Everyone says their goodbyes before making their way to their respective vehicles. I look over the roof of my car at Isabelle, who’s got a knowing smirk on her face.
“Stop looking so pleased with yourself,” she says quietly, and I simply shrug my shoulders.
“I’m allowed to be happy.”
We get in the car, and I wait until the doors close before I say the next thing.
“But when we get back to Vancouver, we’re finishing what we started in that shower.”
Chapter twenty-eight
Kai
“Let’s go, lazy bones,” I call up to Isabelle with a grin and a tap on her ass. “I’d like to reach the peak today, you know.” I’m teasing. We’re actually making good time on the trail up to Crooked Falls, an hour or so north of Vancouver. We’re nearing the end of All-Star week, and as much as I want to go back to playing ball, I’ve been enjoying all the extra time with Isabelle. The trip to the cabin was great, but being back here is just as good.
Isabelle’s legs are strong, and she’s easily kept up with me the entire hike. But this stretch of the trail is narrow, so I made her go in front to set the pace. The view of her ass enclosed in tight Lycra shorts swaying in front of me is a definite perk.
“Swear to God, you smack my butt one more time and I’m gonna push you down the cliff,” she grumbles, but she can’t fool me. I know she secretly loves it when I smack her ass.
Aaaandnow I’m getting hard. For fuck’s sake, this woman has way too much control over my body and she doesn’t even realize it.
We pass an older couple on their descent. We exchange a smile and a nod, but nothing more. That’s one thing I love about getting out of the city and going for a hike. Nobody cares who you are, they’re all just out enjoying nature.
I chose this trail specifically because it’s not one of the more popular, touristy ones in the area. Which means that even now, in the middle of summer, we’ve only passed a handful of other people.
Isabelle comes to a stop at a bend in the trail, where the trees have thinned enough to give a tantalizing peek at the view.
“Are you teaming up with my mom to show me the best parts of this city in hopes that I decide to stay?” she huffs, her hands on her hips as she takes it in.
“If I thought that would work, I absolutely would.” Maybe it’s not fair of me, but I don't bother disguising the longing in my voice.
When she doesn’t reply, it only adds to the knot in my stomach. I turn away and take a long drink from my water bottle. Things are getting confusing between us. I feel it, and I’m pretty damn sure she feels it, too. We’re meant to be keeping things strictly in the realm of friends with benefits. A casual agreement, temporary, with clear boundaries.
But the more time I spend with her, the more time I want to spend with her. And the harder I have to work to remember that she’s not mine. She’s leaving in five weeks.
“Okay, let’s finish this thing. But it’s your turn to go in front.”
I glance over to see she’s turned away from the view and is taking her own drink of water.
“No, you lead so you can set the pace.”
“Nope. It’s my turn to ogle your butt.”
I don’t hold back my burst of laughter, a welcome change from the down-in-the-dumps vibes I was having, as she saunters past and squeezes my ass cheek. I jog to get in front of her, then bend over slightly and wiggle my hips. “Oooh, do it again.”
She snorts, shaking her head. “As if you need more encouragement to be ridiculous.”
Pretending to be wounded, I bring my hand to my chest, slowly walking backward. It’s risky on the uneven ground, but oh well. “That hurts, Isabelle.”
Her eyes dance with amusement. “Poor baby.”
Bringing my finger to my exaggerated pout, I tap my lips. “Kiss it better.”
Light hands come to my shoulders, and she leans in slowly. But at the last second, instead of the kiss on the lips I’m expecting, she lands one on my nose before dancing back with a giggle.
“C’mon, Yamaki, let’s go!”
Hours later, we make it back to my apartment.
