I huffed a laugh.‘That will not make things quicker, and you know it.’
‘I know.’ She winked.I was picturing the creative ways I could use Lydia’s considerable flexibility, and torture her with pleasure in the shower.‘But it will make it more fun.’
Lydia
Everyone seemed to be in good spirits as we headed up the path towards Ben Nevis.Ren and I had decided to keep our distance, so we weren’t that obnoxious couple that were all over each other in public, but I spotted him eyeing me every now and then.Stop it, I mouthed to him as we stomped on the gravel path, the crunch of boots our soundtrack.Ren continued his perusal of me, his eyes slowly undressing me as they skirted over my curves, my hips, then he punctuated it with a wink that heated my cheeks.
I shook my head, trying not to trip down the gravel path that looked deceptively easy right now.A slow ascent past stone walls and fields of grazing sheep.My legs were sore, and so was the delicious ache between my legs.
This morning had been something I’d usually wake up from in the middle of the night, disappointed.But it wasn’t a dream.Ren had woken up beside me, brought me coffee and pastries.His hands didn’t leave my arms, my waist, like he couldn’t stand not to be touching me.And when he told me it had been him behind Operation Sunshine, tears had burned in my eyes.I couldn’t believe that, even when I wasn’t speaking to him, when I had been avoiding him at all costs, he still made sure I was looked after.He had known exactly how to get me out of that funk, that low point.
I blushed when I thought about what we’d done afterwards, in the shower.Ren had got very creative with my legs – lifting them, so my feet were by his ears.He curled my leg over his forearm, his biceps flexing as he pinned me against the tiles and fucked me, hard and steady, never breaking eye contact.We’d been late to join the group, and they’d been waiting for us on the grass outside Ren’s room.I’d frozen when I spotted them.
Busted.
‘You look sweaty,’ Gen said, making me jump.
‘Oh, my God!’ My palm hit my chest.
‘I’ve been walking next to you for ten minutes.’ Gen’s lips twitched.
Claire wrapped a hand around my shoulders, peering at me from behind.‘Do those pink cheeks have something to do with you coming out of Ren’s room this morning?’
Gen smirked, and Claire waggled her eyebrows.As if smelling gossip, Amy turned to glance at us, her eyes brightening.
‘Are we talking about the vibes between Ren and Lydia?’ she whispered, far too loud.
I shushed her.‘You’re all gossips.’
Gen pointed.‘She hasn’t denied it.’
‘Come on.’ Amy jumped up and down.‘You know I love love.Are you two together now?Are you going to get married and have loads of cute babies?’ Amy gasped, and whisper-shouted, ‘Have you said the L-word yet?’
‘Lesbian?’ Gen said dryly.‘She’s bisexual.’
Amy rolled her eyes.‘No.Love. Duh!Have you said it yet?’
Ren’s head turned as if by instinct, his eyes landing on mine, lighting little fires across my skin.
I grabbed Amy around her shoulder, covering her mouth with my palm.‘Amy!Inside voice.’
Ren arched an eyebrow at the scene, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.Then he gave me another wink before resuming his walk.Butterflies erupted low in my belly.Well, clearly he hadn’t been freaked out by talk of the L-word.
Which was good, because I was one hundred per cent in love with him.I’d realised it this morning, when he’d told me it was him behind Operation Sunshine, but I was keeping that fact close to my chest until we were away from the gaggle of women who were using Ren and me like a juicy episode ofLove Islandwith walking boots and flasks of tea.
‘Whoa!’ Amy said once I let her go, her eyes wide.‘I didn’t realise men could do that.’
‘What?Be sexy from a distance?’ Gen asked.
‘Trouble,’ Claire added, but there was a smile on her face.‘He’s trouble, that boy.’
‘He’s always been trouble.’ I smiled quietly.‘I just think it’s the good kind now.’
The rest of the hike was done mostly in silence, apart from Mandy’s occasional chat and guidance around the steep ascents.Luckily, as Mandy had said, we had beautiful weather, not too hot or too cold.The sky was clear, a gorgeous pale blue with the occasional puff of white cloud.We had a 360° view of some of the most cinematic landscapes on the trip yet.If I’d thought the drive up was beautiful, this was incredible.There were endless rolling glens and brooding mountains, with perfect views of the reflective, shining lochs below.
But then we hit 1,000 metres and the picture changed.
Once a steady ascent, the path turned into a relentless climb over jagged rocks and loose scree.Every step required effort.The wind, which had been gentle lower down, now howled around us, tugging at our jackets and pushing against our bodies as if trying to force us back down.Mandy had warned us about the false summits, but knowing about them didn’t make them any less demoralising.Every time we thought we’d made it, another rise appeared in the distance, steeper and crueller than the last.
