“Three!”
West doesn’t hesitate or allow my own mind to get away from me as he pushes us off together. My heart stops, and then there’s nothing beneath my feet but empty air.
The cable catches, momentum carries us forward, and then I fly. We’re flying!
I let out a scream that shocks me because it’s not in fear. It’s exhilaration as the forest rushes past us in a blur. The wind whips my hair back, and West whoops beside me, a sound of pure joy that makes me laugh even as my stomach drops.
Before I know it, we’re at the next platform and it’s over. We stumble onto solid wood, breathless and grinning like giant goofballs.
“That was?—”
“Incredible,” West finishes for me, and I laugh.
Why does it always feel like we’re on the same wavelength? Someone on the outside might think we’ve known each other a lot longer.
West’s eyes are bright, and his smile is easy, making him look more boyish than a CEO. We’re breathing hard in the aftermath of shared terror, but I still feel West’s hand in mine. Neither of us lets go as he stares down at me. I sense a shift between us, then his eyes drop to my mouth.
“Bellarose.” His thumb traces my jaw, feather-light. “Is this okay?”
I nod because words have abandoned me.
West leans in slowly, giving me every chance to pull away, but I’m not going anywhere. I rise up on my toes to meet him, and then his mouth is on mine, warm and tasting like mint and adrenaline.
His other hand comes up to cradle my face, and before I know what I’m doing, I grab fistfuls of his shirt, pulling him closer, kissing him back with the same intensity.
When we finally break apart, we’re both flushed and breathing hard all over again. West rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed, a smile playing at his lips. I love that I’m having this effect on him. I’ve never ever thought of myself as sexy, but right now I do.
“That was—” He echoes my earlier words.
“Yeah,” I whisper. “It really was.” My lips still tingle, and I never want the sensation to end.
“I’ve been wanting to do that since you fell out of the tree.”
I open my mouth to respond, to tell him I’ve wanted it since then too, but a voice cuts in.
“Everything okay up there?”
“We’re fine!” West calls back, not taking his eyes off me. “Just catching our breath.”
“The next platform is waiting when you’re ready!”
West groans, pressing his forehead against mine again. “I really hate that guy.”
“You don’t even know him.” I snort a laugh.
“I hate him anyway.” He kisses my nose, then my cheek, then the corner of my mouth. “Are you ready?”
“With you? Yeah, I’m ready.” I mean that way beyond the zipline course.
Together we work our way through the course, platform by platform. Each zip gets easier, the fear melting away. By the fifth platform, I’m actually looking forward to the drop, the rush of wind, and the weightless moment before the cable catches.
At each platform, West fusses over me. He keeps finding excuses to touch me like adjusting my helmet or brushing pine needles from my hair. Each time his hand lingers at the small of my back.
“I can’t remember the last time I’ve had this much fun,” he says when we land back on the ground. He’s staring down at me. “Maybe ever.”
“Better than becoming CEO?” I tease.
“Infinitely better.” He turns to me, and the intensity in his expression makes my breath catch. “Bellarose, I…”
