Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Hannah
I can't help but feel cheerful as I plan the surprise date to the waterfall.
My pulse skitters with anticipation, hoping the serene setting might be exactly what Armando needs to relax and open up to me.
Plus, I desperately need a break from the constant grind of worrying about Garden of Eden. We both deserve this moment of respite.
“Armando.” My voice trembles slightly with excitement. “I have a surprise for you.”
He raises an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “What is it?”
I step into him, my hand brushing down his rock hard abs. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
He hesitates. “Surprises…might not be the best for me right now. Considering my situation.”
I expected this kind of response. It doesn't deter me, though. I'm determined to bring some light into his life, even if it means chipping away at those walls he's built around himself.
“I understand your situation, but I promise this won’t put us in danger. Here”–I toss him the keys–“You can drive.” I hope giving him that measure of control will be enough to get him to come with me.
The corners of his lips tilt up slightly. “Okay, Flowers. If I’m driving.” He reaches a hand out for me, and I take it as we leave the apartment and head out to the van.
He remains guarded, however, as we drive towards the unknown destination. I’m aware that the weight of his past and the dangers that still lurk in the shadows are never far from his mind. But I’m hell-bent on breaking through the wall he’s built to protect himself.
“Are you going to give me any hints?” he finally asks, glancing over at me as he drives.
I’m practically bouncing in my seat, struggling to not blurt out what’s coming. I’ve never been good at secrets. “Nope!” I giggle, shaking my head. “You'll just have to wait and see.”
He lets out an almost imperceptible sigh. “Fine,” he concedes, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “But I'd better be impressed.”
I can't contain my happiness as I notice Armando's smile.
It's subtle, but it's there, and it feels like a victory. We're getting closer to the waterfall—a little hidden secret just outside Chicago’s city limits, and my giddiness grows with every passing mile. I haven’t been to this place in ages, and I’m questioning why as we get further and further from the city.
“Almost there.” I practically bounce in my seat. “Less than thirty minutes, I promise.”
Armando shakes his head, but there’s amusement in his eyes. The sunshine is starting to break through his grumpy exterior. My plan may be working.
I direct him to the spot. The sound of cascading water fills the air when we finally step out of the van. The lush forest surrounding us feels like a secret world just waiting to be explored.
“Do I look like the hiking type?” he teases, but I can see he’s happy.
“It’s not far. Come on,” I say, grabbing Armando's hand and leading him down the well-worn path towards the waterfall. “You're going to love it here.”
As we walk closer to the roaring water, he scans our surroundings, taking in the vibrant greenery and the delicate wildflowers that line the trail. It feels like the perfect moment to share a piece of my past with him.
“I used to come here all the time when I was a kid,” I confess, feeling a bit vulnerable as I open up to him.
“It was a needed break from the loudness and the dullness of the city. This is where I first fell in love with flowers and foliage. I always knew I had to work around color and beautiful things.”
“I’ve never been much of a nature man.” He walks up and puts his arms around me. “But I am now.” He kisses my jaw. “At least, I’m a huge fan of flowers.”
I laugh.
“Yep, I have all the color and beautiful things I need simply by being around you.”
My heart skips a beat with my victory. Armando is softening. Opening up. I can feel it in the steadiness of his embrace. I hear it in his words. And as he looks into my eyes, I see it.
He takes a deep breath. “Prison was... suffocating,” he begins, his voice heavy with emotion. “Everything was gray, from the walls to the floors to the bars that kept me caged. It was hard to imagine anything else.” He leans down and gives me a small peck to the lips. “Until now.”
I can't even begin to comprehend what he must have gone through, but I appreciate his willingness to open up to me. I have so many questions about his time in prison, but I’ll never ask. I’ll simply wait for moments like this. When he willingly gives me little peeks into that time.
“I don’t deserve you,” he says.
“You do.” I kiss him. “You’re the best thing that has happened to me.”
“My life…” He pauses and looks around. He motions to his surroundings. “This has never been my life. Flowers and nature and—this just wasn’t my life.”
“It is now.” I tug him toward the final destination.
As I lead him along the riverbank, the sound of rushing water and delicate bird songs fill the air. The sun filters through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground beneath our feet.
As we continue our stroll, my foot slips on a particularly slick rock.
Instinctively, Armando reaches out and grabs my arm to steady me, ensuring I don’t lose my balance.
