Page 65 of Shallow Remains

“It’s the reservation system. I always double check through the website to make sure I’ve got the right number of passengers before I head out.”

Sounded inefficient. “Can I see?”

“Sure.”

She came around to stand next to him, compared what was on his phone and the laptop. It only took a few moments for her to realize how cumbersome a system it was. “There’s a software program that would streamline all of this and make your life a lot easier.”

“Yeah? That’d be nice. But unfortunately, I’m technologically illiterate and don’t have any time to bother with trying to change it now.”

“Mind if I play around with it while you’re gone?”

“If you really want to, be my guest.” He grabbed their plates and turned for the sink. “I need to grab a quick shower before I go.”

Was that a subtle invitation? No, of course not, he was in a time crunch. Though it did make her envision being in there with him.

She stepped forward to take the plates from him. “I’ll do these. It’s the least I can do,” she said when he opened his mouth to argue. “Go get ready.”

He searched her eyes a moment, then dropped a kiss on her lips. “Okay. But only because I kinda like it when you try to boss me around.”

She couldn’t tell if he was joking or not, but she took care of the dishes and tidied up, thinking about him the entire time. Her body craved him, but it was far more than just physical. The pull toward him was so strong she couldn’t fight it. Didn’t want to.

In less than a minute, she found herself outside the cracked open door to his ensuite, the dogs right behind her. She tapped on it, a little unsure of her welcome. He had to leave soon.

“Yeah?” he called out. “Everything okay?”

Acting on instinct before she lost her nerve, she stepped inside the humid bathroom and shut the door. Lachlan stood stock still, staring at her from inside the shower. Rivulets of water ran over his wet, muscular torso, a tiled half wall hiding the rest of him from view.

His intense stare emboldened her. She reached under the hem of the shirt ending at her thighs. Pulled her panties down her hips and let them fall to the floor, watching him the whole time.

Lachlan’s eyes darkened. He seemed frozen there, unable to look away.

Tangling her fingers in the hem of the shirt, she drew it up and over her head. When she dropped it on the floor, her breath caught at the naked desire there as he raked his gaze over the length of her bare body.

She walked to the shower entrance, pulse racing. Stepped inside with him, unprepared for the sudden rush of excitement when she saw the rest of him up close. He was fully aroused, the length of his erection flushed and standing against his lower belly.

“Maddy, I need to be out the door in under ten minutes.” His tone was full of regret but his eyes ate her up as he spoke.

She’d come this far. Wasn’t about to stop. “I didn’t get to touch you properly last night. I want to now.”

He pulled in a breath, jaw clenching as she settled her hands on the rise of his pecs. She explored his wet skin with a sense of wonder. Let her fingers linger in all the dips and hollows on the way down to the rigid length of his erection.

She was inexperienced, not clueless. She wanted to touch him intimately. Give him pleasure in the same selfless way he’d given her last night. Hopefully in under ten minutes so she didn’t make him late.

His muscles twitched as she eased a hand down his belly. When she gently curled her fingers around his erection, he sucked in a sharp breath and went rigid. She looked up at him, felt a rush of power at the tension and need etched on his face.

She lowered her gaze. Slowly drew her hand up and down the rigid length of him, aware of the throb starting between her legs. Lachlan groaned and grabbed a bar of soap from the ledge and helped her soap up her hand.

She stroked him again, a little harder this time. Paused at the top to run the slick pad of her thumb around the swollen head.

Lachlan let out a low curse and planted his palm flat against the shower wall, the muscles in his arm standing out.

Enjoying the evidence that she was turning him on, she kept going. Fascinated by the building tension in his muscles as the seconds ticked past. The way his breathing turned ragged.

He curled a muscular arm around her back. Dragged her close, held her tight to his slick chest, and buried his face in her hair. All signs she’d shown last night. He was getting close.

A second later he dropped the soap and grabbed hold of her hand. Tightened her grip and sped up the motion until he stopped abruptly, squeezing her fist around him. His big body shuddered, a raw groan ripping from his throat while he pulsed in her hand, coming over his belly in spurts.

Maddy stayed huddled against his chest while he got his breath back and the hot water rained down on them. Washing away the soap suds and his release.