Author Note: Yay a new fanfic for my Rucas loving friends.
This fic is rated M, for adult situations such as drinking, language, and activities.

-the moon that moves your tides-

The hot water pelted down on his body, the steam surrounded him as washed away the morning grime from his house calls and work on the ranch. He couldn't help but think about his most recent trip to Dallas, the lipstick marks that had been left on his body after a night of passion. The latest blonde he added to his collection of memories had clawed his body, treated him like a piece of meat.

He had no problem with that, if all she wanted was a physical release and none of the commitment stuff that went with it he was down. Lucas Friar had no need for a relationship, he hadn't been in once since he was seventeen years old, and then they had never gotten truly physical. Maybe if he'd stayed in New York and hadn't moved back to Texas he probably would've married her, they'd probably have a kid or two by now, that wasn't the cards he'd been dealt.

That was just the fantasy of a school boy in love.

Lucas was no school boy, at least he hadn't been for years.

He was the most popular veterinarian in the county, though he knew at least part of it had to do with him being good looking and single, giving plenty of ladies the idea that he was free for the taking.

He wasn't.

Lucas had no desire to be in a full-on relationship. He didn't mind having a one night stand here and there, but in college he realized not to get messy at home. Too many voices whispering, too many old men passing stories down at the McDonalds where they would meet for coffee every morning.

The women in town tried, at least once a week he would arrive at his office to a platter of sweets from someone looking to become Mrs. Friar.

The only Mrs. Friar he intended to have in his life was his mother, and she was off in London with his father.

He turned off the water, wrapped the baby blue towel around his waist before stepping out of the shower, wiping down the mirror, studying his reflection before smearing on the shaving cream and making his beard disappear.

He had to be baby face Friar today, as Zay had said it would be one less thing for the political consultant they were meeting with in a few hours to nitpick about. He had to look like a man who wanted to be the Mayor of his small town, with some ideas towards future service, he couldn't look like a cad that would sneak off every so often on the weekend to fuck a woman whose name he couldn't recall in a hotel room in Dallas.

He knew what Zay was really saying, be the man you would've been for Riley, not the jackass you are right now.

Riley.

Riley Matthews, his first and honestly only girlfriend.

Lucas had lots of one night stands, short hookups that might last a week at the most if he was on a vacation.

No one who got a hold of his heart.

No one he ever considered for more than a few hours.

Did that make him an asshole? Maybe he'd been called a list of awful names like bastard, cocksucker, dick-week, and more colorful ones than he cared to remember when he'd broken some woman's illusion of what was going on with them. He tried to always be upfront with them about whatever happened between them being a short little stop on the road of life.

He gripped the counter top, trying to think about anything, anyone other than Riley as his body reacted to just thinking her name.

Those brown eyes of hers that always drew him in, the pouty lips he loved to make smile, the finger tips that had cautiously explore his young body, never going south.

He could almost feel her electric touch. Part of him still wanted her, needed her. He could picture it clearly in his mind, her in front of him, removing her towel after a shower, getting lost in her body for hours, days, weeks, no if he had her, she wouldn't be a one night stand.

She would be it.

She would be his wife.

That terrified him.

He was seventeen years old the last time he saw her.

Why did he still think of her like this?

Why was his body still swelling at the memory, fantasy, whatever it was of her in the summer sun eating a strawberry, the wind blowing in her hair, her eyes casting down playfully before he would kiss her.

He dropped his towel hoping back into the shower, blasting the water on cold.

Each pinprick stimulated his racing heartbeat and in his mind he was still kissing her, pushing her up against the shower wall, wondering what it would feel like to explore her folds, to knead her breasts, to suckle and taste every inch of her.

Lucas leaned back against the shower wall, his hand stroking his throbbing manhood as his fantasies took over.

This was a sick torture that deep down he must've enjoyed or he wouldn't let it happen as often as it did.

Her name escaped his lips as he released.

He turned the water off as he leaned against the shower wall.

How long had it been? How long would this go on? Why did he still crave her sweet, innocent lips against his? Why did he want more? Why did he have this insatiable need to discover what she sounded like when he touched her, or how her body would react.

A shiver slipped through his body before he grabbed another towel wrapping it around his body, hoping the warm summer air from the open window would remove the torturous chill that coated his body and revive his senses.

As he looked at his reflection he slapped his face, "Okay Friar, no more of that. No more fantasies about her. She's probably married, knocked up, and absolutely still gorgeous, more so probably."

"Lucas what are you doing in their man?" His best friends voice called out from the other side of the door.

"Just finishing up Zay, I'll be out in a minute."

"Well hurry up, this consultant is going to be here in like half an hour."

Lucas rolled his eyes, this all seemed so ridiculous to him. Why did they need a consultant? Why couldn't he just be himself, speak from the heart, hadn't that worked for Senator Eric Matthews when they were younger?

Riley whipped her sunglasses from her tote, pushing them on as she made her way across the parking lot to her the convertible she had rented. Whenever she was somewhere hot and sunny she made sure to rent one. After she popped the trunk and put her bags in she pulled her phone out to check her messages, playing the one from her business partner first, "Hey Riley, I emailed you the address. You're meeting with Isaiah and he'll bring you up to date on everything. I know this is a small-town campaign, but this candidate very much needs the Riley Matthews touch, or should I say Riley Lawrence. You'll have the dossier on our client later today, oh and you'll be staying at his home. Like I said he needs your magic."

