Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
The door opens, and we step inside the lighthouse. Already, the chill in the air is gone, and it keeps getting warmer as we head upstairs, where the wood stove is.
“Ju-just p-put me by the couch. I’ll b-be fine,” I murmur through chattering teeth.
“No, we’re going right upstairs,” he replies as we continue to take the winding stairs to the third level.
He opens the bathroom door and, while still holding me in one arm, turns on the taps for the bath; the water runs out and begins to fill the tub.
“You’re getting in the bath,” he tells me.
“I want you to warm up.” He adds some liquid soap, which fills the tub with bubbles.
It looks warm and heavenly and smells like vanilla.
“Okay,” I reply softly.
He places me down gently so I’m standing in front of him, barely moving a muscle as I shrug off his jacket and let it fall on the floor behind me.
I look up into his eyes, filled with an emotion I can’t place, and lift my arms above me.
Very carefully, he tugs at the hem of my soaked knit sweater, peeling it up and over my head.
He tosses it onto the floor beside me. The bathwater keeps rising, the room filling with steam.
I’m now standing in a white lace bra and a loose black miniskirt and tights.
I kick my boots off and wait, staring up at him. Waiting to see what he does next.
Getting down on his knees, he places his hands on my waist, chest heaving with heavy breaths.
I run my fingers through his hair, pulling out the small bun and tugging at the roots.
His hands come down to the elastic band of my skirt, and he pulls it down to the ground, pausing for me to step out of it.
My tights are next, peeling them down, ever so slowly.
My eyes close, and I feel my body shudder from his hands on my bare skin.
Once I’m out of my tights, he looks up at me in my lace bra and underwear.
His arms wrap around my waist once more, and he brings his lips to my stomach, kissing it lightly.
They’re warm, and a gasp escapes me, my lips parting as I savour everything happening.
The icy shock melts away, and I barely feel the cold anymore.
Then he stands up, and it all comes rushing back. Turning off the tap, he faces me. His eyes drop and scan my entire body before making their way back up and into my eyes. Clearing his throat, he says, “I’ll leave you to get in now—”
“No.” I grab his arm before he can turn away. “Please stay.” I offer a small smile, hoping he will.
“Okay,” he mutters. “I’m going to turn around now while you finish undressing.” The way he says undressing feels sinful. “Tell me when you’re in the tub.”
My hands come around to my back and unclip my bra, letting it drop to the floor.
My underwear comes next. Then I’m standing naked in the room with Dylan.
Even though his back is turned, there’s something so intimate about this moment.
I feel vulnerable, but safe. I slip into the steaming tub, the warm water wrapping me in a heated blanket, and a groan slips out of me from the pleasure of my body finally warming up.
He clears his throat, back still turned.
With my entire body covered in a layer of soapy bubbles, I say, “This is amazing, Dylan. Thank you.” He turns around to face me and pulls up a small stool to sit on, lips pulled in a hard line once more as he looks at me in the tub.
“You didn’t have to do all of this, though. I promise I was fine. Just cold.”
He doesn’t say anything right away, just stares at the bubbles coating the tub and my glistening legs, which peek out of the water. “You could have fallen in. I should have been more careful.” I see that look of worry in his eyes again, similar to the way he looked on the boat.
“It was an accident, don’t worry. No one died.
” The way his face contorts and he clenches his fists has me filled with immediate regret.
As soon as that last word comes out of my mouth, I wish so badly I could take it back and lock it away.
“Dylan.” I reach out from the water and grab his arm, the only thing I can touch without completely exposing myself right now.
“I’m really sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.
” I have no idea why that was so triggering for him, but clearly, something has happened that’s causing this reaction now.
“No, no, it’s okay.” He rubs his jaw, voice choking with emotion.
I don’t push, just give him the space he needs right now.
“When I was fifteen, my sister, Raven, who was eight at the time, and I went fishing.” He swallows and moves his hand to the back of his neck.
“I wanted to stay on the dock, but she insisted I take her out in the boat.” He laughs through watery eyes.
“She always knew how to get her way. I caved and took her out, and we fished for a bit. Then the weather turned. I didn’t know how to read the signs back then, like I do now.
So I didn’t realize what was happening until a storm was right above us.
I should have paid more attention. I should have listened to my gut and been more careful.
The wind picked up, and the rain started to fall, and a huge wave pulled her off the boat and under the water. ”
He pauses for a minute, swallowing hard and wiping at his glistening eyes.
“I jumped off the boat and tried to find her, but the waves were so big, and the water was moving so fast, she was gone. Just like that.” He leans over onto his knees and places his head in his hands.
“They found her—” He clears his throat a few times, willing himself to continue.
“Um, found her body the next day. It floated to shore. She looked so… peaceful. Which feels like a weird thing to say, but that’s how it felt.
She wasn’t her anymore. Her skin was blue, but she looked so calm.
My parents… things with them have never been the same.
My dad could barely work, so I tried to stay invisible while I helped at the lighthouse, staying out of his way but keeping things going for him.
At one point, he said he was done, and I took over without questioning it. That was three years ago.”
My heart breaks for him. What a horrible tragedy to have happen to a kid.
To lose your sister in such an awful way.
I remember reading about that in the article.
How his parents lost both their children.
I never stopped to think about how that could have affected him.
“Dylan, you were a kid. It wasn’t your fault.
Thank god you survived.” I rub his shoulder, trying my best to soothe some of his never-ending guilt.
“I’ve always wished it was me instead of her.”
“I can understand that. But it wasn’t your fault. It was the weather. You can’t control the ocean.”
His eyes are brimming with tears, and he tries to swallow the guilt back, his Adam’s apple jutting out as he does. “It could have happened again. To you.”
“But it didn’t, Dyl. I’m okay. I got soaked. That’s all. And you took care of me. You brought me back here and warmed me up. You did good.”
You keep me safe.
I reach for a towel while his head rests in his hands and wrap it around myself as I step out of the tub.
Once I’m out, I kneel down in front of him, wrapping my arms around him.
He immediately collapses into me. We hold each other as his breathing calms. I’ve probably soaked him, but he doesn’t seem to mind.
After some time, he pulls away a bit and squeezes my arm. “Thanks, Luce. That felt nice to talk about with you. It’s been so long.”
I touch his cheek tenderly. “You can tell me anything.”
He smiles, changing the subject. “Okay, I want you back in that bath now. I’m going to go down and make us dinner. Sound good?” He helps me back up to a stand.
“Deal.” I watch him leave, shutting the door behind him, and I step back into the tub, letting the warm water wash over me once more. I tip my head back and submerge myself fully, trying to drown out the feeling of his hands on my waist and his lips on my stomach.
Just friends.
Do friends kiss you like that?