AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I was surprised when Paul joined us. I didn’t think he would. But he did. As barefoot and as soaking wet as the rest of us.
In the fading afternoon daylight, on the edge of the cliff overlooking the wetlands, we laughed and danced. Free, without a care in the world.
We probably looked mad, but it would be one of my fondest memories.
And afterward, when the rain cleared, we sat in the chairs overlooking the darkening world below us. Not talking, just taking it all in.
It had been a great day. One of the best days of my life, if I was being honest.
Because I’d made up my mind. I was staying here. I hadn’t told Paul that yet. I hadn’t worked out the finer details yet, but I had a plan brewing.
I just had to get him on board with it.
And from the way I’d caught him smiling at me a few times, the way it sent a rush of warmth right through me, the spark between us ready to ignite, I got the feeling he wouldn’t mind.
CHAPTER SEVEN
PAUL
I’d toldmyself and I’d told Derek that we needed toonly talk, knowing that falling back into bed, back into old habits, wouldn’t be good for us.
But I was pretty sure I was going to blow that tonight.
Watching him laugh in the rain, the way his hair stuck to his forehead, around the nape of his neck, watching the happiness on his face...
There was no going back.
And we had talked. And we’d need to continue to communicate like we had been.
But tonight was going to end in orgasms.
I could feel it in my blood.
It had been a long day, full of long arduous hiking in warm and humid conditions, so I wasn’t surprised when Norah called it a night early, and Marit and Kari soon followed.
Derek was washing up in the communal kitchen while I cleaned down the grill. I told him he didn’t have to do that, but he just rolled his eyes and did it anyway. So I got busy scraping down the grill, and when I was done, I handed him the scraper to wash.
Everyone else was gone, the campsite dark. We were alone, and I risked a slow hand across his lower back.
“Thank you for helping me out today,” I said.
He finished and pulled the plug. “You’re welcome.” He stayed where he was, turning his head. “Paul?”
“Yeah,” I replied, standing close enough to feel his body heat.
“I’m not sleeping in my tent tonight,” he whispered.
I smiled and dropped my forehead to his shoulder. “Good.”
“And I know you said we should just talk, but—”
“I want you,” I murmured. “Since I woke up next to you this morning. All day hiking. Seeing you at the rock art site, how you understood what the place meant. Then dancing in the rain. Derek—”
He turned then, his dark eyes pools of black fire. “Paul,” he said, his voice rough. “Let’s go.”
He was gone so fast, I almost fell forward. But with a smile, I turned the kitchen light off and followed him into my cabin.
His shirt was already on the floor and he stopped with his shorts almost pulled down over his ass. His eyes caught mine. “Yes?”