She rolled her eyes at Isadora's message, it was times like this she wished someone else had discovered a passion for political polling to go along with Riley's gift of helping people bring out their confidence and get their message across effectively.

As she climbed into the driver seat she realized that her skirt was probably too short to be meeting a small town mayoral candidate, but all her others in her suitcase needed to be washed. She hoped that whoever this new client was they weren't judgmental over her fashion choices.

She pulled the address up from the email importing it into her navigation app before making it to the road. When she got off the highway she felt a knot in her stomach as she realized exactly where she was and where she was going as she pulled off on the exit for Rosewood Springs. She slowed down pulling to the side of the road, taking a minute to collect herself.

She could do this, she could hang around Rosewood Springs for a few weeks, maybe a couple of months. She twisted her engagement ring around her finger trying to ignore the itch she was feeling.

That didn't mean she would have to see Lucas, no he probably moved to a city by now, running a practice and married to one of the many blonde girls she'd seen draped all over him on Instagram when they were in high school.

She closed her eyes feeling that rush of emotions, the rush of memories.

Lucas.

Lucas Friar.

How long had it been that he could still bring this on?

She slipped her ring on and off several times trying to get herself to calm down and focus before if slipped from her fingers all together, falling under her seat.

"Shit" she muttered leaning back, covering her face in her hands. It could wait, what was the rush, she didn't need to flaunt her future marriage in front of a client or anyone. She could look for it later when she wasn't wearing a skirt that would most likely reveal her lace clad butt cheeks. No, she would need to change into her yoga pants first.

She ran her hands through her chestnut hair before putting the top down, the sun was shining, the skies were clear and she had a new client waiting to meet her.

She pulled out back onto the road, ignoring the butterflies over a slim possibility, no she had to focus on getting this ranger ready to get his message across so that he could help the people of his community.

Riley followed the navigation app directions, feeling her stomach drop as she pulled into the long dirt driveway, watching the dust in her rearview mirror as she navigated her way up to the house.

She parked behind the two pick-up trucks and the SUV. She checked her hair in the mirror, windswept of course and adjusted it with her fingers just a little to get it in place.

As she stepped out of the car she heard the screen door slammed shut, and she wished her skirt wasn't as short as it was, why did she not think to wear her slacks? She grabbed her tote and stopped in her tracks when she saw who was on the porch waiting for her.

Time stopped, it had to have.

Why wasn't he breathing?

Why wasn't anyone moving?

Why was no one speaking?

Lucas had seen the convertible coming up the driveway from his bedroom window as he threw his blue plaid shirt on over his white V-neck t-shirt. He could tell that whoever was driving was female, and when they parked he and Zay went out to greet her, unsure if he was really going to take her advice.

He smirked when he saw her high heeled foot slip out of the car, her legs that went on for days, and he wasn't going to lie he was already envisioning spreading them—he was sure he could fantasize about her. Not that he would do that, not with a brunette, he never hooked up with brunettes.

Her hair was long, wavy, carefree from driving with the top down, naturally sun kissed. He could see she had kissable, pout lips that probably knew just how to drive a man wild.

Her skirt was short as she tugged it down before she removed her sunglasses and stopped in her tracks.

Those brown eyes.

Lucas' mouth dropped.

His stomach sank.

His heart twisted.

His Brain felt like it was floating.

No.

No.

What was she doing here?

They were send in someone named R. Lawrence.

Was that her married name?

He couldn't move.

His feet would not move forward. Any and all manners his parents, grandparents, Riley herself had instilled in him were gone.

Was no one speaking, were they all stunned and silent?

"Zay it's good to see you" her voice was bubbly, song like the birds first thing in the morning, God he'd missed her voice.

She moved up the stairs, "Lucas is that you?"

"Yeah" He stuttered, he had forgotten everything and nothing.

She looked to them each, "So, who's running for mayor, I can't imagine either of you need my help."

"Riley, Riley, Riley" Zay put an arm around her when she reached the top of the porch, "My man Lucas here is in desperate need of your help."

Riley's eyes wandered over Lucas, he could feel her stare, God he'd missed that sensation. Oh crap he needed her to leave, she couldn't be here, she couldn't help him, and she sure as hell couldn't stay in his house. "Is this how you always dress?"

She studied him, "Are you building a fence or are you running for a government position?"

He couldn't help but notice she blinked more than he remembered, maybe he did look awful. But this wasn't that different then what he'd worn in New York, "Well today, I'm meeting with you Mrs. Lawrence, and then yeah I'm repairing a fence down on the south-east end of the property."

"It's still Matthews actually," she put her sunglasses in her bag, "I use Lawrence professionally so that people don't connect me with my Uncle Eric, they get a little weird when they realize that he's the Speaker of the House."

Lucas nodded, "Um please come in, I think we have lemonade or sweet tea."

"Water would be nice" Riley stepped into the house, he'd renovated it, she didn't mention the new bay window in the living room, as she studied the way the furniture was arranged to face the fireplace where the television was now mounted.

"I'll go get us some waters." Lucas ducked into the kitchen, he leaned against the refrigerator for a moment, trying to wonder what kind of torture he was being sent. Of all the women in the world who could be a political consultant he was sent Riley Matthews. He could only hope and pray that she would realize he didn't need her and get out of Texas as soon as possible.

One problem.

Lucas did need Riley.

He knew it.

He'd felt it for so long.

She was the missing piece of him.

No matter what he did to pretend that void didn't exist, it did.