Harper looks passed me to the men who likely just entered behind me and beams, “Torin! Rett!”

“Well, hey there, little love,” I hear Rett say and then Torin, “Hey kid.”

“Just what an earth were you thinkin’?” Ruthie storm towards me, “Are you mad!?”

I cringe, “I’m sorry.”

The woman grips my chin, tilting my face this way and that, “You’re hurt.”

“It’s just a scratch.”

She clucks her tongue, “Why didn’t you tell someone?”

“I didn’t expect the storm,” I admit, “I wasn’t prepared.”

She huffs but softens, “You’re cold, likely hungry and filthy! Come on, sweetness, let’s get you cleaned up.”

“I’m sorry, Ruthie,” I tell her, “Really, I am. And thank you for caring for Harper.”

Ruthie sighs before she turns and busies her hands, keeping herself turned away, “You come to Ravenpeak Bay, and you gain a family.” She says, “We care.Icare. I don’t know where you came from or what you escaped but I can guess, but you’re here now and if you’re staying, you need a family.”

“Ruthie…”

“No, sweetness,” She says, “I care about you and Harper, it scared me to think about you alone out there.”

“I was foolish.”

“Yes,” She agrees quickly, “Now come, let’s get you in a hot shower, you’re a mess.”

I’d showered back at the cabin, just a quick rinse since there were no products to use to truly wash my hair or body so a hot shower was welcomed. I leave Harper downstairs with Torin and follow Ruthie to a guest room where she leaves some towels and a fresh dressing gown with the lodges logo on it.

The shower is hot on my skin and feels delightful as it works over tight muscles I hadn’t realized were so tense. But it’s between my legs I take the most notice, I was deliciously sore, thoroughly used and completely satisfied. I wanted more of it, to feel that good, to feel that worshipped.

I wash the dirt and sweat from my skin, rinse my hair, and give it a good shampoo since I couldn’t get the mud caked into the strands out earlier and then climb out. After I dry myself, I slip on the robe and step out of the bathroom, only to find Torin waiting for me in the bedroom.

Twenty-nine

Water drips from her wet hair, a single droplet of it rolling down the side of her face to catch in the corner of her plump lips.

“How do you feel?” I ask, stepping closer and her eyes drop down my body. I hadn’t left yet to grab my own shower though I needed one.

“Good,” she breathes.

“It seems we have a problem,” I tell her, reaching forward to let my fingers hook into the knot she’d secured around her waist.

“We do?” She holds still but her chest heaves with her breaths, a beautiful pink blooming in her cheeks.

“We do,” I agree.

“What is it?”

“You left to come shower, little doe, and I realized I can’t get enough of you. I’ve had you, tasted you, listened to you come apart, over and over again,” I tug the knot, watching it fall open and part the robe, revealing her naked skin beneath, still damp from the shower and glistening. “And I need more.”

“Torin,” She whispers, stepping back as I approach, backing her into the wall, “They’re waiting for us downstairs.”

“Ruthie took Harper out to feed the chickens.”

“What about Rett?”

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