Blackbird (Redemption 1)

Our movements were never hurried, and there was never any more. And as she whispered my name against my lips when she came, I found it all too easy to pretend.

Chapter 30

You’re Dangerous

Briar

My eyes felt scratchy and raw when I woke the next morning. When I first arrived, I had gotten so used to days upon days of crying that I hardly noticed the feel of it anymore. This felt miserable, and I still felt emotionally exhausted. But memories of last night and how beautiful it had been had me eager to see how this morning would be.

I rolled over to an empty bed and frowned at the piece of paper that was propped up with my name on it. The last letter from Lucas had broken my heart, so I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this one.

I studied the offensive paper for longer than was necessary before grabbing it, and rolled my eyes when I read the few words there.

My blackbird,

I have some errands to run. I’ll be back soon with breakfast.

Your devil

P.S. . . . my shower isn’t that complicated.

I pulled on my clothes from last night then hurried to his bathroom for morning necessities, stopping at his shower to study it again on my way back to the bedroom.

No, it was definitely too complicated. There weren’t any knobs, levers, or handles. There was a screen on the wall I couldn’t get to turn on.

Once I was back in the room, I made the bed and took my note before heading upstairs so I could rinse off my body and change. While I waited for the water to warm, I went into the closet, pulled open the drawer that held the skimpy lingerie I still refused to wear, and dropped my morning note on top of the letter from last night.

I had decided the day before that if anything ever happened and this life was torn from me, I wanted to have something to know that it had been real.

That he had been real.

I was pulling on a pair of shorts not long after my shower when I heard Lucas’s heavy steps in the bathroom, and I bit back a smile when I glanced at him over my shoulder.

His arms were folded over his chest and his mouth was curled up on one side in a smirk that made my heart beat harder. “Morning.”

“Morning,” I echoed when I turned and walked toward him, and let my smile broaden when he pulled me in for a soft, teasing kiss that made my knees weak.

“Hungry?”

“Mmm-hmm,” I hummed against his lips. “What about work?”

He leaned back only far enough for those dark, dark eyes to search my face then said simply, “It can wait another day.” He cradled my head in one of his large hands, securing his fingers in my hair as he did, and tipped my head back to brush a feather-soft kiss across my lips. “Some things are more important,” he whispered, pulling me out of the closet. “Come on, breakfast is out back.”

With the havoc he’d just inflicted on my heart and my body, I wanted to forget about the food . . . but I let him lead me through the house to the doors that opened up to the backyard and sent him an excited smile when he waited for me to go ahead of him.

I’d looked down on this yard from the top floor numerous times, but looking down didn’t compare to this.

My breath rushed from me when we walked straight into a mini paradise, complete with palm trees, lush greenery, and a multitude of gorgeous flowers. A large pool was straight ahead with lounge chairs positioned on one side and an oversized cabana on the other. Before that, couches and tables with plush chairs littered an equally large patio, all covered by an extended wooden roof.

“Lucas,” I said on a breath, “this is beautiful.”

He wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed me to his chest. “I’m glad you like it. Maybe now someone will actually use it.”

“I can come out here?” I asked, surprise lacing my words.

His laugh was silent, but his chest moved with the force of it. “Yes, Briar, you can come out here. You can go anywhere you want.”

“You’ll never be able to get me in from the backyard,” I said excitedly, and he barked out a laugh.