Chapter 12 Travis #2
She nods, then drops the robe. My breath catches. She's wearing a black lace set that makes her look like every fantasy I've ever had. The confidence it must have taken to walk out here like this...
"You're staring," she says, stepping into the water.
"You're stunning."
She sinks into the water with a soft moan. "Oh, this is perfect."
"Come here." I guide her to sit beside me, the jets hitting her back. "Better?"
"Much." She leans into me. "This morning with Knox..."
"We talked. We're good."
"And you're both okay with sharing?"
I turn her to face me, settling her on my lap. The water laps between us, her skin slick and warm. "What I'm not okay with is you feeling guilty for wanting what you want."
"What if what I want is all three of you?"
"Then you should have all three of us." I cup her face. "Carina, you've spent years being told you were too much. Too needy. Too everything. But you're not. You're just right."
Tears mix with the steam on her cheeks. "How do you always know what to say?"
"I just tell the truth." I kiss her softly. "And I listen—to your words, your needs."
She deepens the kiss, shifting closer. The wet lace between us is barely a barrier, and when she rocks against me, we both groan.
"Travis," she breathes. "I need..."
"Tell me."
"You. Just you. Right here, right now."
I lift her slightly, just enough to push aside the lace and position my cock at her entrance. When I lower her slowly, we both gasp at the sensation. The hot water, the cold air, the stars above—it's overwhelming in the best way.
I don’t move at all to start with. I just kiss her and let the anticipation build.
I cup her breasts in my hands, kneading her nipples lightly while kissing down her neck.
I wait for her to finally tell me what she wants through her actions. She starts moving on top of me, gasping as her pussy clenches my cock.
We move together slowly at first, savoring the connection. Her hands grip my shoulders as she finds her rhythm, and I watch her face in the moonlight—the way her lips part, her eyes flutter closed.
"Look at me," I murmur. "I want to see you."
She opens her eyes, and the trust there undoes me. This brilliant, beautiful woman who's been through hell chooses to be vulnerable with me. It's a gift I don't take lightly.
The pace builds naturally, and the water begins splashing around with our movements. I guide her hips, helping her find the angle that feels best for both of us.
“Oh my god, Travis. Fuck that feels so good.”
"That's it," I encourage. “Just let go.”
“Rub my clit. I want to come but I need you to rub it.”
I reach between us and find her clit and begin to slowly rub it in circles. She grabs my hand and puts more pressure on it.
“Just like that,” she says, shuddering with the feel of it. “Yes, keep going. You’re going to make me come.”
Speaking of coming, I am so close myself. It’s been awhile for me and I knew it wouldn’t take long.
When Carina comes, she whispers my name in my ear and her body shakes in my arms. I follow immediately, overwhelmed by how fucking sexy she is.
We stay connected, breathing hard, as the jets bubble around us. She rests her forehead against my shoulder.
"That was..."
"Perfect," I finish. "You're perfect."
"I'm a mess," she laughs softly.
"You're brave." I kiss her gently. "Most people would run from this situation, with everything happening. You're facing it head-on."
We separate reluctantly, adjusting clothing and settling back in the water. She curls into my side, and we watch the stars in comfortable silence.
"Klaus really wants me to write marketing copy?" she asks eventually.
I laugh. "Even in the afterglow, you're thinking about work?"
"Sorry. My brain just caught up." She traces patterns on my chest through the water. "Is it weird that I'm excited about it?"
"Not at all. You're talented, Carina. People are starting to notice."
"William won't like it."
"William doesn't like anything that shifts control away from him." I pull her closer. "But this isn't his choice. It's yours."
She's quiet, then: "I want to do it. The consulting. I want to build something of my own."
"Then you should."
"Even if it complicates things?"
"Everything about our situation is complicated. What's one more layer?"
She laughs, then sobers. "What about William? He looked so..."
"Lost?" I supply. "Yeah. Knox and I are worried."
"Should I talk to him?"
"Maybe. Or maybe he needs to come to you." I consider. "He's spent so long controlling everything that he doesn't know how to just... want something. You scare him because he can't strategize his way into your heart."
"He already has a place there," she admits quietly. "Despite everything."
"I know. We all see it." I kiss her temple. "Just... be patient with him? He's learning how to be human again."
"Again?"
"Apparently he was different before the divorce. More like Knox—impulsive, passionate. But watching his parents destroy each other..." I shake my head. "He decided feeling nothing was safer than feeling everything."
"That's heartbreaking."
"That's Will."
We stay in the hot tub until our fingers prune, talking about everything and nothing. When we finally get out, she shivers in the cold air, and I wrap her in her robe quickly.
"Thank you," she says softly. "For this. For being okay with Knox, for supporting my work, for... everything."
"Thank you for trusting me. For choosing to stay despite everything." I pull her close. "For being brave enough to want more than what's expected."
As we head inside, we find Knox in the living room, a knowing smile on his face when he sees our damp hair and flushed skin.
"Having a nice night?" he asks innocently.
Carina blushes but lifts her chin. "Very nice."
"Excellent." He turns to me. "Will locked himself in his office. I could hear him throwing things earlier."
"Fantastic," I mutter. "How long before he explodes?"
"Taking bets?" Knox grins. "I give him two more days before he either kisses her senseless or fires us all."
"He can't fire family," Carina points out.
"Watch him try," Knox and I say in unison.
But even with the looming William-shaped storm cloud, the evening feels peaceful. We settle in to watch a movie, Carina between Knox and me on the couch, comfortable in our strange new dynamic.
This is what we could have, I realize. If William would just let go. If we could all stop fighting what's building between us.
The question is: how much destruction will William cause before he admits what we all already know?
He wants her just as much as Knox and I do.
But William doesn't share well.