AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It rained yesterday so we have a shot at some bass, largemouth and Roanokes. But we’re more likely to catch pickerel or crappies.”
“What did you have for dinner, Grace? Adeliciousfilet of crap.”
“That’s c-r-a-p-p-i-e, sweetness. And filet of crappie when it’s seasoned just right? Itisdelicious. You’ll see.”
“I might just stick to the side dishes.”
“What side dishes? I told you, we eat what we catch, hunt or pick.”
“Pick? Is there a secret garden up here or something? Is that where you’re going to source the fresh herbs required to season your world-famous crappie?”
“Uh, I may have cheated just a little.”
“Really?”
“Youneedsalt. That’s just...You can’t cook fish without it. And I brought along some pepper, some cilantro, a few limes—”
“Limes? Wow, we’re really roughing it.”
He’s laughing when he points his finger at me. “I was thinking of you! Figured I’d make you a nice cocktail, let you sit back and relax after a tough day of fishing and hiking.”
“And the cilantro, Bobby Flay? Were you thinking of me when you stashed that in your secret little cooler?”
“You’ll thank me later.”
“You’d never last a week on that show.” I turn my head to look back when he doesn’t respond, and I’m rewarded with the sight of Damien’s shorts dropping to the ground. My breath hitches and my body heats in an instant. He is perfection. “I was only teasing, you know. That wasn’t a challenge.”
He looks confused as he takes a pair of board shorts out of his backpack and puts them on. “What’s that?”
“Oh, I thought you were stripping down to prove a point.”
“No.” He shakes his head as he walks back over. “I know I could do it, but I’ve been stuck outdoors wet, cold, hungry, and God knows what else too many times to count. Enough for this lifetime and the one after it.”
“I have to admit,” I tell him as I run my free hand over the exposed skin just above his hip, “it’s kind of hot knowing you could protect me from a bear attack, a snake bite or even a school of killer crappie fish.”
Damien doesn’t laugh. He looks down to where my hand is touching his skin and then raises his head slowly. “I’d do anything for you.”
I want to drop the pole to the ground, stroke my hand over every inch of him and kiss his mouth. I don’t care about dinner. I don’t care if I ever eat again.
He lets out a soft chuckle and moves a strand of hair behind my ear. “I like that look you get.”
“Hmm?”
“Your eyes get this glazed-over look, like you’re imagining something that feelssogood.”
“Yeah,” I let out on a whisper.
He presses in closer, breathes out and rests his lips on that tender spot just below my ear. He cups my ass with one hand and then whispers, “Now catch us some dinner,” before backing away towards the shore laughing.
Catching my breath, I complain, “I nearly dropped the damn pole. You’re nothing but a tease.”
“I won’t be teasing you later, baby. You can count on that.”
“Promises, promises,” I call out, but he can’t hear me. He dives underwater and doesn’t resurface for what seems like forever.
“Feels great in here,” he says when he finally pops back up.
“You can hold your breath for a mighty long time. A little warning would have been nice. I was just about to jump in after you.”
