Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
The following afternoon, Zena sat out on the back porch of the cabin.
A warm breeze tickled her skin as she watched the storm roll in.
The sky shifted from violet to darkness in seconds before the downpour began.
There was something about the rain that always calmed her.
She hated to admit it, but this getaway was exactly what she needed.
Being in the mountains gave her a profound sense of peace.
A small blue notebook was nestled in her lap, her hand moving a mile a minute. Before doing any actual songwriting, she always did a brain dump to clear the static from her mind.
“You okay out here?”
Danger joined her on the deck, holding a steaming mug of tea in one hand and a chunky blue quilt in the other.
Zena smiled, nodding as she accepted the warm mug.
He took a seat beside her, pulling the fluffy quilt over both of their laps.
She took the opportunity to lean back, resting her head comfortably against his chest.
“You know, when I was a little girl, I was addicted to the rain,” Zena murmured, watching the drops splatter against the railing. “I would sit by my window for hours whenever it would storm, just writing lyrics.”
“My grandmother used to love the rain,” Danger said, his fingers tracing a slow line down her bare arm.
Goosebumps bloomed across her skin at his touch.
“She believed it could wash away old scars and give you a clean slate.” He leaned a little closer.
“Like the sky is doing the crying for you, so you can start over.”
Zena sat up, looking at him. “Well, I definitely need some of that cleansing energy right now.”
“Come on, then.” He stood up, flashing a rare, playful grin and holding his hand out. “Let’s go get some of that healing power.”
Hand in hand, they stepped off the covered deck and straight into the backyard.
Like two kids in a candy store, they laughed and jumped in the downpour.
She glanced at Danger, and for the first time in months, he looked as if the crushing weight of his day-to-day life had been lifted from his shoulders.
“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this.” Zena twirled, tilting her head back to let the droplets fall on her. On a normal day, she would be stressing about her hair frizzing into a wild jungle of coils, but out here, none of that mattered.
“Dance with me?” Danger asked, reaching for her once more.
Zena looked around the empty, rain-slicked yard. “To what music?”
“To nature. Come on, I know you hear that fire beat. The crickets in the grass, the rain hitting the leaves, and shit.”
She roared with laughter, the sound bright against the thunder.
“Nah, hold on, I gotchu…” Danger slipped his phone from his pocket, tapped the screen, and the smooth, nostalgic notes of Herb Alpert’s “Making Love in the Rain” began to play.
Danger’s lips curved into a soft smile as he pulled her close, matching her rhythm to his as they began a slow two-step.
It was as if the earth itself were listening, slowing the raindrops just for this moment.
Every so often, a cool drop would land on their faces as they found their pace.
It made Zena think of a quote her mother used to repeat: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain. ”
Zena pulled back slightly to look at him, but his hand wrapped protectively around her waist, drawing her back against his chest. “I didn’t know you could actually dance.”
“Shit, I can’t,” he whispered in her ear, his breath warm. “I can do a mean two-step, though.”
He swung her in close, then suddenly dipped her low, her hair brushing the wet grass.
“Don’t you drop me!” she squealed, clutching his shoulders.
He effortlessly pulled her back up to her feet. “I got you. I promise.”
“You know…this is exactly like the movies,” Zena teased, resting her hands on his chest. “The guy messes up, then travels through a storm to get the girl and delivers an award-winning, slightly corny monologue. Then she joins him in the rain, they kiss, and they live happily ever after.”
Zena wanted that happily ever after. But a quiet, toxic voice in her head questioned it every day.
Did she deserve it?
She was flawed—too flawed, even. Real life wasn’t a movie. Could she really have her dream career and the dream guy?
Danger's dark brown eyes bore into her.“Is that what you like?”
“Yup.” She smiled weakly. “I’m forever a hopeless romantic.”
“Well, let me make it better… kiss it better.”
Danger’s eyes lingered on her face for a quiet second before his lips met hers. He gently tugged at her chin, tasting the rainwater on her skin. He gave her a few teasing pecks before deepening the kiss, his tongue sliding into her mouth with deliberate hunger.
“What do you want from me?” Danger asked.
“I want what any girl would want,” she answered honestly, her heart pounding.
