“No problem, Abby. Let me know if you need our help in any other way.”
It was only after she’d said goodbye that it registered he’d known her name.
Eleven
Usually, when he was climbing, Alex had no trouble focusing on his next move, where the hold was coming from or where to put his foot. Usually, that was. Right now, he had all the trouble because he couldn’t concentrate on anything except the sight of Abby’s bottom as she scaled up the rock face ahead of him.
“I think I should go first next time.”
“Why? To give me a break from hearing you telling me to slow down?” Her expression was dead-pan.
She had a point. Whatever confidence she’d lacked last time was now back with reinforcements.
“No. You’re just rather distracting.”
“I thought this was the idea. To be distracting and get away from Jake’s festival stuff?” She spidered up the wall as she spoke, barely out of breath. It seemed that she hadn’t lost much of her fitness and this climb – while it was one for more experienced climbers – was an easy stroll on a flat path for her.
“I’ll be more precise.” He swung himself up, glad of the additional upper body strength he’d managed to accrue. “Your backside is distracting.”
Abby laughed, practically leapt across and grabbed her next purchase, almost at the top where there was a small thicket of trees.
“I think you’re making excuses, Alex.”
He took a couple of deep breaths and finished the climb seconds after. “It isn’t an excuse. Next time we climb, I’m making a request that you wear more clothes.”
She had on a short pair of shorts and a cropped sports top. Her stomach was tight and toned and he knew exactly how she’d earned it. Girl was as strong as fuck and it was making him think very dirty thoughts about exactly what he’d like to do to her.
“I get too hot in weather like this. You’ll just have to control your urges.” She started to undo the carabiners that had been securing their harnesses, Alex insisting that they didn’t free climb, mainly because he didn’t think she had the confidence yet and if she’d panicked or doubted herself, he could’ve been calling his search and rescue teammates.
He didn’t think confidence was going to be a concern next time. She’d shot up the climb the quickest he’d ever seen, and she said she was out of practice.
“Easier said than done when I’ve spent the last hour and a half looking atthat.” He gestured to her backside. “Abby, I’ve practically died watching you go up there.”
She laughed and for once didn’t blush or shy away. In the last couple of days, since he’d told her about her sister and showed her the pictures, she’d relaxed more, smiled more. Her shoulders didn’t look like they were carrying the weight of two worlds anymore. She had avoided Zack like a case of the clap though, something he and Sorrell were too aware of.
“If you spend too much time looking at my ass you may end up dying, so my advice would be to fully concentrate on how you’re hanging.”
“I’m not sure I was hanging at all if something was rock hard.” It had been uncomfortable. He’d never climbed with an erection before. One new experience not to share with his brothers or Jake.
Abby laughed and stepped over to him; she pressed her palms flat onto his chest, seemingly not caring if he was more than a bit sweaty.
“I’ve never climbed with just me and a girl before, apart from Rayah who definitely doesn’t count.”
Her thumbs grazed over his chest. “Good to know I’m one of your firsts.”
Alex swallowed, not sure if it was because of what he was about to say or the fact that he wasn’t sure how much self-control he was left with.
“I think you’re a lot of my firsts.” He put one hand on the back of her head and took hold of her ponytail, running his hand down it with a slight pull.
There was no one around. It was a weekday and this was one of the quieter areas of the peaks even on a Sunday at this time of year as there were no pubs nearby and the climb was tough and technically fairly challenging, but the walk back down towards Eyam was fairly straight forward.
“How do you fancy walking around Eyam?” Alex said, trying to remember where they were, that they were in public and he was a police officer. He was at the point of trying to picture Gran in the nightdress she’d once worn to a Valentine’s Day ball at Severton Social Club as that image was enough by itself to deflate any erection.
Abby trailed her fingertip from his chest down to the belt on his shorts and all thoughts of Gran were erased instantly.
“I’ve never been to Eyam. I’ve heard about it though.”
He took hold of one of her wrists with each hand and brought her hands down to her sides. “It’s pretty and historic. Only small but if you’ve never been we should go and have a walk round. There’s a place that sells homemade ice cream, and it’ll make Rayah jealous if you have one.”
