He nods and cocks his head to the side, like in thought, and mumbles, “Alone?”
“What?”
He clears his throat. “Did you do it alone or with someone?”
“Alone. I need to be like super relaxed for it to work.”
He turns around, searching my eyes. “Are you relaxed with me?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I’m relaxed with you.” Because I am. Because I’m at his mercy. I’m goo, liquid, sand running through fingers.
He nods, biting the corner of his mouth. Like he’s turning it over in his head.
“Okay then,” he says, sliding a hand up my neck and into my hair. “Challenge accepted.”
I frown. “What?”
“I’m gonna make you come hands-free.”
72
Kaden
Dayfour,andI’mso fucking proud because I haven’t fallen even one time today. I think I’m getting the hang of it. Sort of.
We’ve gotten into a routine, Seth and I. Breakfast with Seth’s parents at the restaurant—they’ve got the best scrambled eggs I’ve ever had, and it’s almost always empty of people which is a relief for me. Then we hit the slopes until it’s time for lunch at one of the café’s or in the cabin, before we hit the slopes for another couple of hours, and then dinner. Sometimes we eat with Seth’s parents, sometimes we stay in.
It’s peaceful here. I mean, there’re a lot of people but at least we’re outside most of the time, and at night, it’s all quiet and calm. And the sunsets here are out of this world. Last night, we brought out chairs and beer, and watched the sky turn pink and purple and lastly dark blue.
The air is so fucking clean here, it’s like I’m breathing oxygen for the first time. And I sleep like a baby.
We’re at Seth’s parent’s cabin. Or mansion, really. They really do have eight bedrooms. Not twelve bathrooms but four, and floor-to-ceiling windows with a breathtaking view. You can seethe mountains and the forest from here. Timber walls and stone floor. They’ve got a huge kitchen and a fireplace that takes up an entire wall.
They’ve asked us multiple times if we’d rather stay with them, and as much as I’d love to take a dip in the hot tub out back, I really don’t mind being alone with Seth. And I really don’t want them to hear what we’re up to at night.
“So, how’d it go today?” Malcom asks. They’ve been very clear on me not calling them Mr. and Mrs. Avery, and I have to bite my tongue every time.
“Really good! Kaden’s basically a pro,” Seth grins, slouching back on a chair.
We’re making s’mores by their fireplace outside. It’s so fucking cozy, it makes my teeth ache.
I love it.
I grew up with six siblings in total. Some came and went over the years. Some were almost adults when I moved in, and another few arrived after me. Growing up in that house was always chaotic, but I loved it. I loved family time, when we had dinner together and everyone got to tell their favorite thing that happened that day. Or when Mom made key lime pie and we ate until we got stomachache.
“I don’t know about pro,” I say with a laugh. “But yeah, I’m getting better.”
“Always so modest,” Seth grins, shaking his head with a glint in his eye. “Kaden can’t take a compliment to save his life,” he adds, looking at his dad.
“Well, you’ve got ego enough for the both of you, so that’s just perfect, then,” Annie says, raising her brows at him, sipping a mug of hot chocolate.
“Innit?” Seth mocks her British accent, making a face. “I hope you choke on your Earl Grey.”
She laughs, and turns to me. “He’s a bit dramatic, isn’t he?”
“Uh—”
“Sure you wanna answer that?” Seth says, and when he shoots me that lopsided smile, my stomach flip flops which is... Well, it’s weird. But maybe I’ve just had too much sugar.
