Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Such a bossy motherfucker,” Josh teased, and I laughed.
I couldn’t wait to spend more time with them.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Knox
“Are you sure you’re not taking me somewhere to hide my body?” Callum asked as we made our way along the trail through the woods.
I glanced at him over my shoulder. “There are a lot of things I’d like to do to your body, but hiding it isn’t one of them.”
Cal stopped in his tracks. “Oh my God.” He wobbled slightly, and I was afraid he was going to go down.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. That was really hot.”
“You brat.” Reaching over, I took his hand. We each had a backpack full of supplies for what I was hoping would be a day out of the house, but secluded, just us. I wanted to simply…be with him while also sharing one of my favorite places.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He kissed my shoulder as we walked.
“Nah, it’s fine.”
“You still won’t tell me where we’re going?” he asked. I’d packed the bags and hadn’t let him look inside them.
“Nope.”
“You like to torture me.”
“Again, not what I want to do to your body, unless we’re talking making you crazy because of how much you want me.”
“Um…because that’s not already my constant state? Apparently it was obvious from the very beginning. When I was working out with Kellan and Josh yesterday, they thought I staked my claim that first night.”
When he’d come home from the gym, he’d told me he hung out with them and they’d talked about us. I appreciated that he made sure it was okay, which it was, and I was also glad he’d connected with them. I wanted Callum to love it here. I wanted it to be his home. “I was so confused.”
“You were?” We kept walking along the overgrown trail.
“Yeah. You have to remember, I never really thought about being with a guy before. I didn’t know I was bi, and no guy had looked at me like that before, not that I’m aware of, anyway. It threw me for a loop, but I think maybe, if I let myself see it, even then you intrigued me. I didn’t understand why, but I felt…something.” I rubbed a hand over my beard, feeling a bit like an idiot. “That sounds dumb.”
“No.” Cal shook his head, and I noticed he was touching his chest the same way. “It sounds like us.”
My heart sped up, swelled until I felt almost too much pressure in my chest. “I like that.”
It only took us another ten minutes to get there, and then the thick army of trees opened up, revealing the swimming hole. It was secluded, this little oasis tucked into the forest, too small for most people to consider anything special. It was always quiet, with a shallower side with rocks that was almost a rock slide and then a deeper section.
“Knox…it’s beautiful here. Why isn’t it busier?” Callum let go of my hand and began to explore.
“Too far out, I guess. And too small. Most people don’t bother as there are other areas to swim, but I love it. This is one of my favorite places in Havenwood.”
“Thank you for sharing it with me.”
I wasn’t sure there was anything I didn’t want to share with him.
“The waterfall is pretty.” Callum pointed. “Can we walk to the other side?”
“Yeah, of course.” We took our backpacks off. I tugged my shirt over my head and dropped it, and we removed our shoes and socks too. “The rocks on the edge go across.”
I led him over, and we started to make our trip along the slippery path. I didn’t get far before my foot slid and I went down on my ass, jeans getting wet in the water.
“Oh my God. Are you okay?” Callum rushed out.
“Fine. Feeling clumsy, is all.”
“Does that mean I get to laugh at you? Because the way your arms flailed…” He laughed, and I looked up at him. “But damn, now I don’t feel like laughing anymore. You look really hot.”
“Yeah, well, now you’re going to be wet and hot.” I grabbed his wrist and tugged him, making sure to catch him so he didn’t hurt himself.
Callum went down between my legs, his back to my chest and my arms around him. His body vibrated with laughter, from his back through to me.
He cocked his head and looked up at me. My damn breath hitched, and I leaned in and took his mouth. Like always, he tasted both sweet and sassy but mainly just mine. I was falling deep, likely already fell. After Carol, I never saw myself getting serious with anyone again, but now…now, I couldn’t imagine my life without Callum. I didn’t want him to ever leave it.
“Come on. Let me show you the waterfall.”
He nodded, stood carefully, and held his hand out for me. I let him help me up, but then he went back the way we came and began stripping out of his clothes. I followed and did the same, until we were both down to our underwear.