“Maybe we could loosen the restrictions up a bit?” she said.
“Don’t tempt me. Don’t even go there.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re seriously not even going to listen to what I was going to offer?”
He shook his head. “I know exactly what you were going to say.”
She scrunched her face. “No, you don’t.”
“Babe, you were licking your lips, staring at my cock. Trust me, I know. But I also know myself entirely too well. There are some limits, once I cross, I can’t uncross. And, if your lips wrap around my cock, I’ll fuck your brains out. That’s the honest truth.”
“That’s pretty blunt.”
He winked. “Was I right?”
She nodded. “Can’t say I’ve ever known a man to turn down a blow job. That doesn’t make sense.”
“Because it wouldn’t stop at a blow job. I’m not here to get in your pants. Not that I don’t want to, but I want the bigger prize. So, how about we switch topics? Tell me what the plan is for the day.”
Should she mention her plans?“What prize?”
He huffed a laugh. “Well, for one, I want to get to know you better. I connect with you in a way I never have with anyone else before. If all I wanted was sex without strings or a blow job, I could get that from any chick. It would feel great in the moment, but that’s where it would end—and it would end. I don’t want to ruin this.” He gestured between them. “And I don’t think I want this to end.”
“What if I’ve changed my mind?”
His eyes twinkled. “We’re not changing the terms of our agreement.”
“Then, we probably shouldn’t hang out at the cabin all day,” she said. “Too much temptation.”
“Before I tagged along, what did you have planned?”
“A few things.” Couples activities with Spencer, which she didn’t want to do with Ash. The one thing she hadn’t planned were several hikes because Spencer hated walking in the woods. “How about hunting waterfalls?” She hoped he wouldn’t think it was lame.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Hiking. We go in search of waterfalls.”
His brilliant eyes brightened. “I love hiking. I don’t get to do much of it anymore. Sounds fucking badass.”
“Good. There are some great trails.”
“For us to hunt waterfalls?”
She grinned. “Yeah. Those wild, woolly, and elusive waterfalls. You have to sneak up on them, especially this time of year. If you want to see a great waterfall, we could go to Falling Springs.”
“Doesn’t sound like you have to hunt that one. Let’s make it more interesting. Go on a search for small ones no one else has looked for?”
Sounded wonderful, and his enthusiasm was encouraging.
“Great, let me find some hikes.”
As she settled into the small chair, she pulled out her phone to text Forest. Ash hummed as he poked the embers of the fire. Every now and then, he would sing a few words, and she thought she heard something about hunting waterfalls.
A peaceful haze settled over her as she dutifully checked in with Forest.
Still alive. Didn’t get murdered. Going on a hike. Will keep the phone on, so you can cyberstalk me. XOXO.
“I’m going to take a shower,” she announced. “You need in the bathroom?”
