Page 101 of Drowning in Darkness

“That was...” she begins, then laughs.

“What?” I utter, standing to lean down over her. I grip her chin. “It was what, sweetheart?”

Her eyes flick between mine, trying to read my emotions. I don’t want her guessing. She doesn’t deserve to wonder if I regret anything.

“It was my first, and I think I’m in trouble, because it’s hands down the best orgasm of my life.”

I tilt my head. “What do you mean, your first?”

She’s not a virgin—her violent history proves that—but I doubt at that age she was, anyway.

“My first time coming with someone else. Well, technically my second being in the same room as you, but my first non-solo adventure. I’m sorry. I’m rambling. I ramble when I’m nervous. Oh, will you look at that? I think it’s time for a nap. Not that I’m expecting you to take me to bed or anything.”

“Stephanie?”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up.”

I kiss her deeply, letting her taste herself on my tongue. When I pull away, she looks thoroughly dazed. Perfect.

I scoop her into my arms. She giggles and wraps her hands around my neck. “What are you doing?”

“Bath time before nap time.”

“You don’t own a bath.”

“No, I own something better.”

“Like what?”

I grin down at her. “A hot tub.”

The look of excitement is everything I never knew I needed, and too late I realize it’s not her that should be running from me; it’s me from her.

THIRTY-FOUR

STEPHANIE

Could all the men in my life stop thinking with their hearts and start relying on their brains, please?

I’m utterly boneless, a wet, limp noodle deposited inside a steaming hot tub and left to watch the swirling snowflakes fall to ground. As perfect as that encounter was, I am left feeling a little empty when James makes excuses to be anywhere but here. I lean my head on my hands and let my eyes flutter closed. Maybe it’s because I didn’t immediately reciprocate? I should have offered to... what? Am I ready for full-blown sex yet? I wait for the usual fight-or-flight response at the thought, but it doesn’t arrive. So I have my answer, but no man.

A twig snaps, and my head jerks up to locate the culprit. Is that a goat? It steps out of the tree line, and yep, that’s a white mountain goat.

The door opens, and James appears, clutching a phone and a bottle of water. “She’s fine, just testing how long she can soak in my hot tub without turning into a prune.” He hands me the bottle. “Drink, or you’ll get dehydrated.”

“Steph?” Hunter snaps. “Why are you in a hot tub?”

I roll my eyes as I accept the bottle and take a swig. “The better question is why wouldn’t I be in the hot tub? You remember how much I love water, right?”

He sighs. “Are you safe?”

“I’m not about to drown.”

“It’s outside, so harder to defend.”

My eyes track to the goat watching us with interest. “The biggest thing out here is a goat.”