Page 28 of Trusting Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #8)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Lexie

A sh and I sit cross-legged on the floor, both facing the windows. A large bowl of popcorn sits between us. He traces a raindrop down the glass with the tip of his finger.

“There’s a number in your phone. It’s under Christian. He’s a friend of mine. He’s a vet, too. If my behavior ever concerns you, you can call him. He’ll know how to help.”

I feel like he’s just tossed me a life raft.

This is why I love him. He never leaves me without help.

Not that he doesn’t trust me to handle it, he just wants to make sure I have backup.

Something I’d never experienced until meeting him.

He’s never left me with anyone who’s unreliable.

I feel so incredibly safe with him and the people he surrounds himself with.

“If there are ways I can learn to help, please teach me.”

A boyish smile pulls at the corner of his mouth. “Well, you know what really helps me feel better?”

We stare at each other; his beautiful eyes don’t miss a thing. He’s the most observant person I’ve ever met. His pupils dilate when I lean forward ever so slightly in my eagerness. “No, but I want to.”

“Scoot closer and I’ll show you,” he teases. It’s flirty and playful, but in no way does it feel disrespectful. He moves the popcorn out of the way.

When our knees touch, he drapes his arm across my shoulders and pulls me close. “There, much better.”

I rest my head on his shoulder, letting myself relax. The fire crackles, and the rain softly patters against the window. “I agree. This makes me feel better too.”

He lets out a happy sigh as he rests his cheek against my head. “This has been a pretty good second date.”

“Second date? I didn’t know we had a first,” I laugh, so content in the moment I feel like I could cry.

“Our hike. Did you forget already?”

“That was a date?”

“The concept of a date is the boy asks if you’d like to go and do something with him, and the girl either accepts or declines. Lucky for me, you accepted.”

A date. Huh. I don’t think I’ve ever been on one. I mean I’ve hung out … and hooked up, but date? A warm feeling begins to build in the center of my chest. It’s light and happy.

“You know what I’ve always thought would be fun to do on a second date?” I ask, knowing full well I’ve never given dating a thought until this very moment. I’m just winging it, dipping my toe in the water.

He pushes me away gently so he can see my face. “What? Come on. I need to hear it.”

Ash wants to know me. Not just my flesh but my soul.

“Dancing in the rain.”

He hits himself in the head like he should have thought of it first. He stands and picks me up off my feet, tossing me over his shoulder as if I weigh nothing.

“Ash!” I squeal, laughing. “We don’t even have shoes on.”

“We don’t need them.”

It’s pouring by the time he sets me on my feet. We blink at each other for a few seconds before he runs a hand over his face. “Can I have this dance?” he asks, looking a bit nervous, like I might say no.

I glance back at the cabin, the light from within spilling out over the wet spongy grass. Something I can’t quite explain washes over me. A fresh start, a cleansing of my soul. I’m not sure, but I’m suddenly filled with a hope I can’t explain. It’s not Ash. It’s not just Ash. It’s more than that.

His eyes follow my hand as I raise it, holding it out to him. He takes it, and I swear I’ll never let go. Not of him … or this … whatever this is.

He pulls me close, and we dance. Slow, fast, and everything in between. We jump in every puddle we can find just to see who can make the biggest splash. We’re like two little kids.

“Why did we think it would be more enjoyable to stay inside?” I ask him.

“I don’t know. I forgot how much fun it was to play in the rain. Thank you for reminding me.” He traces my bottom lip with his thumb, his brows pulling together. “It’s getting cold, though. Your lips are turning blue. We should go in and get warmed up.”

“I think we have hot cocoa,” I say, bouncing on my toes to keep warm.

Again, he picks me up and tosses me over his shoulder. “Shit yeah!”

“I have two feet,” I laugh, holding on to the back of his wet shirt.

Ash and I immediately begin to strip out of our soaked clothes as soon as the door closes behind us. “Two left feet,” he jokes.

“Hey.” I pretend to be wounded, placing my hand over my heart. “I never once said I knew how to dance.”

His gaze trails my hand, and his cheeks flush. Suddenly, I’m very aware we are standing in nothing but our underclothes.

The moment stretches between us in silence. I’ve never been so acutely aware of another human’s pulse before. Ash has always been real with me, and right now is no different. He’s not hiding his attraction to me.

Something strange begins to happen, and I notice my own body’s reaction to his attention. My heart takes a slight pause in an attempt to sync with his. Even the inhale of my breath waits patiently, hoping to catch his exhale.

I’ve never imagined being intimate with Ash.

I wouldn’t allow myself to. Now, without any future predictions, I’m not sure which way to turn.

If I give him my body now, it might be too soon.

Will he think badly of me? Will he sleep with me and then leave?

