Trailing after Payson, he stood outside theshower and watched her for a few minutes. Watched the shampoo sudsslowly pouring down her body, accentuating her curves on the waydown. Stripping down, he stepped in and grabbed the soap.
Gently, lovingly, he ran the soap over herbody. He felt her eyes on him, studying his face. Certainly, shewas reading his sadness, his regret that he let this get so far,when he’d surely fuck it up somehow.
…
Slippery, warm hands caressed every curve,lingering in her most sensitive places. With an easy smile, shegiggled as Ronan spent extra time ensuring her breasts were squeakyclean. “I think you got that spot already,” she teased.
Moving behind her, he set the soap back onthe tray and let his hands continue the work. His mouth trailedalong her wet shoulder, while his hands continued to stroke, slowlyworking their way down. Payson felt his solemn mood, regrettingthat their retreat was ending. Fearing life would go back to theway it was.
Gripping her backside tightly against him,the steam creating a hazy mist around her, he stroked her coreuntil she cried out, riding the crest of the wave that overtookher. Turning her abruptly, he lifted and pressed her back againstthe warmed tile of the shower wall and drove into her, greedy,reckless, obsessed. His solemn, heated passion propelled them bothto aching release.
Melded in a petrified embrace, the warm waterpoured over their joined, sated bodies. Payson couldn’t move if shewanted to. Her heart slowly steadied, beating synchronously withRonan’s.
Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused tolet him see. After all her talk of love and soulmates, she had noidea the pain it could cause, the deep-seated desperation. Theknowing that she would never be the same. Fearing he woulddisappear.
She’d stumbled upon him in such a dark,distant place in his mind so many times. Was he ready to stay withher? If not, she hated to give up her life in Seaview, but she feltdeep inside, her heart was now completely his and she would followhim anywhere.
Her mind flashed to her sister. No wonder shewas so torn; she had everything she wanted or needed in Boston, butto keep her love, she’d have to give it all up. Payson knew in thatmoment, she’d give it all up for Ronan, but hated that she mighthave to.
Worse, she feared that he wouldn’t ask herto.
~
Things were sedate at the breakfast table,everyone sad to leave such a tranquil setting. They ate in silence,sipping coffee slowly, watching the calm sea and recedingclouds.
Frank broke the silence after they’d allfinished their breakfasts, “I checked on the boat this morning. Nodamage, but we’ll need to remove quite a bit of snow before we canmove out. Chase, you mind helping me with the boat? Aiden, you’reon shoveling snow, and the rest of you haul all of our gear down tothe dock?”
Aiden frowned, “Why am I shoveling snow andChase and Ronan get the easy jobs? Why does Ronan get to help withthe bags?”
Frank shook his head, “Because you’re theonly one of the young guys here that hasn’t been in physicaltherapy for a shoulder injury in the past year; not that Maddy orPayson couldn’t shovel just fine, but I’m not picturing either ofthem letting either of you do the packing?”
Maddy fervently agreed, “I trust Chasewholeheartedly… but he’s not touching my clothes.”
Payson nodded, “I’m sure you’re a greatpacker Aiden, but you’re not touching my underwear.”
21
Ronan sighed and put down the paintbrush, steppingback to admire his work. The last week had been intense, butincredible. Spending a few days sequestered with his family andPayson had been therapeutic.
He’d spent every night with Payson sincethey’d returned home. Mostly at her place, but the other nightshe’d come over to his place to break in the huge bathtub. That wasone for the record books.
She knew his story didn’t jibe; his fault, hecould have worked harder to maintain his computer programmer cover.Part of him wanted her to know exactly who he was, but he couldn’tsay it yet. For her, for him, for the secrets he held, he wouldn’tyet. She’d stopped pushing him on it. For now.
Shelving fully installed and sanded, hefinished the last sweep of the stain coating the slick new shelves.He’d even added drawers, shelves, and work stools for use at thesturdy new table. Payson had picked out an elegant dark stain thatmade the back room much statelier than the flimsy plastic shelvingwith hazardous boxes scattered across the floors of the non-publicareas.
Part of him didn’t want the job to be done,didn’t want to not see her every day. He’d still help Payson withdeliveries and around the shop when she needed him, but she wasstill looking for a permanent shop assistant. He dragged out thework as best he could.
After finishing a barrage of back-to-backsales, Payson snuck back for a peek at his progress. “This looksspectacular. I can’t believe you’re almost finished. It’s betterthan I could have imagined,” she twirled around the room, her dressswishing with her exaggerated movements.
“Once the stain is completely set, we canfill the shelves; I’ve got some ideas on that.” Feelingself-conscious with the attention, but basking in her glowingpraise, he didn’t know how to respond. He settled for standing inone place looking stupid, hand nervously rubbing the back of hisneck.
She paced towards him and stole a quick kiss,avoiding letting any of the stain get onto her clothes. The belljingled again, and she laughed. “Busy day. I better get back upthere.” He watched her dash back up to the front and greet thelatest customer in her cheery way.
A smile spread across his face as he heardPayson finally finish up with the latest customers; a cluster ofsisters that had been perusing the jewelry section. Sounds likethey’d each purchased a few items, making up for the loss of salesduring the storm. Snow still lingered around town, but folks fromthe northeast were getting out and exploring now that the roadswere passable.
A few moments later, the door chimed again.He immediately recognized the grating voice of her sister, Jen.Listening in, he paused his work and moved so he could watch thescene unfold from a safe distance. “I’m sorry to drop in on youunannounced again.”
He heard her polite tone as she greeted hersister. “Hey, Jen. Everything ok? Did you and Tony have a goodtalk?”
