Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Casey
Could there be a deity out there, after all? Because it would explain how, after I’ve been dreaming about Austin all week, I currently find myself in a kayak with him. There’s nowhere to run. We’re stuck with each other for the next couple of hours.
And I’m loving every aspect of that prospect. I know the guy’s a decade older than me and clearly has some stuff to work through as an ex-military guy, but I can’t help how I feel. Ever since meeting him, I’ve felt this invisible pull to him.
I’ve been trying to run into him all week. First, I thought it was a good idea to start weeding my driveway, hoping he’d show up and join me, but he didn’t. Then, I tried to get him to come on a hiking trip with me, but again, he was nowhere to be seen when I left the house.
My friends say I’m nuts for not flat-out asking him out, but I’m too afraid to be told no, thanks, like I have been so many before. It’s different with Austin, though. The other guys I had a crush on in the past didn’t have this all-consuming effect on me like he does. They didn’t cause me to lie awake at night, fantasizing about exploring every single corner of the room with them. But with Austin… Let’s just say I’d do anything to have him push me against the wall and pull down my shorts. I can already feel my pussy opening just by thinking about it.
I glance at him over my shoulder, and he gives me a heart-stopping smile. “Everything okay?”
“Uh-huh,” I say, though my focus is more on how his muscles flex as he paddles than on guiding our kayak in the right direction.
“I could use some help here,” he says with a teasing grin. “We’re veering off course. A lot.”
I turn my gaze forward again and start paddling again. We spend most of the next twenty minutes in silence, absorbing the beautiful views. All around us, the mountains tower high and mighty, and birds fly over the area. At one point, I swear I spot a bear through the thick foliage. I take a mental picture so I can paint the scene later.
Behind me, I hear Austin let out a content sigh. “Now this is what I call heaven.”
“Yeah, it’s beautiful here.”
“And quiet,” he says. “I don’t have any trouble hearing what you’re saying without the usual background noise.”
“Does your injury cause you a lot of trouble?” I ask, dipping my paddle in the water in sync with him.
He’s quiet for a moment. “It does. Having a conversation in a bar or another busy place is hard. But when I joined the Army, I knew getting hurt was a possibility. At least I returned alive. A busted eardrum is nothing compared to the worst-case scenario of never returning at all.”
It’s the first time he’s spoken so openly to me about that aspect of his life. The hurt in his voice breaks my heart.
“I’m sorry, Austin. That must be tough to bear. My door is always open, okay? Whenever you want to talk, just come over.”
“Thank you, Casey.” He clears his throat. “Do you want to take a break? We can stop at that embankment over there. It’s low enough to pull our kayak onto shore.”
“Sure.”
We steer toward the left side of the river, pointing the tip of the kayak to the embankment. Austin jumps into the water and pulls the kayak on dry land, which prevents my feet from getting wet. Once the kayak is on the shore, he extends his hand to help me out.
“Thank you.”
His hand envelops mine completely, and I’m disappointed our touch only lasts a few seconds. Austin gets the waterproof container out of the kayak and pries it open. He produces two bottles of water and a handful of power bars.
“Here, I raided RidgeRoam Adventures’ vending machine while you were in the bathroom. Figured we could use these.”
“Smart thinking,” I say, unwrapping a cranberry-and-chocolate power bar.
I sink my teeth into the savory treat and let out a small moan. I didn’t realize I was this hungry. Austin gives me a weird look as another moan escapes my mouth. I don’t know what to make of it. Is that lust in his eyes or disgust? I hope it’s the former.
He takes a swig of water and turns to me. “It sure is hot today, huh?”
I nod.
“Do you mind if I go for a swim?”
“Why would I mind?”
He grins at me. “Because it would require me taking off my shirt and pants. I don’t want to offend you.”
Act cool, Casey. Act super cool.
“That’s okay. Go ahead. I might even join you.”
“Please do.” His eyes linger on my chest for three long seconds, and I can’t help wondering if he feels as turned on by me as I am by him.
