17
A s we trek along the bush, about two kilometres from our AirBnB, I can’t help but revel in the change of scenery. Liv found the trail on Maps and thought it’d be a great idea to go bushwalking. Thank fuck, the weather today isn’t a scorcher. Although I’m accustomed to being outside most of the time for work, being knee-deep in nature is a refreshing shift. The weather is a pleasant twenty-three degrees, with a slight chill in the air that the warm sun balances perfectly.
My mind drifts back to that day at my place when Amelia guided me through a breathing exercise, focusing on the leaves. It had a surprisingly calming effect, quieting the relentless thoughts that have plagued me for so long. The feelings of being undervalued, of something missing in my life, of not measuring up.
But fuck if Amelia hasn’t eased the load on my chest, even if it’s just a bit.
Last night... Well, last night was intense. That kiss, that simple kiss, was life-changing—mind-altering. It left me with a fucking raging hard-on, leaving me no choice but to blow my load into my hands, like a pubescent teen, to avoid a dreaded case of blue balls. As we continue along the trail, Amelia walks in front of me, giving me a perfect view of her ass.
Have I mentioned how much I love her curves? Fuck, she’s perfect.
The way her hips sway as she walks, especially in those tight purple tights she’s wearing. Fuck, I sound like a perv.
I should stop.
Yeah, right. Wasn’t saying that last night when I was kissing her, was I? From behind, Imogen’s voice breaks my thoughts.
“How much farther do we have to go?” she gripes.
Harrison pipes up, “I can carry you if you like, sugar.”
“Over my dead body,” she snaps back. He chuckles, and then I hear the unmistakable sound of a slap echo in the air. I can only assume he slapped her ass.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” she throws back.
I can’t help but smile. Harrison really is such an idiot. He gets so much satisfaction from stirring her up. He’s been like this since the moment he met her. Honestly, their constant bickering is becoming a little boring.
As we reach a lookout over the water, Liv calls out, “We can stop here for a breather before heading back down.”
The warm sun’s getting to us now. Sweat drips down my neck and back, and my t-shirt clings to me. Harrison and Michael already ditched their shirts halfway through.
I decide to follow suit, pulling off my shirt and slinging it over my shoulder. All the intense training at the police academy has made me accustomed to rigorous activity, so I’m feeling good, apart from the heavy burn in my calves and hamstrings—which I welcome; it makes me feel liberated.
I spot Liv’s water bottle sticking out of her backpack and steal it.
“Hey! Get your own,” she snaps.
“I just need a sip,” I lie, before chugging down half the bottle.
“Yeah, a sip, my ass,” she mutters, wiping the lid. “Gross,” she feigns disgust.
“You’ll be right,” I fire back, smirking.
I turn to find Amelia eyeing me up and down shamelessly. I watch her until she catches me, and I give a subtle wink. She quickly turns away, cheeks tinged with a blush, and tries to hide it behind adjusting her backpack. Fuck, she’s adorable when she blushes like that. It makes me smile, seeing her try to play it off.
“Why are you… smiling? ” my sister blurts out, her expression one of pure confusion.
Great. Just what I needed—being caught off guard like this.
“Are you feeling alright?” She reaches out to touch my forehead, but I swat her hand away.
“Piss off.”
“Bradley, smiling? Yeah, right,” Xav scoffs.
“I wasn’t. Fuck off,” I snap, my voice clipped.
“You were! I saw it with my own eyes,” Liv adds sceptically.
“Yeah, well, get your eyes checked because you’re seeing shit,” I retort.
I catch Michael eyeing me, his smirk irritatingly knowing. What’s with everyone today?
Despite the jabs earlier, I can’t deny the playful ease that comes over me whenever I’m around her. As we head back down the trail, Amelia hunches over, hands on her thighs, gearing up for the trek back.
“Want me to carry you, sugar? ” I tease, using Harrison’s words from earlier. Her eyes widen in surprise before she playfully shoves me.
“Shh.” She grins, and we press on along the trail. I lightly nudge her shoulder, our height difference making it more of a playful tap.
“Having fun?” I ask, my voice low and teasing.
“I don’t think I’m cut out for all this,” she huffs, wiping sweat from her forehead. “I’m a sweaty mess.”
