All Chapters of Every Shade Of Desire (Erotica collection): Chapter 21 - Chapter 26

The wind slammed against the lighthouse like it wanted in. Cara sat on the edge of the couch in the small living area, knees pulled up, trying to look like she wasn’t rattled. The power had flickered twice already. Each time the lights dimmed, her stomach twisted tighter. She wasn’t scared of storms usually. But this one felt personal. Like the island itself was closing in.Eli had been checking things for the last hour. Moving through the rooms with that quiet certainty of his. She kept catching glimpses of him — broad shoulders in the doorway, the way his jaw flexed when he listened to the wind. Every time their eyes met she felt it low in her belly. Heavy. Aching.She hated how aware she was of him. Nine years out here alone and he still moved like he knew exactly what he was doing. The kind of man who didn’t need anyone. It made something in her chest hurt in a way she didn’t want to name.Another flicker. The lights went out for three full seconds this time. When they came back,

Marcus stood at the trailhead at 6am, backpack straps already digging into his shoulders, wondering what the hell he was doing out here. His therapist had said “do something that scares you.” Mountains scared him. Being alone with his thoughts scared him more. So here he was.Then she stepped out of the truck.Rhea Donovan.The second he saw her, something in his chest tightened hard. She was strong. Not in that gym way — real, practical strength. Shoulders that carried weight like it was nothing. Thighs that flexed visibly under her hiking pants as she moved. Dark hair pulled back, sharp eyes that looked like they missed nothing. She was beautiful in a way that hit him low and sudden, like a punch he didn’t see coming.His cock twitched in his pants. Hard. Instant. He shifted his weight, trying to adjust without being obvious. Jesus Christ. Get it together, man. She’s your guide. This is not why you’re here.“Marcus Webb?” Her voice was clear. Professional. Confident.“Yeah. That’s m

I woke up with her body pressed against mine and for the first time in months my chest didn’t feel hollow.Rhea was still asleep, face tucked into my neck, one leg thrown over mine. Her breathing was slow and warm against my skin. The sleeping bag had us trapped close together, skin on skin, and I could feel every inch of her. The soft weight of her breast against my chest. The curve of her hip under my hand. The way her thigh rested right against my cock, which was already hard again. Aching.Jesus Christ. What the hell did we do last night?I should feel guilty. I should be pulling away, putting distance between us, remembering she’s my guide and this was supposed to be a fucking therapy trip. Instead I tightened my arm around her waist and breathed her in. She smelled like sweat and smoke and something sweet that made my chest hurt in a good way. After fourteen months of nothing but my own hand and bad memories, having her here felt like oxygen.She stirred. Made this soft little s