I’m not exactly sure how this pierced, bad boy with a smart-mouth has managed to peel back my layers and bite into me like a raw fucking onion, but he has. I’m so fucking done for and now, thanks to him, there’s no way I’ll be returning home after this weekend the same man I came here as.
“Okay, y’all.” Dakota stops on the edge of the cliff, turning to face all of us. “You know the drill! Aim straight for the center, away from the rocks. Keep your arms tucked to your sides and your legs straight to avoid a nasty smack. Belly flops suck, trust me. And no flips unless you know what you’re doing—looking at you, Jon!” She points and narrows her eyes to her friend Jon, who throws his hands up in fake surrender, making everyone laugh. “Chris and Tony are both down there waiting with canoes that’ll take us back to shore when we’re ready. Wave to Chris and Tony.” She smiles. We all make our way to the edge of the cliff. Right away I take in how high up we are. The sudden drop makes me hesitate, my feet skittering backwards.
“Woah, you okay?” Noah asks, gripping my arm tightly. His firm hand actually does settle my heart and I return back to the moment as I look into his calm eyes, bouncing back and forth between mine.
“Yeah, I’m good.” I look down off the cliff again and give Chris and Tony a confident wave.
Everyone cheers around us, shedding off their clothes like a second skin.
I look away as fast as I can, avoiding all the naked asses.
“Oh fuck yeah! We’re doing this naked?” Noah gasps excitedly, putting his thumbs in his waistband.
“It’s the only way.” Dakota laughs, as does everyone else as they all cheer and excitedly strip.
I quickly reach out, stopping Noah from exposing himself. “Stop…” I hear myself say. I can’t explain it but…no, Idon’twant them to seehim. They haven’t…earnedthat right. His body is important and should be treated as such.
Noah’s eyes search mine for an answer I can’t give. I see him reading my face, like it’s the most interesting thing he’s seen all day. Not the bouncing bare boobs, or the various dicks swinging around us. It’s just me and him looking at each other.
“Oh, you’re so right. Sorry, I didn’t even think about how weird it’d be for you two to see each other naked.” Dakota giggles beside us, breaking through the tension.
I step back to create some distance between Noah and I. Right, we’re supposed to have boundaries.
I’m not sure why I had to call myself his step-dad. It’s not even true. Not yet, anyway…probably won’t ever be.
Noah breaks eye contact to look at Dakota, even though I really wish he didn’t.
“Yeah, wouldn’t want him to see me in all my naked glory.” Noah teases, leaving a pang in my chest.
Dakota throws her head back, laughing. “Shame. Because after all this time, I’d really like to know, how glorious could it really be?” She rests her hand on Noah’s shoulder and my eyes zone into the way she steps closer. Topless and carefree. And dammit,of courseshe has a nice body too.
I wonder if Noah’s into her. I wouldn’t blame him if he was. She’s his age. A woman.Not engaged to his mother.It’d be easy for him to be with someone like her. No complications.
I grit my teeth together, feeling a burn in my veins.
“Well, are we doing this or what?” I bite out.
Their flirty little moment stops abruptly when I step away from them, and walk over to the edge. Much of the others have already made their way jumping off and into the water.
Itlooks high enough. No signs of sharp rocks. Deep water with little rippling waves. All looks safe but I do feel a little nervous.
“You overthinking over here, old man?” Noah comes over, grasping my shoulder in his hand.
I shrug it off, feeling a little sour with what I just saw. Dammit. I wish I didn’t feel this way.
“I’m fine.”
“Incoming!” Dakota laughs, squeezing past the two of us and effortlessly jumping off the cliff and gracefully entering the water.
“Woah, awesome!” Noah laughs, watching her pop out of the water. My eyes can’t look away from him though. He’s seriously impressed by this? It’s a jump.
“You’ve got to be joking,” I huff, not being able to shut the hell up.
Noah looks at me, and I silently curse at myself for giving him ammo to tease me with.
His mouth perks up on one side. “What? You jealous?”
I scoff. “Of what? Jumping off a little cliff like this?” I kick off a rock and watch it land in the water. Okay, it's not a little jump. This is clearly an advanced swimming height.
