Page 36 of Next to You

My heart fluttered in my chest, threatening to burst through my ribcage and fly around the room. “That’s one more reasonI’m into you so much. I’ve looked like hell the entire time we’ve been here. Clearly, you like me for my sparkling personality and not my looks. I even threw up in front of you, and you seem to like me still. It’s a refreshing change of pace. And for the record, I’d still be into you if you shaved your beard. You’re gorgeous, with or without it. It’s just that I’m curious about—” I flicked my eyes down his unbelievable, carved-out-of-stone bare chest, then back up to let them linger on his mouth—“Things. I’ve never dated a man with a beard before.”

“Things, huh?” He ran a hand down his beard, and his expression grew dark as he pinned me in place with his eyes. “I look forward to showing you all thethingsthen.”

“I’m making a mental list.”

His lips tipped up at the corner in a sly smile. “Don’t forget that I’m bossy and always know best.”

“There is literally no chance in hell I’ll forget those things, Spencer. Don’t you worry about that.”

For a brief moment, we sat there, eye to eye, sharing our breath, getting lost in a way we couldn’t joke our way out of. There was no way to lighten the feelings that passed between us anymore. He reached out and stroked his hand down the length of my hair, lingering at the ends where it was plastered against my skin before letting the wet strands slide through his fingertips.

“We should wash this before the water cools off.” This prolonged anticipation would kill me, and I knew he felt the same way from the look in his eye.

“Mmm-hmm…” With just that slight touch, I felt tingling all over. Words had escaped me.

“How is your headache?”

“It’s practically gone. Hot water always does wonders.”

“Good. Let’s see if I can take it all away. I hated seeing you in pain.” He filled his palm with shampoo while I turned my back, anticipating how it would feel to have him touch me again.

Waiting was so stupid. I wanted him right now. Truthfully, I had gone beyond wanting. I needed him.

His big hands tunneled into my hair, rubbing the suds into my scalp with light circles of his fingertips.

My senses reeled as if I had short-circuited. I breathed lightly through my parted lips, trying to regain control over my emotions. I had to respect his boundaries—it was the right thing to do. But my heart wasn’t listening; it had swelled with feelings I never knew were possible for me to have. The word “forever” suddenly had a new meaning, and I wanted to start on it now. I was free-falling as everything I had ever hoped for and secretly wished for was coming true around me.

He reached for the showerhead and began rinsing my hair. He was achingly gentle, careful not to pull or let the shampoo get into my eyes. He had taken such good care of me the entire time we’d been here.

“All right, Lucy.” He placed the showerhead on the hook by the faucet. “I’m finished. How do you feel?”

“So much better. Thank you for this, Spencer.” Facing him, I watched as he dried his chest with a towel and then pulled his T-shirt over his head.

“I’ll leave you to finish up.”

He lingered in the doorway. And his eyes were heartrendingly tender. I took it all in, freezing in place to memorize this moment—how his eyes crinkled at the corners, his lips tipped up with his sweet smile, and most of all, how he made me feel like I was the only woman in the world.

I pulled the plug, carefully exited the tub, and wrapped myself in a towel. He’d left the hoodie he was wearing this morning on the counter. Instead of putting on the shirt he’d setout for me, I slipped it over my head and zipped it to the top, before donning the leggings and fluffy socks he had chosen for me to wear.

The hoodie smelled like him. I inhaled deeply and stifled a groan, vowing that I would be wrapped in his arms one day and wouldn't need to sneak into his shirts to feel this close to him. I could get a hit of his scent anytime I wanted.

Chapter 14

Spencer

Ihad to get out of that bathroom. I was hard as a fucking rock, and I didn’t want her to see how much she was affecting me. We agreed not to start something while we were here. I couldn’t go back on that, especially since it had been my stupid idea in the first place, and there were no damn condoms available in case we lost control, which was highly likely given how we were getting closer with every passing moment.

Keeping my distance was vital. Being close and touching her became more and more essential with every second I spent with her, and it could not happen tonight. Washing her hair had been too much for me. I palmed my erection, willing it to go away.

I stopped to look outside, where the relentless snow was still falling. I placed a hand on the pane and stared into the dark, leaning my forehead against the glass to cool my racing thoughts. But heat rippled up my spine despite the icy press of the glass against my face.

It was late. The sun had long since set.

We’d slept the morning away together, and then I spent most of the afternoon reading a book while Lucy continued to sleep off her headache.

She’d been so peaceful, so beautiful—I’d never seen a face as pretty as hers. She was lovely, with the twin dark fans of her lashes resting against her delicate cheekbones and the light constellation of freckles sprinkled across her nose. Her face was relaxed, so her dimple was just a tiny shadow on her cheek. I’d wanted to kiss it and wish her good dreams.

I had to grab the book so I didn’t spend the day getting lost in my feelings and watching her as she slept.

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