His watchful touch sends a thrilling jolt through me, but as much as I appreciate his protectiveness, I want to show him that I'm capable of taking care of myself too.
Gently, I pull my hand away from his grasp and navigate the rocks on my own.
“Everything okay?” His voice is gruff. My tough guy. Everything is a growl or a grumble.
“Everything's fine,” I assure him. “I just want to prove to myself, and to you, that I can do this on my own.”
He nods, seemingly understanding my need for independence, though I can see the concern in his eyes.
“Just don’t bust your ass, Flowers,” he says, stepping back slightly but still watching me closely. “I’ve grown fond of it lately.”
The sound of the waterfall grows louder as we make our way along the riverbank, its misty spray creating a refreshing coolness in the air. As we round a bend, the waterfall comes into full view, cascading down into a crystal-clear pool below.
“Wow,” I breathe, struck by the beauty of the scene before us. “It's even more amazing than I remembered. It’s been way too long since I’ve been here.”
Armando takes in the serenity of the secluded spot. His gaze lingers on me for a moment, and I see the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly. He looks almost... relaxed.
“Close your eyes,” I instruct gently, placing my hand on his chest. He hesitates but eventually complies, his eyelids fluttering shut.
With my other hand, I pluck a wildflower from a nearby bush and bring it to his nose, letting him take in its delicate scent.
“Smell that?” I ask softly. “That's what happiness smells like to me.”
Slowly, he opens his eyes, and he leans toward my neck and inhales deeply. “This is what happiness smells like to me.”
He pulls me close and captures my lips in a searing kiss.
His hands tangle in my hair, anchoring me to him as we lose ourselves in each other's embrace.
Scooping me into his arms, he lowers me onto a soft bed of moss near the waterfall's edge.
Our lips meet again, the passion between us growing more intense by the second.
I run my hands down his chest, feeling the defined muscles ripple beneath his shirt. Armando's hands roam over my body, tracing the curves of my form. I arch my back into him, a low moan escaping my lips as he presses his body tightly against mine.
His lips leave mine, trailing soft kisses down my neck, sending shivers down my spine. His fingers hook into the waistband of my jeans, tugging them down my legs along with my panties. I moan as his fingers brush against my inner thigh, his warm breath tickling my skin.
“Hannah,” I think I hear him say, over the sound of the waterfall.
He kisses his way back up my body, his lips meeting mine once again. I feel the heat emanating off his body, the bulge in his pants pressing against my thigh. I reach down to undo his pants, freeing his hardened length.
I pull him closer to me as our bodies become one.
The heat between us is palpable, our desire igniting a fire that burns fiercely.
I want him, need him, and he knows it. His hands travel down my body, finding the sweet spot between my legs.
I gasp as he begins to stroke me, each touch sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body.
I don’t think it’s possible to ever tire of this man. I’ve never had so much sex in my life, and I’m greedy for more.
He groans as I wrap my hand around him, stroking him slowly. He kisses me deeply, his tongue tangling with mine as he positions himself at my entrance.
“I want you.” His voice is gruff with desire. “I don’t know if that was your intent by taking me here. But I can’t resist any longer.”
Slowly, he pushes himself inside of me, his hardness filling me completely. I moan loudly as he begins to thrust, each movement drawing me closer and closer to the edge. I dig my nails into his back, holding on to him as our bodies rock together.
I can feel myself getting closer to climax with each passing second. I tense my muscles and hold my breath, trying to hold back the ecstasy I know is on the horizon.
Armando's breath is ragged, his face and neck flushed with passion. I can tell he is getting close to release, but something is holding him back.
“Come with me,” I whisper in his ear, squeezing my thighs against him as I press my lips to his.
My whispered words seem to spur him on. He slams into me harder than ever, burying himself deep inside me. I cry out as I feel a wave of pleasure crash over me. My muscles spasm as I feel Armando shoot his seed into me, shaking with pleasure as he climaxes.
He collapses onto me, stealing breath from my lungs. Our bodies are slick with sweat, but we don't move. We lie together for a few moments until Armando finally pulls out of me. He kisses me slowly on the lips.
We don't speak. We only breathe.
As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, casting the world around us in hues of gold and pink, Armando and I break apart for a moment, our gazes locked. The look in his eyes tells me everything I need to know—he's in this just as deeply as I am.