“I want to be loved. I want to feel seen, and most of all, I want to feel safe. I want to be able to trust your leadership. To know that if I give you my heart, you won’t break it.
I want consideration. No matter what we’re going through, I need you to be considerate of my heart. ”
Danger paused, staring at her as the rain drenched them.
“It’s something you’re doing to me, Zena…
I can’t explain it,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
“I lie to myself every single day, thinking I can keep this strictly professional. But I’m terrified to get involved like this.
Because if this shit goes south, I can’t imagine my life without you. ”
Zena giggled softly against his lips, the underlying fear vanishing beneath the warmth of his embrace. She didn’t want the moment to end.
For a while, they just let the music serenade them, enjoying the intoxicating feeling of being in each other’s arms.
By now, the playlist had transitioned to Alicia Keys’ “Unthinkable.”
It’s becoming something that’s impossible to ignore.
The song was painfully fitting. Zena had never felt so relaxed in her life. Everything felt peaceful, as if her soul belonged with him. Whether she was ready to admit it out loud or not, she was falling for him…hard.
The rain shifted back into a powerful downpour, completely soaking through their clothes.
Danger reluctantly removed his hand from her waist. “Let’s go inside.”
Zena nodded, keeping her face calm on the outside, but a wave of disappointment washed over her.
He’s turning me down again.
It was going to be another long, frustrating night spent satisfying her own needs while he slept down the hall.
Shivering slightly, Zena walked into the cabin, grabbed a dry throw blanket from the couch to shield herself from the blasting AC, and headed toward her guest room.
“Can you wait right here for a minute?” Danger stopped her, leaving a trail of wet footprints on the hardwood as he disappeared down the hallway.
Zena stood there, a grimace fixed on her face as the minutes ticked by. After about five minutes, Danger returned. He didn’t say a word; he just held out his hand and led her down the corridor, past his bedroom and straight into his master bathroom.
Zena gasped, her heart swelling.
A path of deep red rose petals led directly to a freestanding tub, big enough for two, surrounded by hundreds of glowing candles. Low jazz music played softly from a Bluetooth speaker in the corner, perfectly setting the scene for a romantic atmosphere.
“Let’s get you out of these wet clothes,” Danger murmured.
He stepped close, his fingers working deliberately to peel the soaked garments from her body. Zena stood frozen, her heart fluttering wildly as he took his time undressing her, then gently guided her toward the steaming, bubble-filled water.
The hot water enveloped her as she sank into the tub, and the accumulated stress of her frantic daily life melted away.
“I’ll be right back.” Danger gave her a quick look and stepped out.
Left alone with her thoughts, Zena stared at the flickering candlelight.
As much as she had tried to protect her feelings, moments like this made her want to shout to the world that she was in love with him.
Not only was he the most considerate man she had ever met, but he was also the only person who stepped in to care for her when she didn't even have the energy to care for herself.
A moment later, Danger returned, carrying a beautifully arranged wooden bath tray, complete with a chilled glass of wine and a spread of grapes and cheese.
“You sure know how to make a girl feel special,” she whispered as he set the tray across the tub.
He smiled, his eyes warm. “Enjoy your bath. I’ma go to the guest room to shower,” he said before disappearing again. Only then did she realize he hadn't even changed out of his soaking-wet clothes yet.
Zena took her time, scrubbing her skin and sipping her wine, letting the room's peace wash over her.
Thirty minutes later, the door opened, and Danger walked in.
He wore nothing but a pair of loose linen pajama pants, leaving his toned, sculpted chest fully visible.
He was easily one of the finest men she had ever laid eyes on.
Her gaze drifted lower, coming to rest on the unmistakable print straining against the linen fabric.
Intrigued and breathless, Zena’s hand slipped instinctively beneath the water between her legs. She was burning up for him.
Kneeling beside the tub, Danger dipped his hand into the now-lukewarm water and gently lifted her foot.
“Ahh… what are you doing?” Zena asked, her voice trembling.
“Shh, you talk too much. Let me wash you up.” Danger smirked.
He took the washcloth from her hand and gently bathed her feet, legs, and arms with slow strokes.
His hands moved with familiarity, occasionally grazing her clit, teasing her until she couldn't help but arch against his touch, whimpering as she came against his fingers.