Chapter 10 Brad
Brad
Noah is fucking testing me.
“Come on, you’re lagging behind.” Noah teases me over his shoulder.
I roll my eyes but push myself to keep following close behind as the group makes their way up a trail I don’t recognize.
I’ve been to this national park a million times but it’s clear that these young people are actually from around here. They walk through these backwoods with no care or worry in their hearts. Honestly, the carefree attitude reminds me of Noah.
But yet, it’s that same similarity that twists my insides into something toxic. I’m not sure why he wanted to go with them so badly. He clearly knows that Dakota girl. So what—have they been intimate before? Do they want to be?
I would’ve been fine skipping the invitation all together and heading back to the tent to finish what we started in the shower, but, if this is what he wants…
so be it. Maybe being around other people is a good idea, right now.
Clearly, I can’t seem to get enough of him, and the urges are only growing stronger the more we keep… exploring each other.
If I keep giving in to what my body wants, I might cross a serious line I won’t be able to come back from.
I’m not exactly sure how this pierced, bad boy with a smart-mouth has managed to peel back my layers and bite into me like a raw fucking onion, but he has. I’m so fucking done for and now, thanks to him, there’s no way I’ll be returning home after this weekend the same man I came here as.
“Okay, y’all.” Dakota stops on the edge of the cliff, turning to face all of us.
“You know the drill! Aim straight for the center, away from the rocks. Keep your arms tucked to your sides and your legs straight to avoid a nasty smack. Belly flops suck, trust me. And no flips unless you know what you’re doing—looking at you, Jon!
” She points and narrows her eyes to her friend Jon, who throws his hands up in fake surrender, making everyone laugh.
“Chris and Tony are both down there waiting with canoes that’ll take us back to shore when we’re ready.
Wave to Chris and Tony.” She smiles. We all make our way to the edge of the cliff.
Right away I take in how high up we are.
The sudden drop makes me hesitate, my feet skittering backwards.
“Woah, you okay?” Noah asks, gripping my arm tightly. His firm hand actually does settle my heart and I return back to the moment as I look into his calm eyes, bouncing back and forth between mine.
“Yeah, I’m good.” I look down off the cliff again and give Chris and Tony a confident wave.
Everyone cheers around us, shedding off their clothes like a second skin.
I look away as fast as I can, avoiding all the naked asses.
“Oh fuck yeah! We’re doing this naked?” Noah gasps excitedly, putting his thumbs in his waistband.
“It’s the only way.” Dakota laughs, as does everyone else as they all cheer and excitedly strip.
I quickly reach out, stopping Noah from exposing himself. “Stop…” I hear myself say. I can’t explain it but…no, I don’t want them to see him. They haven’t…earned that right. His body is important and should be treated as such.
Noah’s eyes search mine for an answer I can’t give. I see him reading my face, like it’s the most interesting thing he’s seen all day. Not the bouncing bare boobs, or the various dicks swinging around us. It’s just me and him looking at each other.
“Oh, you’re so right. Sorry, I didn’t even think about how weird it’d be for you two to see each other naked.” Dakota giggles beside us, breaking through the tension.
I step back to create some distance between Noah and I. Right, we’re supposed to have boundaries.
I’m not sure why I had to call myself his step-dad. It’s not even true. Not yet, anyway…probably won’t ever be.
Noah breaks eye contact to look at Dakota, even though I really wish he didn’t.
“Yeah, wouldn’t want him to see me in all my naked glory.” Noah teases, leaving a pang in my chest.
Dakota throws her head back, laughing. “Shame. Because after all this time, I’d really like to know, how glorious could it really be?” She rests her hand on Noah’s shoulder and my eyes zone into the way she steps closer. Topless and carefree. And dammit, of course she has a nice body too.
I wonder if Noah’s into her. I wouldn’t blame him if he was. She’s his age. A woman. Not engaged to his mother. It’d be easy for him to be with someone like her. No complications.
I grit my teeth together, feeling a burn in my veins.
“Well, are we doing this or what?” I bite out.
Their flirty little moment stops abruptly when I step away from them, and walk over to the edge. Much of the others have already made their way jumping off and into the water.
It looks high enough. No signs of sharp rocks. Deep water with little rippling waves. All looks safe but I do feel a little nervous.
“You overthinking over here, old man?” Noah comes over, grasping my shoulder in his hand.
I shrug it off, feeling a little sour with what I just saw. Dammit. I wish I didn’t feel this way.
“I’m fine.”
“Incoming!” Dakota laughs, squeezing past the two of us and effortlessly jumping off the cliff and gracefully entering the water.
“Woah, awesome!” Noah laughs, watching her pop out of the water. My eyes can’t look away from him though. He’s seriously impressed by this? It’s a jump.
“You’ve got to be joking,” I huff, not being able to shut the hell up.
Noah looks at me, and I silently curse at myself for giving him ammo to tease me with.
His mouth perks up on one side. “What? You jealous?”
I scoff. “Of what? Jumping off a little cliff like this?” I kick off a rock and watch it land in the water. Okay, it's not a little jump. This is clearly an advanced swimming height.
“No, not off the cliff. Of her,” Noah tilts his head to the water. I look down to see Dakota swim over to her friends who are splashing and joking around in the water. Her long black hair behind her makes her look like a damn mermaid.
I narrow my eyes and clench my jaw. “Nah, not in the slightest.”
Noah’s smug smile still is plastered on his face as he continues to test me. “So, you wouldn’t mind if I hooked up with her? I think she wants to.”
My stomach twists into knots. He says it casually, but I can see it in his eyes—he wants a reaction. He wants to know if I’d care. And the worst part is…I do. I care too fucking much.
