The air is stuck in my throat. I open my mouth to protest, but his hands are back to the belt, expertly freeing my double knot from earlier.
He leans down in front of my face as he gets my arms free, and the cool air hits my stomach. “Relax Blondie, I won’t look, I swear.” After a dramatic pause, he whispers in my ear, “Unless you want me to.” His voice is full and raspy.
The side of my neck is covered in goosebumps. This moment is going to haunt me, I already know it. I have to cover my mouth before a moan escapes me when his lips brush against my jaw.
Gently, he plants one slow kiss to the side of my neck. I’m trembling now—I don’t know what to do. He replaces his lipswith his thumb as he starts massaging a hard knot. I didn’t even realize I was sore there, but it feels fucking heavenly. It gets harder and harder to breathe as his hands work the tension out of me.
I pull away every few minutes out of instinct, frightened by the intimacy of this. He keeps whispering in my ear, “Relax, Addie.”
It has the exact opposite effect.
At some point, he pulls out coconut oil and it melts against my hot skin immediately. His hands glide across my shoulders and I moan, I can’t help it.
Embarrassed, I try to get up. He tugs gently on my hair, and his voice is tortuously soft against my ear. “I said relax, Adelaide.”
I don’t typically like being told what to do, but it feels way too good to do anything but listen. My head falls back against his thigh, and I find myself struggling to stay awake.
34
Last night I slept like a baby. The air was perfectly cool, and I was safe enough with Reid outside that I left the window open enough to smell the fresh air. Reid wasn’t wrong—I needed that massage desperately. I’m a brand new woman now.
Unfortunately, I woke up damp in more ways than one. That was by far the most charged moment we’ve ever had. I’m certain I must have imagined him putting his lips on me. My fingers trail up to the spot, and I swear it still feels warm. I’m laying in bed fantasizing about him as I attempt to forget what today has in store.
Reid knocks on Willa as soon as my mind drifts to how soft his lips are. Mortified, I scramble out of bed and into the shower. I’m beyond grateful that we left my bike at the track yesterday. They have a maintenance garage for us.
I hear Reid over the pelting water. “Addie, I’m coming in. I hope you’re decent.”
His tone suggests he’s hoping for the opposite. This energy between us has been building for a while now, but it’s intensifying faster than I can handle. The scalding water brings meback to my body some, but there’s still an uncomfortable ache in between my legs.
He’s right on the other side of the shower now, and I feel his head thumb against the pseudo-wall. “Addie.”
I want to throw up, I’m so nervous. “Reid.” It comes out as a plea.
“Do you need help in there?”
“Nope!” I’m stern. In no way, shape, or form, am I ready for Reid to see me naked. Plus, this shower is hardly big enough for me.
The sound of his footsteps trailing away puts me at ease long enough to pull some clothes on and take a few deep inhales. Reid is halfway through making breakfast when I open the door—he’s scrambling eggs and frying two slices of bacon.
I can still barely speak but I manage a soft, “Thanks.”
He hands me my plate and lets his fingers linger on my arm. “Oh you’re welcome. Anything else you want to thank me for?” He winks.
I shove a piece of bacon down my throat to avoid answering. My cheeks are hot—my nerves fried. The air between us is electric as we eat in silence. Every time he takes a bite, my eyes follow his lips. I can’t fucking stop thinking about how they felt on my neck. I need to forget about it—at least for now.
Today we put the finishing touches on the trail, and then we start the ride days. Now is not the time to have my focus pulled. I shoot Reid a glare to remind him as I say, “No more lingering touches, okay? Not today.”
He’s nodding with his head, but his eyes are telling a different story. We’re going to have to talk about this later. I might burst with the amount of pressure building up inside me.
We’ve been upon this ridge since sunrise, lamenting over the features like we did yesterday. My shirt is soaked through, and I’m covered in dirt.
“Why does no one talk about how hard this part is?” I ask no one in particular.
Reid replies, brushing my hair out of my eyes as he does it. “Don’t worry, Addie. I’ll keep moving literal mountains for you. Go take a break.”
I can’t tell if he’s mocking me or being genuinely sweet. I’m taking advantage of it either way. My water pack is empty, so I tug Reid’s free from his pack, and my fingers graze the exposed skin of his chest. My breath catches in my lungs, and my eyes lock with his.
He licks the pad of his thumb. “Uh, what are you—” Before I can get the question out, he’s using it to rub the dirt free from around my eyes.