“Don’t worry, being a sweaty mess suits you,” I tease, a smirk tugging at my lips. In my head, that sounded much cleaner. I shake my head, chuckling softly, realising it might have come off dirtier than intended.
Amelia shoots me a surprised glance, her cheeks reddening. “Yeah, right,” she scoffs, but her eyes twinkle with amusement.
I lean in a bit closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. “It’s true,” I reply with a wink, surprising even myself with the playful confidence.
Fuck, who is this guy? He’s so unlike me.
Imogen’s voice breaks our moment. “You two alright?”
I turn my head, my heart dropping as I realise the group has continued walking down the trail, and I hadn’t even fucking noticed. All eyes are on us, and Olivia watches with a confused expression.
Fuck.
I look at Amelia, her eyes slightly widened as she fidgets with her bag straps.
“Yep,” I call back, throwing up a thumbs-up.
“Just needed to catch my breath,” surprisingly, Amelia calls out, and the group turns back around.
“Righto. Chop chop,” my brother says, waving us to continue.
As we walk, I can’t shake the feeling that I might have crossed a line. Should I have flirted like that? Should I have made those comments? Am I being too friendly with her? Maybe it was the kiss that did it, making everything more complicated. Now, I find myself acting differently around her because of it. So much for those fucking rules I put in place. And now, all I can see is Olivia’s confused face.
As we catch up to the group, my heart pounds fiercely in my chest, a rhythm of guilt and confusion. Or maybe it’s clarity I’m denying. It’s wrong, what I’m doing. Kissing my sister’s best friend behind everyone’s back. But every time I see her, it’s like I’m shedding a layer of my armour.
Feeling less... guarded.
That kiss... It’s astounding how such a seemingly simple act can flip everything. But deep down, I know it’s not just about that kiss.
It’s something that’s been simmering, ignored for years. A longing, a connection I never acknowledged.
Fuck.
Sitting by the fire outside, near the balcony, I stare into the flames, lost in thought. Citronella sticks flicker, keeping mosquitoes at bay. Crickets chirp, and the river flows steadily. What a life it would be, living out here—secluded, peaceful. My mind drifts to an idyllic vision: a wife, kids, dogs, and family visiting occasionally.
But just as she has lately, Amelia intrudes on these thoughts.
Why am I picturing her like this suddenly? Could I see myself spending my life with her? It’s only been a few days and one kiss.
Settle down, champ.
Goosebumps prickle my skin, and I reach for my beer, taking a big sip to quiet my thoughts. The girls start talking, their voices tinged with disappointment.
“I can’t believe we have to go back to work soon,” Isla sighs.
“Ugh, I know,” Imogen groans. The guys chime in with low grumbles of agreement.
“Yeah, back to the grind,” Harrison mutters, taking a swig of his beer. “Joe will have our asses if we don’t.”
“Tell me about it,” Michael adds, shaking his head with a smile.
I listen quietly, the crackling of the fire and the distant sounds of nature forming a soothing backdrop. Truthfully, I don’t mind the idea of returning to work. The routine, the busyness—it’s grounding. It gives me purpose, a sense of structure that I’ve come to rely on. While the others express their reluctance about going back, I find solace in the prospect of normalcy. But I keep that to myself, sipping my beer and letting the conversation wash over me.
“Has anyone seen my phone?” Isla asks out of the blue.
“Think I saw it on the table inside,” Xavier answers.
“Gee, thanks for grabbing it for me,” Isla says sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
“Sorry, ma’am. I’ll get that right away for you,” Xavier retorts, equally sarcastic but unmoving. Harrison makes a whip-cracking noise, and Xavier responds with a middle finger, eliciting a snort from me.
Amelia breaks the banter, saying, “I’ll grab it for you. I’m heading to the loo, anyway.”
“Oh, you’re a gem, Amelia. Thank you!” Isla says with a genuine smile.
I watch as she stands and disappears inside. I want to follow her, but I can’t. Since our kiss yesterday, all I’ve wanted is another moment alone with her. I pause, unsure whether to follow her. The group has settled into conversation again, so slipping away shouldn’t raise eyebrows, right?
Ah, to hell with it.
What was that bullshit I spouted the other night about doing something selfish for myself? Yeah, this feels like one of those moments.
“Anyone else want another beer?” I ask, already heading toward the screen door. Harrison and Xav nod, so I step inside and close the door behind me, making my way quietly to the kitchen.