Instantly I feel guilty, because I know Ash isn’t like that. He’s special.

This is the first time I’ve even debated having sex with someone. Why was it always so easy with a stranger or someone who only wanted me for one thing?

Why does this feel like a big decision?

If I’m honest with myself, I know why. Once I give myself to someone like Ash, there will be no going back. My life will change forever, because it’s inevitable. I’ll never hurt this man by going back to the old me. So if I do this, it’s either all or nothing.

His eyes slide over me, and a shiver of anticipation shoots from my toes all the way to the follicles on my head.

He rubs his thumb over his bottom lip as his gaze continues to peruse my exposed flesh, the same thumb that traced my lip but moments ago.

My thighs press together, and my hand rests over my lower abdomen at the thought.

My slight reaction makes him smile. “What do you think?”

“I don’t know. It’s only our second date.” I drop my head, hoping he knows I’m only joking. I don’t know if I can tell him my worries. A knot forms in my throat at the very thought. “But … but I’m clean, and I’m on birth control.” Oh god, this is so awkward.

He takes a step toward me. The heat and scent of his body wraps itself around me like a warm hug, but he doesn’t physically touch me.

“Lexie, there’s no pressure to do this now. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

Maybe this internal debating is normal, and what I’ve experienced with others wasn’t. Of course it wasn’t. I’m assuming normal people think things like this through.

Ash feels right … good.

I lift my chin and square my shoulders. He deserves to know what I’m thinking. I’m an adult now. I can have adult conversations. “I feel something with you. More than I’ve ever felt with any other person on this planet. I want to know you in every way possible, but I don’t want you to think …”

His mouth crashes against mine before I can even speak the words. Our wet skin slides against one another, and I think I’m going to melt into a puddle where I stand.

Ash pulls away slowly, his eyes never leave mine as he reaches out and flips the deadbolt on the door. “I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time.”

“You’ve thought about us?”

“Yes, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m going to give you something you’ve never been given.”

He sweeps me off my feet, but this time he cradles me in his arms like something he wants to keep forever.

My heartbeat picks up with each step he takes. I don’t think my nervous system will be able to withstand being with Ash. I’m so incredibly excited and terrified at the same time that I’m afraid we might combust.

As he sets me on the bed, my bra falls loose. How the …? Maybe Ash isn’t as innocent as I believed. He has a look in his eyes I’ve never seen before. I can’t predict this side of him. He’s never shown it to me.

What if I disappoint him? Maybe he’s built me up to be a much better partner than I really am because of my “experience.” He’s already admitted he’s let his mind roll around the possibilities. This is a trial run for me. I’ve never pictured us together …

My thought process evaporates when Ash climbs between my legs, and his fingers slide under each side of my panties. His eyes meet mine, and he hesitates. What is he waiting for?

He’s changing his mind. I knew it.

“Yes or no?” he asks patiently while I reconcile with my inner turmoil.

His fingertips at my hips is so electrifying that I can hardly stand it. I’ve never wanted a man to touch me as badly as I want him to.

“Yes,” I whisper, struggling to regulate my breath for fear of passing out.

“I’ll never lead you down a road of regret,” he promises. His brown eyes, although heated, are kind … true.

“I know you won’t.”

This pleases him, and that’s all it takes for him to remove the last of the barriers between us.

My chest squeezes almost painfully when he begins to remove his clothes. For the love of everything holy, Ash looks as if he was chiseled by the very Gods themselves.

His hands and eyes move over me with sweet admiration. He bats my hands away when I try to touch him. “I’m only naked to make you feel more comfortable. This encounter is for you.”

I sit up abruptly, because what? I don’t understand.

He chuckles, pushing me back against the mattress as his mouth softly meets mine.

“Let me worship you, Lex. I’ve dreamed about this for so long. Please,” he begs while teasingly nipping at my bottom lip.

His words contain a spell, one that not only silences me but my thoughts. My muscles relax, and I release myself to him.

His hands and mouth are everywhere. I feel him inside and out. He leaves no inch of my flesh craving. He satisfies me so completely there’s room for nothing else.

He raises my body to such a heightened state of being that he begins to fill every void within. His essence searches the lonely halls of my soul, knocking down every wall, searching for every last drop of me.

“Ash!” I yell out, feeling the sting of his flag as he lays siege to my heart. Tears run from my eyes, and he kisses them away as he basks in his victory.

He pulls me close, draping me over his chest. “I love you,” he says confidently, laying his final claim.

I’ve fought so long and hard. It all seems so silly now, but I guess we don’t know what we don’t know.

My eyes blink slowly as my body slips into a place I’ve never known.

Peace.

“I surrender,” I whisper, letting his declaration of love embrace me.