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Because the last thing I want is for Lucas to return to that dark time of his life again.
Which is what might happen if he’s found guilty.
31
Lucas
I push my legs hard as I run up the trail, paying attention to the roots poking out of the dirt as if they’re land mines. My wet T-shirt clings to my sweaty body, and my lungs are ready to explode from the exertion.
I’ve yet to see any hikers. It’s late, and most of them have gone home. It’s just me and the forest and the demons chasing after me. Past colliding with present.
I leap over an exposed root. My lungs burn and my legs want to collapse from the punishing pace.
This won’t solve anything.
This won’t help me figure out who framed me and why.
I pause to catch my breath.
A powerful need to thrust my fist into a tree trunk surges in me. I shove the urge aside and resume running, only this time the pace isn’t as grueling.
I arrive at my SUV an hour later, my frustration less than when I got here. I drive home. The sun is low on the horizon by the time I pull into the driveway. Simone’s car isn’t here. I go into the house, expecting to hear Jasper tell me he’s bored of the crate. Nothing.
Simone must have taken him for a walk.
Upstairs, I grab my clothes and head to the bathroom. I’m in the shower, hot water sluicing off me, when the door clicks open.
“Lucas?” Simone’s voice calls out through the steam.
I smirk, even though she can’t see me through the shower curtain. “I hope so. Otherwise, a burglar is taking a shower in my bathroom.”
She doesn’t say anything more, and I continue scrubbing the sweat from my body.
A moment later, the plastic curtain slides partly open, revealing Simone. She’s naked, and my cock greatly appreciates the view.
Without looking at me, she steps into the bathtub, and her gaze meets mine. “I hope you don’t mind if I join you.”
Her beautiful hazel eyes, rich with various shades of green and gold, darken with hope—and fuck, I want to be buried inside of her in so many ways.
There are plenty of things I could say—should say—but all I can do is pull her into my arms and kiss her.
Christ, I’ve missed her.
Her arms go around my neck, and we continue kissing.
Unspent need doesn’t fill the kisses, but they consume me all the same. I focus on the feel of her warm body against me. Focus on the light floral scent of her hair.
Deep down a voice questions if this is a good idea. I bottle the question away for now. When it comes to Simone, I’ve never done the smart thing. I usually do what feels right at the time.
She looks up at me. There’s an emotion in her eyes—gentle, nonjudgmental—that I can’t fully read, but it makes me smile all the same. “I want us to try sleeping together tonight.”
“I don’t kn—”
Her finger presses against my lips, silencing the rest of the sentence. “I do. We need to find out if the nightmare was a one-time thing. Have you had any more since then?” She lowers her hand.
I shake my head. “No flashbacks either.”
“Good. Have you had dinner yet?”
