“No, I think it says a lot about who you are. Your character.” He pauses. “I like that.”
I like you, I think to myself.
“Thanks,” is what I say instead.
We sit for a while, letting the waves and the wind do the talking for us. When I stand to stretch my legs, I notice the boat has been cast in shadow, the sun settling back behind the clouds. I shiver, feeling a slight chill in the air.
“Let’s call it for today,” Dylan says, standing up and grabbing our rods and putting them away. “You did good for your first time.” He walks into the cabin for a minute, leaving me alone in the back.
I take a few steps over to the other side to move my stiff body a bit and am thrown off balance by a wave slapping against the boat. As I try to find my footing, another bigger wave comes pouring into the boat and right over me. It completely soaks me, and I grab onto the edge because water is in my eyes, blurring my vision. A second crashes into me, and the boat rocks, tipping slightly.
“Dylan,” I call out to him as I grip the side to balance myself, mild panic settling in my chest at whatcouldhave happened but didn’t. I hear the cabin door fly open, and strong hands are grabbing me and pulling me inside the door.
“Lucy, shit, are you okay?” His face is white, all the colour drained out of it. He keeps his grip on me.
“Yes, yes. Just cold.” His mouth is pinned in a straight line, and his eyes are narrowed in on me. I laugh to try and lighten the mood.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, taking off his life jacket, followed by his dark green jacket, which he then throws over my shoulders. “Let me quickly finish putting our stuff away and pull up the anchor. Stay here.” He puts his life jacket back on and zips it up.
“Okay, but don’t worry, I’m fi—” The door shuts before I can even finish my sentence.
Before I have time to fully catch my breath, he’s back in the cabin, and we set off, the boat going at what feels like full speed back into the bay. I try to hide my shivering, but my teeth are chattering so loudly against my will. He looks over to me, eyes wide.
“Your lips are blue.”
“I’m fine, Dyl. It’s o-o-o-kk-ay,” I try to get out. He wraps an arm around me, holding me tight against his side, as he brings us back to the dock, steering with one hand.
After he parks the boat and secures it to the dock, he locks our fishing gear and life jackets in the cabin and scoops me up in his arms, lifting me like I weigh nothing, even though I know the wet clothes are making me even heavier. There isn’t an ounce of strain in his face as he carries me off the docks and through the town. I lean into his solid chest and close my eyes, letting the heat thatradiates off his body warm me up a bit. It’s evening now, and the air has gotten colder. I think that, mixed with the icy waters, has me chilled to the bone.
“Almost there, Luce,” he says through gritted teeth as he climbs up the rocks that lead back to the lighthouse. “Hang on.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The door opens, and we step inside the lighthouse. Already, the chill in the air is gone, and it keeps getting warmer as we head upstairs, where the wood stove is.
“Ju-just p-put me by the couch. I’ll b-be fine,” I murmur through chattering teeth.
“No, we’re going right upstairs,” he replies as we continue to take the winding stairs to the third level. He opens the bathroom door and, whilestillholding me in one arm, turns on the taps for the bath; the water runs out and begins to fill the tub. “You’re getting in the bath,” he tells me. “I want you to warm up.” He adds some liquid soap, which fills the tub with bubbles. It looks warm and heavenly and smells like vanilla.
“Okay,” I reply softly.
He places me down gently so I’m standing in front of him, barely moving a muscle as I shrug off his jacket and let it fall on the floor behind me. I look up into his eyes, filled with an emotion I can’t place, and lift my arms above me. Very carefully, he tugs at the hem of my soaked knitsweater, peeling it up and over my head. He tosses it onto the floor beside me. The bathwater keeps rising, the room filling with steam. I’m now standing in a white lace bra and a loose black miniskirt and tights. I kick my boots off and wait, staring up at him. Waiting to see what he does next.
Getting down on his knees, he places his hands on my waist, chest heaving with heavy breaths. I run my fingers through his hair, pulling out the small bun and tugging at the roots. His hands come down to the elastic band of my skirt, and he pulls it down to the ground, pausing for me to step out of it. My tights are next, peeling them down, ever so slowly. My eyes close, and I feel my body shudder from his hands on my bare skin. Once I’m out of my tights, he looks up at me in my lace bra and underwear. His arms wrap around my waist once more, and he brings his lips to my stomach, kissing it lightly. They’re warm, and a gasp escapes me, my lips parting as I savour everything happening. The icy shock melts away, and I barely feel the cold anymore.
Then he stands up, and it all comes rushing back. Turning off the tap, he faces me. His eyes drop and scan my entire body before making their way back up and into my eyes. Clearing his throat, he says, “I’ll leave you to get in now?—”
“No.” I grab his arm before he can turn away. “Please stay.” I offer a small smile, hoping he will.
“Okay,” he mutters. “I’m going to turn around now while you finish undressing.” The way he saysundressingfeels sinful. “Tell me when you’re in the tub.”
My hands come around to my back and unclip my bra, letting it drop to the floor. My underwear comes next. Then I’m standing naked in the room with Dylan. Even though his back is turned, there’s something so intimate about this moment. I feel vulnerable, but safe. I slip into the steamingtub, the warm water wrapping me in a heated blanket, and a groan slips out of me from the pleasure of my body finally warming up. He clears his throat, back still turned.
With my entire body covered in a layer of soapy bubbles, I say, “This is amazing, Dylan. Thank you.” He turns around to face me and pulls up a small stool to sit on, lips pulled in a hard line once more as he looks at me in the tub. “You didn’t have to do all of this, though. I promise I was fine. Just cold.”
He doesn’t say anything right away, just stares at the bubbles coating the tub and my glistening legs, which peek out of the water. “You could have fallen in. I should have been more careful.” I see that look of worry in his eyes again, similar to the way he looked on the boat.
“It was an accident, don’t worry. No one died.” The way his face contorts and he clenches his fists has me filled with immediate regret. As soon as that last word comes out of my mouth, I wish so badly I could take it back and lock it away. “Dylan.” I reach out from the water and grab his arm, the only thing I can touch without completely exposing myself right now. “I’m really sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” I have no idea why that was so triggering for him, but clearly, something has happened that’s causing this reaction now.