This quiet place by the river is like a bubble where no one exists except us. At least, that’s how I feel. I rummage through the waterproof container and get my sketchbook out. I want to remember this moment forever. What better way to do it than draw it?
My pencil flies over the paper, and I draw the contours of his face and chest with quick strokes. Austin disappears under the water for a moment, then emerges again. Water droplets cling to his dark hair and run down his muscled back. I spot a scar on his right shoulder blade and another on his lower back.
“I thought you were joining me,” he says, splashing water in my direction.
“I want to draw you first,” I say, tapping my pencil against my chin. “If that’s okay with you.”
“Should I pose or…?”
I shake my head. “No, don’t pose. Just be yourself. I want you to feel completely free and at ease.”
“In that case…” he starts. “I won’t be needing these.”
My eyes grow wide as he reaches down into the water and holds his underwear in his hand a moment later.
My pencil falls from my hand. I quickly pick it back up and dust the sand off. The air between us has changed, even though I’m not seeing any more of him than a few minutes ago when he wasn’t completely naked in the water.
“Whatever makes you comfortable,” I say with a chuckle.
“If you mind, I’ll put them back on.”
I swallow. “Please don’t.”
“Casey, I…,” he says, but the sound of laughter and splashing water stops him.
Two double kayaks approach in the distance. Austin waves at them when they float by, and they greet us back, oblivious to the fact that Austin’s dick is floating free without an inch of fabric between him and the water.
I’m getting pretty soaked myself, to be honest.
As soon as the kayakers are out of view, I return my attention to my sketchbook. I draw Austin with as much detail as I can. The waterline cuts off everything below the waist, but I can only imagine what he looks like down there. In my imagination, it’s glorious.
“Done,” I say fifteen minutes later.
“What do you think?” I turn the sketchbook to show him.
He squints. “Looks good, but I’m too far away to see properly.”
Before I realize what’s happening, he’s moving. The water isn’t that deep, so when he gets up and walks toward me, I see him in all his glory. I quickly avert my eyes from his hard dick and my cheeks heat.
“Is there a problem?” he teases me.
I bite my lip and shake my head. The only problem I see is that his lips aren’t on mine, and he isn’t pushing my legs apart so he can enter me with that rock-hard erection.
Jesus Christ. I’ve never had these thoughts about a man before. Austin sure brings out a side of me I didn’t know I had.
“I’m sorry, Casey. Did I cross a line?” he asks, worry etched on his face.
I get why he’s worried about offending me. He’s taking my silence as a bad thing.
“No, it’s okay,” I mumble. “I like a well-timed joke.”
A shiver of hot need runs up my spine when he locks eyes with me. “It wasn’t a joke to me.”
“Oh?” is all I manage to say.
My mouth suddenly feels dry. He’s two big steps away from where I’m sitting. I straighten my back, knowing all too well that it makes the fabric of my shirt strain over my breasts. I want him to see me as a sexy woman.
“I mean, it started as a joke, but now I’m not so sure,” he says in a low voice.
All I have to do is get up and wrap my arms around him. Why shouldn’t I kiss Austin? The connection we have was there from the second we met. Or at least, the second I found out he wasn’t a burglar or a crazy person.
The memory of his surprised look when I hit his ladder with a frying pan makes me chuckle.
“Did I say something funny?” he asks.
“Sorry, I was thinking about… Never mind.”
I put my sketchbook down and get up. With brave steps, I close the distance between us. His dick touches my shorts, and his face is inches from mine. I could lean in and kiss him.
But just when I’m about to, I hear more people approaching on the water. Their laughter is close, and it’ll only be a matter of seconds before they appear around the bend of the river.
“We should probably go,” I whisper. “This place isn’t exactly the pinnacle of privacy.”
He clenches his jaw and nods. “That would be the smart thing to do.”
“Are we? Smart?”
His eyes flit to the people in the kayak. “I guess we are.”
Then, he grabs his wet underwear and puts it back on before everyone in the approaching kayaks sees him in all his naked deliciousness and calls the cops on us.