Page 44 of Learning at 40

Fisting my fingers in her hair, she lowers her head to the blanket. Her elbows bend and then she stretches forward as if reaching for something to hold. I can’t wait and slam into her, spreading her ass cheeks before squeezing them together as I slide back to the edge.

“I want you everywhere,” I warn her, and she mewls in response. The sound spurs me onward, thrusting into her as her palms flatten on the floor, and her body shudders, sliding forward with the force of me delving into her heat. Sweat drips from my forehead. My chest is slick from the night’s warmth. She rocks back, chasing any attempts of my retreat.

“Don’t want me to leave your body?” I hiss at her ear.

“Don’t want you to leave me,” she moans to the padded sleeping bag.

My fist tightens, and I ride her faster, chasing her words.

I don’t want to leave her either.

16

[River]

“Angel,” he groans like a battle cry before he stills. His body cages mine as he goes off inside me, pulsing, pumping, teasing me with what he could give me.

I quickly dismiss the thought of a priceless treasure—a child of my own.

Zack collapses over me, heavily breathing and spent. His slick chest glides along my back, and perspiration rolls down my neck. It’s so warm in the little hut in my tree, and I start to giggle.

“I’m a mess,” I mutter. My hair is plastered to my face. My thighs are slick. Zack chuckles and presses a kiss on my shoulder blade.

“Come on,” he says, slapping my backside, and I yelp as he slips out of me.

What the hell? I’m not into the spanking thing, and I’m about to tell him this when I peer over my shoulder and see him smiling like I’ve never seen him smile. Dazzling. It’s the only word to describe those white teeth digging into his lower lip while his entire mouth curves upward.

“Put this back on for a second,” he says to me, holding out my dress. I can hardly move. There also isn’t space to stretch, nor is there enough airflow as we are tucked behind the walls. Zack places a hand on my back to help me upright, and I slip the linen dress over my sweaty body. He struggles back into his sports shorts.

“Scoot.” His cheerful voice is something I’ve never heard as he commands me to move so he can tug the sleeping bag out from underneath me. “Follow me.” He leads the way to the exit of the tree house, and I can’t help but laugh louder.

“Where are we going?”

“More adventure.” The smile on his face fills his voice, illuminates our dim surroundings, and warms my insides. He sounds so . . . happy.

He climbs down the ladder, holding up a hand to help me down after him. With the blanket slung over his shoulder, he takes my hand and leads me forward.

“Careful.” He guides us in the pitch dark down the one hundred and fifty wooden steps to the shore. His eagerness has him skipping steps and taking them sideways with his long feet in order to keep his hand in mine, but I’m slowing him down.

“Just go,” I encourage with a laugh and allow us to slip apart.

“But you’ll still follow me?” His voice hints at vulnerability again. Doesn’t he realize he’s the one who will eventually be leaving, not me?

“I’ll be right behind you.” Following you anywhere. Upon my reply, he continues to skip down the steps, and I watch as he reaches the beach. He snaps the sleeping bag out to lay across the dark sand and then tugs down his shorts. I reach the base of the steps and laugh loud and strong as he runs for the water, naked as the night. His white backside reflects in the dark before he marches into the water and disappears with a graceful dive.

Nearing the sleeping bag, I see him pop up and shake his head. His hair flips boyishly to one side.

“Come in!” he yells, and I tug my dress over my head. I can’t ever remember skinny-dipping, and I race after him until my toes hit the water.

“It’s freezing!” I call out.

“It’s refreshing!” he hollers back, his voice carrying in the strong breeze. Gingerly, I enter the lake as soft waves lap up my knees, then my thighs, and eventually reach my middle. Zack meets me, and his mouth captures mine. His hands cup my jaw as they often do when he kisses me, and the grasp keeps me attached to him as he lowers us both in the water. My limbs tangle with his before I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. We continue to kiss until he stands again in deeper water. I remain around him like a koala on a tree, and when my legs shift to release me from his body, he cups my backside.

“Plug your nose,” he warns and then tosses both of us into the oncoming wave. As I sputter and laugh, righting myself, I splash the roll of water at Zack, and he splashes back like we’re children. Eventually, he catches my wrist to stop me and tugs me to him, kissing me again. My legs wrap around him once more, and he carries me out of the water, kissing me as he stumbles in the sand.

“You’ll drop me,” I warn, laughing against his mouth.

“Never.” His tone dips as he nears the blanket. He lowers to his knees while I remain wrapped around him, and then he’s laying me back on the sleeping bag. We have more space to stretch and spread, and my legs do just that, allowing Zack to settle between them. As we kiss, he hardens once more and reaches for his shorts. Digging in the pocket, he finds another packet.