I hear the faint sound of Amelia washing up, and soon enough, she emerges from the bathroom. Our eyes meet in the dim light of the house. Outside, the fading daylight offers us privacy unless someone stumbles upon us. The situation feels tense, my instincts at odds with reason. Yet, I can’t deny the pull toward her, like some damn magnet defying all logic and caution. She walks up to me, looking timid.
“Hey,” I say, my voice lower than I intended.
“Hey,” she replies, almost in a whisper.
I step closer, the beers forgotten on the counter. “You know, since yesterday...”
“I know,” she interrupts, surprising me with her preemptive understanding. She feels it, too.
The light filtering in from outside catches on her face, illuminating those brown irises with golden specks. They’re captivating. Beautiful.
She is beautiful. Fucking hell.
“I can’t stop thinking about... about how you kissed me,” she says innocently, her fingers moving to touch her lips. My gaze drops to her mouth, and I watch as she rolls them inward, making them slightly parted and glistening under the light.
The sight sends a jolt through me; fuck, I want to kiss her.
“Me, too,” I respond, my voice gravelly and low. Amelia bites her lip, a simple gesture that sends a thrill down my spine .
“What do we do?” she asks, barely audible over the pounding of my heart.
“I don’t know,” I whisper, unable to resist the magnetic pull between us. “But I do know I want to kiss you again.”
Closing the distance between us, I press my lips to hers.
My senses are immediately overwhelmed by the feel of her hands on my chest, fingers gripping into the fabric of my shirt. With one hand firmly on her waist and the other tangled in her hair, I pull her closer to me, unable to resist the magnetic pull between us. She gasps against my lips, and her breath becomes shallow and rapid as I tug on her hair gently, eliciting a gasp from her.
I feel myself getting lost in her—her touch, her taste, her scent. It’s like nothing else exists in that moment except for the two of us. Her tongue is soft and warm on mine, dancing in a silent, tantalising rhythm that sets my senses ablaze.
Fuck, despite her never having kissed anyone before, she’s a fucking natural.
But then, a small sound escapes her lips, breaking the spell and reminding me of where we are. Reluctantly, I break away from her embrace, feeling the cold air hit my skin as I step back.
“Fuck,” I rasp, my voice rough as I step away. “I’m sorry, I should have asked first.”
“It’s okay,” she breathes, her voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t be sorry.”
But is it really? I can feel the tension between us, the hesitation in her touch. Yet, there’s something else there, too—a spark that ignites with every brush of our skin. She reaches out for my hand, her touch grounding me in the reality of the moment. I look into her eyes, searching for any sign of regret or discomfort, but all I find is a raw honesty that mirrors my own feelings. The air crackles with unspoken words as we stand there.
“We should probably head back outside,” I say, my voice more steady than I feel.
“Yeah, you’re right.” She sounds disappointed as she turns to leave, and I let her pass. She grabs Isla’s phone from the kitchen bench before walking back outside. As I watch her leave, a whirlwind of emotions swirls within me. Regret, desire, uncertainty—all battling for dominance in my mind. I know I should follow her, rejoin the group outside, but my feet remain rooted to the spot. Their laughter and music drift in from the balcony, starkly contrasting with the heaviness in the air around me.
“Hey, Amelia, have you seen Bradley? Did he get lost?” Michael’s voice cuts through the evening air, followed by Harrison’s teasing tone.
“Yeah, and where are our beers? He left us high and dry!”
Well, that’s the cue I need. I completely forgot about those damn beers. Seems like I’ve developed a habit of that whenever she’s around.
Forgetting shit.
I force my legs to move, shaking off the haze of conflicting emotions clouding my head. Grabbing the three beers, I stride outside.
“Did you get lost, Bradley? We were about to send out a search party.” Michael looks at me with raised eyebrows.
“Got a call from work. Sorry,” I lie smoothly, handing out the beers before settling next to Liv, who eyes me curiously. I shoot her a glare, silently warning her to mind her own damn business.
Amelia is already seated next to Liv, sipping wine. Despite my best efforts to avoid her gaze, I can’t help but feel drawn to her. It’s fucked up how much I want her. The way she looks at me, the way she makes me feel—it’s like nothing else matters.
I wrestle with the urge to act on it, knowing I should keep my distance.
At least for now.