Page 8 of Twisted Trails (Rogue Riders Duet #2)

“Payne said your name’s Alaina,” Luc whispers into my ear, and every thought about Finn evaporates.

My breath catches, and all I can manage is, “Say it again.”

It shouldn’t hit me like it does, but God , hearing my name in his accent does things to me.

He chuckles low, his lips against my neck now. “What? Your name?” He pauses, just to tease me, then finally whispers, “ Alaina.”

I swear I can feel his tongue curl around the L-sound, and I shudder again.

Luc presses a kiss to my temple and murmurs, “I did some research about you.”

That makes me tense, muscles locking up beneath his hands as I brace for impact, but he kisses me again, just above the ear this time, and I melt against him.

“You’re the most badass person I’ve ever met,” he whispers .

I try to turn back to look at him through the steam. “ What ?”

“You had a crash that most people would never come back from, but you did. And now you fucking outride me, outride us all.” His hands slide back to my waist. “You’re absolutely stunning.”

“Luc…”

My throat is tight as he turns me to face him, careful not to let my injured arm slide from his shoulder.

My gaze is unfocused on his chest, but he doesn’t let me look away, nudging my chin up and not moving again until I really look at him.

He smiles when I finally do, then reaches for the shampoo and starts working it into my hair.

His fingers move slowly, massaging my scalp and lathering through the tangles with patience I didn’t know I needed.

“I see you now, Alaina Crews . And I’m in awe of you.”

Fuck.

He guides my head back under the stream, and I close my eyes as it rushes over me, letting it carry the tears I’m not willing to cry yet.

When he brings me upright again, he presses the smallest kiss to my lips before he wraps his arms around me, his chest against mine.

I raise my other arm, too, looping them both around his neck, and I let myself hold him back.

The water beats against my back as his fingers slide down the length of my spine. “ T’es parfaite.”

I bury my face in his shoulder and breathe him in, letting myself feel it. He’s seen me now and is still calling me that. Perfect.

And maybe I should remind him of the truth, but instead, I lean into him as I whisper, barely audible over the sound of the water, “ You’re perfect.”

Luc’s lips brush against my temple as his palms glide down the curve of my ass. “And you’re clean. ”

He nudges me aside carefully, stepping under the water to rinse off. I watch as he closes his eyes and tilts his head back into the stream, water cascading down his face and chest, catching in the sharp grooves of his abs before sliding lower.

I press my thighs together again at the tingle that spreads between them.

But then I remember the last time I felt that way was yesterday, and it started sweet but ended in a fucking disaster. Losing my V-card hurt, yes, but I’m used to pain. But it also lit something up inside me that I didn’t know I had. Something that aches now, wanting more.

Would Luc still want me if he knew how inexperienced I am?

Out of nowhere, a hiccup breaks out of me. Luc’s eyes fly open, immediately zeroing in on the way my thighs press together before flicking up and smirking at the dazed look I must have.

Smug, beautiful bastard.

He quickly steps out of the shower and guides me out after him, patting me dry with all the care in the world.

When he’s done, he grabs my hips and lifts me like I weigh nothing, sitting me on the edge of the sink.

I barely have time to catch my breath before he turns around and peels off his boxers, giving me a view I’ll be thinking about for the rest of my life.

Holy shit, that ass.

Now I get why he always wants to bite me. I want to bite him right back.

He kicks them into the shower and casually grabs another towel, drying off before wrapping it around his hips and turning back toward me like we’re not both hanging on by threads here.

He opens my thighs and steps between my legs, and I gasp, a soft intake of breath I can’t control. He smiles, all lazy affection as he efficiently pulls the plastic off my arm and strokes his knuckle across my cheek.

“How are you feeling now, ma Petite ?”

I smile. “Better.”

“That’s good.” His palm shifts to cup my neck. “I know we have a lot to talk about, and I understand you’re still too ruffled up for that conversation. But if I’ve learned anything in this mess, it’s that I do have patience. Even if it only lasts for you.”

My breath escapes in a shaky exhale, and his eyes dip to my mouth. He sighs before pressing our foreheads together.

“There’s only one thing I need to know now, okay?” he whispers, eyes closed. “Just one thing I need, and I can wait for everything else. I can be there for you. I can hold your hand through all of it. The mess, the truth, but I need this one answer.”

I feel like I’m on top of the mountain, heart racing, full of adrenaline. “What?”

“Are you my friend, Alaina?”

Tears brim in my eyes as my heart splits wide open, and I slide my fingers into the damp curls at the nape of his neck, keeping him close.

“We’re more than friends, Luc,” I whisper, and then I kiss him.

He sinks into the kiss immediately, like he’s been waiting for it. It’s almost too soft for how close we are, for how naked we are, wrapped only in towels. His thumb slips into the hollow at the base of my throat, and I melt under him, pressing closer.

My hand moves over the hard line of his ribs to the dip of his waist, and he shudders. Then my fingers trace down his abs, which constrict, and I get close to the edge of his towel. He growls softly into my mouth and deepens the kiss, stealing my breath.

A sharp rap at the bedroom door has us freezing before two more knocks follow.

Luc groans against my lips. “Ignore it.”

I let out a helpless laugh and am about to agree when my brother’s voice calls through the walls.

“Alaina! Dad is here.”