At the steps to his cabin, Slater quickly stomped up and carefully helped lower her to her feet. When he turned, he cupped her face. “Are you alright?” he asked breathlessly.
She nodded before motioning to the door. Now that they were still, she shivered. He opened the door and quickly ushered her inside before closing and locking it. She shivered again and Slater didn’t hesitate. He turned on the lights and went to get them some towels.
“Take off your clothes,” he said over his shoulder.
Evie knew it wasn’t for sexy reasons, and yet there was something a little thrilling about just stripping down in his tiny living room.
Only…her coordination was off. She was no longer just shivering; she was shaking. Her hands couldn’t seem to do even the simplest of tasks, and when Slater came back over, he immediately took charge of the situation.
“Don’t worry,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.” His skillful hands made quick work of unbuttoning her blouse and peeling off her shoulders and down her arms. Then he kneeled in front of her and yanked off her shoes and socks before tugging her pants down her legs. There was nothing sensual about it; he was just doing what needed to be done. In the blink of an eye, her bra and panties landed on the soaking wet pile of her clothes, and a towel was wrapped around her.
Evie tried to say his name, but nothing came out.
“I’ll be right back,” he assured her before sprinting off to his bedroom and coming back with his robe, wrapping that around her too. Then he stripped: boots, jeans, shirt…everything went carelessly flying before he dried off and wrapped the towel around his waist. Then he pulled her into his arms and held her. Just… breathing.
“Th…thank you,” she said quietly.
Slater tenderly looked down at her. “You’re welcome.”
The lone light cast a soft glow over his features—familiar and different all at once. Less guarded. Less amused. More tender.
“How are you doing? Are you warming up?” he asked, voice low and steady and full of concern.
“I’m getting there,” she whispered. For a second, they just stayed like that. Slowly, warmth returned, and when she burrowed closer, it wasn’t for the heat; it was for him. The feel of his body was both comforting and arousing. Evie felt him kiss the top of her head before whispering her name.
“You still okay?” he murmured.
Her hands smoothed up over his chest. “Yes.”
And when he kissed her this time, it wasn’t stolen in the dark of a theater or the untamed heat they shared in the hallway. This was slow and seductive, and even a little chaste. They sipped at each other; there was no rush because they had all night. She rose onto her toes, and he made a quiet sound in the back of his throat that felt like victory and surrender all at once.
Somewhere in the distance, thunder rolled. The rain continued to pound on the roof, and the lights started to flicker.
Evie broke the kiss first, reaching up to caress his stubbled jaw. “Slater?”
“Hmm…?”
“Take me to bed.”
He grinned. “That was the plan.”
“And was the plan to do that now?”
His smile turned a little wicked. “Absolutely.”
And before Evie could come up with a single sassy comeback, Slater hauled her into his arms and strode into the bedroom. No sooner had he placed her on the bed than the lights went out.
Which was just fine.
She preferred exploring him with her hands in the dark.
It was more fun that way.
Chapter Nine
It was three in the morning, and Slater’s phone was lighting up with a ton of incoming texts. The only reason he was even awake was because Evie had woken him up a little while ago by kissing her way down his body.
It was his all-time favorite way to be woken up.
