I curse myself all the way, but let my lips kick up at the side when his deep chuckle follows me.
Almost half an hour later, we reach the top of the hill, and I breathe a sigh of relief when I see a cliff point. “Thank God! My body is not made for physical labor for longer than ten minutes.”
He comes up beside me and murmurs, “Then we’re gonna have a problem when I finally fuck you.”
Appalled at his outrageous comment, I jab him with a sputtered chuckle. “Don’t be so crude, Ezra. You know what I mean.”
He grabs his stomach and feigns being hurt in a high-pitched voice. “Ouch, Kaeli. Don’t be so violent. You know what I mean.”
“Oh, fuck off.” I roll my eyes at his obnoxious acting skills and poor imitation of what I sound like.
Our laughter subsides, and we soak in the tranquil evening as the essence of the scenery in front of us seeps into our very being. The setting sun behind the skyscrapers casts an orange and pink hue as it gives way for the moon to ascend and keep the lonely souls company for the night.
I close my eyes and exhale a huge breath, letting the cool zephyr ruffle my long tresses and tangle them as they tickle my exposed skin. “It’s breathtaking,” I whisper, referring to the view.
“It is,” comes his husky voice.
Blinking my eyes open, I find his vibrant orbs locked on me. A blush creeps up my cheeks, and I swivel my head, lest I melt into a puddle at his feet.
“Don’t do that,” his gravely voice stuns me.
My brows furrow at him in confusion. “Don’t do what?” I search his face for any indication of what he might mean.
His jaw clenches as his hands curl into fists, as if inhibiting himself from throttling me to death on this vacant cliff and pushing off it so no one ever discovers this. I’ll become a statistic and oneof the millions of missing persons.
“If you don’t want me to fuck you right here on this rugged cliff, then don’t fucking blush and look like a wet dream, Kaeli,” he grits between his teeth, seeming like it pains him to admit such a thing.
“Oh.” Then my eyes widen in realization of his warning. “Oh,” I drawl.
Not wanting to draw whatever the fuck is happening before he executes his threat, I change the topic. “Let’s click the shots before it gets dark.”
Ezra seems to shake this funk, too, as he agrees, “Right, yes.”
Taking out the pocket camera from my pocket, I get into position and instruct him to strike a few poses. Showing the view enough that people understand what it is, but not where it is.
I don’t think he would want to lose his spot and be riddled with unsuspecting fans. He doesn’t have to say a word for me to discern how important this place is to him. It’s where he comes to clear his head, get away from prying eyes, and seek solace within nature.
After capturing a ton of pictures and videos, we make our way down the hill as the nightdescends, and our footfalls are the only voice, along with those of nocturnal creatures.
This time, he walks beside me, our hands brushing again and again, but neither of us makes a move to hold the other’s hand.
An awkward silence seems to have enveloped us, and I desperately want it to disintegrate. Throwing jibes at him right now to achieve that doesn’t feel right. Not after he brought me here.
So, I thaw at the quiet. “I’m famished. Should we head to a drive-thru or something?” I suggest, glancing at his figure from my passenger seat.
He picks his head to look at me from where it was resting on his fist against the window, letting his hand join the other one on the steering wheel.
And as if to emphasize my point, my stomach emits an embarrassingly loud rumble. That succeeds in bringing a small smile to his face, and I mentally jump in the air at the achievement, even if it’s at my expense.
“You aren’t lying, huh?” Amusement coats his words as he flicks his gaze to my stomach once and then turns to look back at the road.
I mock a gasp. “Lying?! A true lady would never do such a deceitful thing, my good sir.”
Surprised at my dramatics, he chortles as heshakes his head at me. And seeing the earlier tension bleeding from his body, I join in.
“Yes, my lady. My bad for ever accusing you of a notion way below your station. Pardon me, my lady.” Ezra plays along, pressing a hand to his chest, causing another round of laughter to ensue as I swat his bicep with the back of my palm.
Oh, that was thick.