Honestly, I’d rather eat tree bark for all three meals than watch that happen, but I can’t say that. So, instead, I say, “No, not in the slightest. You’re single. You can do what you want.”
Noah, rolls his eyes and steps back from the cliff. “You’re deranged.”
“What?” I ask. “You want me to say you can’t? I’m with your mom, Noah. What about that don’t you understand—”
Before I finish my idiotic, clearly defensive sentence, Noah runs and jumps straight off the cliff.
My heart lunges into my throat as I watch him straight leg into the water, disappearing under the surface.
“Noah!” I yell out, lungs tight. My heart claws its way into my throat. I can’t breathe. I can’t wait.
One second I’m on the cliff, the next second, cold water hits me. I’m up, breaking the surface before I know it. The one and only thing on my mind is Noah.
“Noah!” I call out, looking from left to right. My heart is pounding so fast. I can’t think. His hazel eyes. His charming smile. His playful mouth. Where is he? WHERE IS HE!? “NOAH!”
I’m right about to dive back under the water before I hear some laughter coming from my right.
Swimming over to the group gathered a little ways over, I see Noah laughing and splashing with the rest of them.
My heart immediately calms down.
“Noah,” I say softer this time, swimming closer. “Didn’t you hear me calling for you?”
Noah turns to me, but I can see a sense of disdain from him now. Here we go again. Back to him pushing me away after something stupid I’ve said.
“Nah, I didn’t,” he answers.
“Well, I did. Now, come on. Let’s go,” I say, reaching out for his arm.
“What? No! You guys can’t leave already. We’re going to do it again,” Dakota pouts, swimming over and draping her arm over Noah’s shoulders to stay afloat. The way she wraps herself around him makes my stomach feel uneasy.
“We’re good. Come on, Noah. That’s enough for today—” I pull. I feel childish, like we’re playing tug of war or something.
“You know what? I think I’m gonna stay.” Noah's eyes squint at me.
My stomach drops.
“You want to stay?” I release my hold on his arm.
“I want to stay,” he repeats.
I clench my jaw.
“We’ll get him back to your campsite okay, I promise.” Dakota smiles.
Noah quirks his eyebrow at me which makes me even more angry. An angry stir turns in my gut as I watch Dakota prop her chin on her hand that’s resting on Noah’s shoulder.
My gaze flicks between them. Do they want to be alone so they can fuck?
Images of the two of them flash in my brain like a horror movie.
All of the thoughts make me want to punch something and I seriously need to take myself out of this equation.
“Fine. I’m out of here. Have fun.” I grunt, turning to swim back to the shore.
“Tony can take you back!” Dakota yells out.
“I’m fine,” I answer, choosing to swim back instead.
***
I was certainly not fine.
That was a long fucking swim back to shore.
I was exhausted by the time I made it back.
Not to mention, I didn’t account for the hike to the campsite afterwards.
There were a couple of times I was certain I got turned around and was heading the wrong way.
Thankfully, I was able to catch a few park signs that pointed me in the right direction.
Without those, I certainly would’ve wound up on one of those missing people documentaries.
At least it gave me some time to think about what the hell was going on with Noah. Did the jealous feelings subside? Not in the slightest. But, it gave me an opportunity to figure out why they were happening in the first place.
I’ve never…experienced this with a guy before. It’s only natural that I’m territorial in a way over him. Protective. Not in a possessive type of way…just a…I don’t want to see him with anyone else, type of way.
By the time I returned, I was dehydrated, starving, and my legs were on the edge of giving out.
The sun is already setting in the sky which tells me enough that I’ve been gone for much longer than I had intended.
I basically hobble back to the campsite and flop down in one of the chairs, feeling the immediate relief off of my feet.
Suddenly, a loud zip of the tent sounds in my ears, nearly knocking me off my chair in surprise.
“Holy shit!” Noah, exclaims, practically falling out of the tent door.
I see now that he has a head lamp—my head lamp— around his forehead, a backpack around his shoulders and a canteen in his hand. All of which are mine that he must’ve strung together.
“I was just coming to look for you!” He gasps, running over to me. “Where have you been!?” He rushes out. I can hardly get a word out before he’s emptying the canteen full of cold water down my throat.
“I got back two hours ago thinking you were just lagging behind.” He shakes his head.
I can see now with him standing so close that he has worry on his face.
The smug anger is gone and is now replaced by his nervous lip biting.
After I drink all the water, he drops the canteen and crouches by my feet.
“Swimming took awhile. Got turned around a couple times trying to make it back.” I finally breathe, wiping my mouth off with the back of my hand.
“You must be exhausted,” he says softly, lifting my foot onto his lap and easing off my sneaker. I stay frozen, watching, as he carefully repeats it with the other foot.
Suddenly, a wave of pleasure rushes through me as his thumb digs into the arch of my left foot. He smooths it out, running upwards, and then back down again. I bite my lower lip, keeping my moans stuffed inside.
“It’s okay. It must feel good.” He digs in again, keeping his eyes on me. “Let me hear you,” he says softly.
I drop my head back, closing my eyes. “Fuck Noah, that’s so perfect.” I allow myself to say out loud.
“Yeah?” He dips his thumb again, sparking that same feeling, drawing out a deep moan from my lips.
“Fuck, yeah.” I groan.
He does this for a while, happily working the soreness out of my feet, turning me into putty in his hands.
He clearly didn’t go with the group like he said he was going to.
I want to ask why but I don’t. Maybe it was for me.
Maybe it wasn’t. But, watching him tend to me, bringing me more water, making us dinner over the fire he starts up—hot dogs and ready-made macaroni salad— it’s clear that he didn’t want to go as much as I didn’t want him to.
And knowing he’s here and not banging Dakota in a tent somewhere, that’s good enough for me.