Chapter 8 #3
His exhale was slow and relieved. “Good.”
The word settled between them like a promise.
On screen, the Beast became human. Applause rippled through the theater, but Evie didn’t notice. Slater’s hand had slid from hers to her knee—resting there, steady, warm, and possessive without being demanding.
“Come back to my cabin,” he whispered.
Her pulse skidded. “We shouldn’t.”
“Probably not.”
She swallowed. “People will notice.”
“They already have.”
There it was again—that quiet certainty.
His thumb brushed just slightly higher against her knee. Not enough to scandalize, but enough to make her shiver.
“I don’t enjoy hiding or sneaking around,” he said. “But I want you. And I’d rather have you in my cabin arguing with me about our friends than sitting here pretending this doesn’t matter.”
Her breath left her in a shaky laugh. “You sound very sure of yourself.”
“No,” he said softly. “I'm just sure about you.”
And that pretty much sealed her fate.
The credits hadn’t even started yet, but she was already standing.
Slater followed without another word, grabbing the popcorn bucket as if they hadn’t just detonated something fragile and beautiful between them.
They slipped out quietly, the theater door closing with a soft hush behind them.
The hallway outside was dim and empty, and for a moment, they just stood there.
Alone.
Slater stepped closer, crowding her gently against the wall—not trapping, just closing the distance.
“You okay?” he asked, voice low now, stripped of bravado.
She nodded, though her hands had found his shirt without permission. “This isn’t easy,” she said again.
“I know.”
“And I’m scared.”
His forehead rested against hers. “I know that too.”
His hand slid to her waist, firm and grounding. “I can be brave for the both of us,” he whispered. “Because you’re worth it.”
Her heart raced and it felt like a dozen butterflies took flight in her belly. “Kiss me,” she breathed.
And this time when he kissed her, it wasn’t playful. It wasn’t stolen. It was deliberate. A kiss that said we’re doing this anyway.
When they finally pulled apart, both a little breathless, he took her hand again.
“Come on,” he said softly.
Evie didn’t even pretend to hesitate.
They walked with purpose down the hall and across the lobby. It was still pouring out, but it would have taken too long to go and grab anything to shield them from the rain. They looked at each other, and Evie swore she’d run through any kind of storm to have another night with him.
Their hands stayed linked the entire way, fingers woven together like a lifeline as they ran.
They were soaked in a matter of seconds and instead of fixating on it, they laughed like a couple of kids.
The wind was fierce, and it wasn’t just a matter of running through puddles; the entire surface of the parking lot was flooded, and when they got to the path for the cabin, it got worse.
Slater stopped abruptly, crouching slightly in front of her. “Get on!” he said, indicating she needed to hop onto his back.
It was pointless to argue, so she simply hopped on and held on tight, laughing with pure joy at the situation.
She pressed her face against his neck, kissing him there.
His grip on her tightened just a bit, but the path was a little treacherous, and she could tell he was having a hard time navigating it all.
If she had been on her own, she would have fallen flat on her face by now, but Evie felt safe just like this.
At the steps to his cabin, Slater quickly stomped up and carefully helped lower her to her feet. When he turned, he cupped her face. “Are you alright?” he asked breathlessly.
She nodded before motioning to the door. Now that they were still, she shivered. He opened the door and quickly ushered her inside before closing and locking it. She shivered again and Slater didn’t hesitate. He turned on the lights and went to get them some towels.
“Take off your clothes,” he said over his shoulder.
Evie knew it wasn’t for sexy reasons, and yet there was something a little thrilling about just stripping down in his tiny living room.
Only…her coordination was off. She was no longer just shivering; she was shaking. Her hands couldn’t seem to do even the simplest of tasks, and when Slater came back over, he immediately took charge of the situation.
“Don’t worry,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.
” His skillful hands made quick work of unbuttoning her blouse and peeling off her shoulders and down her arms. Then he kneeled in front of her and yanked off her shoes and socks before tugging her pants down her legs.
There was nothing sensual about it; he was just doing what needed to be done.
In the blink of an eye, her bra and panties landed on the soaking wet pile of her clothes, and a towel was wrapped around her.
Evie tried to say his name, but nothing came out.
“I’ll be right back,” he assured her before sprinting off to his bedroom and coming back with his robe, wrapping that around her too.
Then he stripped: boots, jeans, shirt…everything went carelessly flying before he dried off and wrapped the towel around his waist. Then he pulled her into his arms and held her. Just… breathing.
“Th…thank you,” she said quietly.
Slater tenderly looked down at her. “You’re welcome.”
The lone light cast a soft glow over his features—familiar and different all at once. Less guarded. Less amused. More tender.
“How are you doing? Are you warming up?” he asked, voice low and steady and full of concern.
“I’m getting there,” she whispered. For a second, they just stayed like that. Slowly, warmth returned, and when she burrowed closer, it wasn’t for the heat; it was for him. The feel of his body was both comforting and arousing. Evie felt him kiss the top of her head before whispering her name.
“You still okay?” he murmured.
Her hands smoothed up over his chest. “Yes.”
And when he kissed her this time, it wasn’t stolen in the dark of a theater or the untamed heat they shared in the hallway.
This was slow and seductive, and even a little chaste.
They sipped at each other; there was no rush because they had all night.
She rose onto her toes, and he made a quiet sound in the back of his throat that felt like victory and surrender all at once.
Somewhere in the distance, thunder rolled. The rain continued to pound on the roof, and the lights started to flicker.
Evie broke the kiss first, reaching up to caress his stubbled jaw. “Slater?”
“Hmm…?”
“Take me to bed.”
He grinned. “That was the plan.”
“And was the plan to do that now?”
His smile turned a little wicked. “Absolutely.”
And before Evie could come up with a single sassy comeback, Slater hauled her into his arms and strode into the bedroom. No sooner had he placed her on the bed than the lights went out.
Which was just fine.
She preferred exploring him with her hands in the dark.
It was more fun that way.