“That river doesn’t sound like it’s too far from here. Come on.” Nick stood and helped Cora up off the log.
As they trampled down a hillside, she said, “Too bad I don’t have a swim suit.”
He smiled just a bit too sweetly. “Aren’t you funny?”
It didn’t sound like a question, to tell the truth. She tried to form a comeback as they reached their destination and emerged from the trees into the hot summer sun. Under their feet, the grass gave way to small pebbles at the river’s edge. Nick kept her hand in his as she took in the oasis. To their right, the water rushed and splashed through large boulders and pooled to create a perfect swimming spot. The water ran so clear that they could see the rounded rocks lying at the bottom. Lush, giant leaves grew on the Maple trees that hugged the pebbly beach. Tree roots showed through the rocks.
Cora kicked off her shoes and stepped ankle deep into the cold water while Nick pulled off his hiking boots.
From behind her he said, “You don’t need a swim suit around here.”
She screamed when he picked her up and threw her in. When she came up, gasping from the cold shock, she found him in the water beside her, laughing.
He wasn’t wearing a shirt, just glorious tan skin over taut muscles. Was he wearing his shorts?
“I don’t think that helped my affection for you.” She tried to glare at him but knew that she didn’t pull it off.
“Alright.” He sighed and dunked, coming up with water dripping from his dark hair and running down his face. He smoothed it back and looked at her, his skin glistening in the sun.
She leaned back, dipping her hair while pulling it away from her face.
He slowly swam to her, his smile growing wider as he inched closer. He didn’t stop his advancement so she swam back, away from him, but he came after her.
“Don’t dunk me,” she warned.
“I just want to catch you.” His eyes looked very mischievous as one eyebrow slowly raised, daring her to make a swim for it. She dove under and swam the other way.
She came up, wiped the water from her face, and found herself almost nose to nose with him. She took off in a different direction, but she didn’t have endless room to evade him. Soon her laughing slowed her down, and he lurched and caught her in his arms. Now all that skin was touching hers.
She fell silent when he stared into her eyes. His expression was soft, solemn almost.
She wanted to kiss him more than anything, to feel those full lips on hers, and see if she could drive him past the breaking point.
This could be dangerous. She broke away from Nick’s intense look and scanned the trees around them. “We’re not safe here.”
“These mountains are huge. It’d take a miracle to find us.” He ran his finger down her jaw line and backtracked to trace just under her lip. “I’m certain they headed back by now, thinking they’re behind us or missed us.”
While speaking, he looked into her eyes like she was the only thing in the universe. His brown eyes reflected the greens and blues around them while showing a wild display of primal desire and promise. She saw it coming this time, but didn’t swim away. Their lips met in urgency and picked up where they had left off before.
She felt lost, and there wasn’t anything but Nick, his arms around her, his hands melding to the curves of her body, his kiss awakening her feminine side. His hands ran down her hips and shock waves washed through her. For several blissful minutes, she didn’t have a care in the world. She only wanted more and more of him.
Then, she remembered her dad. The money. Alexander.
She pulled away from their kiss, but didn’t pull her hands from his bare chest as she shivered. The water chilled her but she felt heat radiating from him. It would be so easy to let nature take its course out here, in the woods, miles and miles away from anyone. The idea was actually…very nice.
She sighed, almost whimpered, in her want. She just couldn’t let her guard down, not when Nick could be using her. At the very least, he was keeping her away from Eugene and finding her dad. They also had Alexander to worry about.
“I’m not out here to make a move on you, Cora. I didn’t plan to fall this hard.”
Fall?
His eyes looked concerned, like he didn’t want to worry her or hurt her in any way. I didn’t plan to fall this hard. He just about had her wrapped around his pinky. It was painfully clear that she couldn’t tell if he was playing a game or... Or what?
She stretched up and kissed him on the mouth, a lingering and remorseful kiss, and trudged out of the water onto the sand.