“You don’t need to pay us, Summer.”
My mouth drops open. “Yes, I do. I’m not going to mooch free rent from you guys forever.”
Finally, he spares a glance over at me. His jaw is set in a determined line. “It’s not like it costs us anything to let you stay for free for a while longer.”
“Ethan. I can’t.”
Suddenly he turns the steering wheel sharply and pulls to the side of the road. When the truck is stopped, he turns in his seat to face me.
“Summer, listen. There’s not a lot I can do for you when it comes to the resort. I can help, and give you my time, but I don’t even have much of that to spare. The one thing I, and Mila, can and want to do, is let you stay in the apartment for free. We’ve talked about it, and we both feel the same way. This is what we can do for you, so please let us.”
I’m wondering how the hell I got so lucky, and how on earth I can ever pay them back, when he continues, tapping his chin with a teasing grin.
“But, if you really want to pay rent, I accept orgasms as payment. Yours or mine.”
That makes me laugh instead of cry, and I unbuckle my seatbelt so I can shift close enough to kiss him. He takes it further, pulling me into his lap. Even with the steering wheel digging into my back, I feel myself relaxing into his touch. But when I go to reach for the waistband of his shorts, he covers my hand with his.
“Nuh uh. We’re going on this hike.” His eyes are alight with desire, but his words are full of teasing.
With an exaggerated huff, I move back to my seat. Somehow, he manages to lightly smack my ass on the way.
“Don’t worry, there will be time for you to start paying me once we’re at the springs.”
We get back on the road, and within a couple of minutes we’re at the trailhead for the hot springs. There are no other cars in the parking lot, and I shiver with anticipation at the thought of having the entire place to ourselves, no one to hear us or see us.
Ethan grabs our packs and helps me get mine on and fitting comfortably before we set out on the trail.
“We’ll have to watch for bears,” he says casually, patting a yellow canister at his side. “But I’ve got bear spray. Just stay close to me, I’ll keep you safe.”
“My plaid-covered hero,” I tease, nudging his arm, which is, in fact, covered in yet another plaid shirt.
“Hey, you like my plaid.”
“Mmm hmm, I do. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to tease you about being a lumberjack.”
He raises his eyebrow at me. “I’ve got a big axe and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“Oh my God.” I dissolve into giggles. “That was beyond cheesy.”
Ethan tugs me along the path, and I stumble after him, still trying to contain my laughter. But soon the beauty of the nature surrounding us stuns me into silence, and we walk quietly, enjoying nothing more than the sound of birds chirping, and the trees rustling in the light breeze. It’s a perfect spring day, the kind that makes you hopeful for new beginnings and such.
Eventually we arrive at the hot spring pools. The first one is quite large and is evidently the most popular one. It has natural benches carved into the stone, and a shallow entry point. But we don’t stop there. Ethan carries on up the trail, before turning off the path and leading me between some trees.
Out of nowhere, heaven appears — if heaven is a small pool with hot water burbling out of it, lush trees, and moss-covered rocks everywhere, along with sunlight dappling down through the trees.
“Oh, Ethan, it’s perfect,” I say quietly, not wanting to disturb the peace. When I turn back to him, he’s taking off his shirt. My eyes watch appreciatively as his muscles ripple in front of me. He catches me watching and he grins before sauntering over to me, and slowly lifting my shirt off. When my bikini is revealed, he rumbles an incoherent sound as his gaze roves over my body. The tiny red triangles don’t cover much, and I can sense how much he enjoys the sight emanating from his body in waves.
Hand in hand we slowly lower ourselves into the warm water. It’s the perfect temperature; not quite as warm as a hot tub, but warmer than bath water. The contrast between the cool spring air and the warm water is delicious and instantly hardens my nipples.
“Come here,” Ethan says, only it comes out as a growling command, one I cannot help but obey.
I move over to straddle his lap.
“I’m dying to get inside of you, but I won’t. Not here, where anyone could see. Your pleasure is for me, and me alone.
God, this filthy alpha side of him is hot. I squirm in his lap. Surely he doesn’t mean we aren’t going to do anything?
“There’s no one else here right now,” I say, the words coming out on a moan as I rub myself along the rigid outline of his cock.
