Page 242 of Rogue Riders Duet

I feel my nerves jump. “Luc…”

“You can do that for me, right, Petite?”

I nod, my heart racing. “Yeah. I can do that.”

His hand finds my chin, tilting my face to him, and his eyes glow in the dim cabin light as he whispers against my lips, “Tu es parfaite.”

Then he kisses me softly, a promise tucked between breaths, and I can’t help but lean forward, following his lips when he pulls away too soon.

When I hear his door shut, I don’t open my eyes. I stay still and wait for him to come back for me.

Like he always does.

THIRTEEN

When the door creaks open, I suck in a deep breath like Luc told me to.

One second. Two.

By the third, something claws at my chest. The air is too full and too stuck, like I’m choking on it, and I’m seventeen again, lungs collapsed, unable to move, to speak, to breathe⁠—

A hand finds my wrist.

Warm. Steady. Real.

Luc.

The panic that bloomed in my chest fizzles as quickly as it came, replaced by his grounding weight.

He pulls me gently from the car and arranges me close, so my back is against his chest, before he wraps his arms around my stomach, anchoring me to him, his breath warm against the shell of my ear.

“Breathe for me, Petite,” he whispers, and I let out the breath I’ve been holding and take in another.

The air isn’t just air. It’s lavender.

Thick, rich, heady lavender, so potent it winds around my lungs, muscles, and thoughts, melting the last bit of tension away. It’s the most beautiful scent I’ve ever known.

Luc’s arms tighten around me. “Open your eyes.”

I do, and my breath catches for a whole different reason.

The moon glows above us, giving off just enough light to make everything around us shimmer. Rows upon rows of lavender stretch out before me, pale purple under the stars.

I stare, wide-eyed, heart thudding, and I don’t even realize I’ve gasped until Luc tilts my chin toward him and kisses the sound right out of me. His lips are warm and steal the breath, the awe, and the ache in my chest, replacing them with something else entirely.

He pulls back just enough to rest the tip of his nose against mine, his lips brushing mine as he whispers, “That’s how I feel every time I see you.”

Fuck, this man.

Luc lets go of me to grab the duffel from the back seat, then takes my good hand in his. Lavender rustles with each of our steps as he guides me through the moonlit rows. The scent is intoxicating, calming, and wraps around me like an embrace.

He pulls out a blanket and some pillows, setting up a cozy nest between the rows of lavender. The sight is surreal, like something out of a dream. His blue eyes reflect the starlight as he straightens and turns to me. “Wait here.”

I let my fingers glide over the soft petals before I lean down, inhaling deeply, and allowing the fragrance to fill my lungs once more.

“Come here, ma Petite.” I glance over to see Luc sprawled on the blanket, extending his hand toward me. I take it, and he pulls me down into the makeshift bed.

“I want to kiss you so badly.” He strokes my cheek, his touch sending shivers down my spine.