Chapter 20
TWENTY
CRISP, CLEAR WATER
Taylor
A splash sounded from beyond the trees at the end of the track where flashes of sunlight shone on water.
“At least we know where he went.” Ally stuffed a final bite of a burger into his mouth, rooting in one of the paper bags he carried and finding a handful of fries.
I adjusted our towels under my arm—our makeshift picnic blankets, one of which William had given to me in New York—and picked my way down the path. Part of me wanted to race after William and hold on to him until he was better. But I knew that wasn’t what he needed.
He’d be hungry. And probably cold from his dip in the lake. Those things I could help with.
“Can I ask a question? How long does this, um, issue last?”
Ally drew out another burger but stared at it for a second then tossed it back into the bag. “Eh. I’ve lost my appetite.” His brow crinkled. “It takes him a couple of days. Sometimes more. Usually he knows when he’s getting stressed and can do something about it like freeing up time to go running.”
I blew out a breath. “It all happened so fast between the nightclub and the audition. I guess he didn’t have time to recognise it.”
“I should’ve. I know him better than anyone.” He threw me a glance. “Currently, at least. I know when it started and I’ve seen him do this a few times a year since we were kids.”
“Wait, something caused this?” We cleared the trees, emerging onto a grassy bank. Ahead, William swam, carving up the water halfway across the lake with smooth and powerful swings of his arms. Bright spray arced behind him.
Ally palmed his neck. “Aye. Ye remember ages ago when you asked me about his nickname? It’s all linked. And it’s all my fault. When he comes back in, I’ll tell ye. He won’t mind.”
We continued until we reached the bank then the wooden dock. At the end, I sat cross-legged on the planks and tidied the discarded clothes into a pile. The sun warmed us and, if it hadn’t been for William’s state of mind, it could’ve been the prettiest, most relaxed part of our trip yet.
William cut through the crisp, clear water. I watched him for a few minutes then gave in to my appetite and ate.
After a little while, he swam over. When he reached the dock, he took hold of the edge, resting for a second. Water droplets ran down his shorn head, catching on the tiniest hint of new beard stubble.
Ally took a burger and unwrapped it. He held it out to his twin. “Bite.”
William took a mouthful, chewing and swallowing like he was starved. He reached out and seized the burger, demolishing it, one hand keeping him steady in the water.
I grabbed my drink and offered it. He winked at me, taking a long draw, continuing until the straw rattled in the empty cup.
“Bro? I don’t mean to judge, but did you know you’re naked?” Ally peered into the water.
“Nice in here. Come in?” William replied.
“Not with your naked arse.”
“I will.” I stood, kicking off my sandals. We had towels, there was no one else around. He needed me. “You,” I pointed to Ally. “Look the other way.”
Ally swung his gaze between us then cocked his head to one side, as if making an assessment.
He pressed up from his lounging position.
“Actually, I need to make a couple of calls. My phone’s almost dead, so I’ll go back to the car and plug it in.
I can search for a hotel nearby and book a couple of rooms for the night. Sound good?”
William lifted his chin in silent agreement. I gave him a smile, and Ally leapt to his feet, taking one of the food bags with him.
“See ye both later.” He clattered away down the dock.
I waited for him to hit dry land then grasped the hem of my sun dress. William rested his cheek on his folded arms, watching me.
I raised my eyebrow at him, then I pulled the frock over my head, discarding it to the deck. William’s attention bounced behind me, no doubt checking on his brother’s progress, before snapping to me once more.
He ogled my chest.
With a practiced move, I unclipped my bra and let it fall to the ground. Then I took the straps of my bikini underwear and slid them down my legs before stepping out.
I had no problem with nudity, and with William glowering at me the whole time, I grew heated from the intensity alone.
Yet I didn’t move.
William’s face lost the small amount of humour it’d held. “Get in before Alasdair turns around,” he ordered.
A shiver took me. I hesitated. “Hmm. I’m not so sure. It looks cold.”
His barked command was the old William. The one I could never say no to. But I’d push the boundaries a little if it helped bring him back.
I widened my stance, a frisson of excitement hitting me right at the juncture of my legs. Right where his gaze clung. The light breeze glanced off my skin, cooling me where I was already wet. “If you want me to do something, all you need to do is ask.”
“In the water. Now, lass,” William uttered.
With a sharp inhale, I held my breath and jumped.
Water rushed over me, filling my ears and blinding me. Oh God, it was cold. I struck out, trying to right myself.
Two hands grasped my shoulders, hauling me to the surface. I broke it and dragged in a breath, treading water.
William clamped me to him, but I put both hands on his chest and pushed. He instantly released me, and I swam a metre backwards. Then another. Eyeballing him. Making it a game.
“If you want me, you’re going to have to catch me,” I said, and with a flip, I powered away.
There was no chance I could outswim him. None. But I tried.
Tried to help him burn up his energy.
Tried to get him into a place where he knew what to do.
The way he’d stared at me told me this was an option and, when he’d held me, I felt the evidence. He’d been hard for me. Solid. Turned on to the max.
A hand took my foot. I shrieked, the sound amplified by the bowl the lake sat in.
I kicked, twisting right and ploughing on across the flat surface. My stomach tightened with the thrill, and my skin electrified. The shock of the chill evaporated, and I shrieked when his fingers gripped my ankle.
“Never!” I yelped, spinning around.
I splashed out, sending a wave of water over his head.
William swept in, crowding me. He released my foot but captured me in his arms. The wildness in his eyes had my heart pounding harder. The tiny smirk on his lips had me melting.
“Always,” he replied. Then his lips crashed onto mine in a soul-seizing kiss.
I met him measure for measure. Wrestling him, digging into his muscles with my grip. Our lips moved in sweet unison, even as our bodies battled for closeness. Under the water, I strangled his waist with my legs.
We’d somehow neared the dock again, and William reached out, taking hold of the rungs of a ladder. Giving us purchase.
His dick pressed against me, right where we both needed him to go.
Then, he slid inside, just an inch, but it stopped us both in our tracks.
He was bare. No condom.
William opened his mouth. “We’ve never—”
Right as I said, “I haven’t—”
We both stopped. Then he tried again. “I’ve never done this before. Gone without.”
“Same here. I want to.” He knew I was on the pill. I’d taken one in front of him this morning and I’d seen it pique his interest then.
“Are ye sure?” He stretched me further, the water moving us closer, like nature needed us together and strong.
And why not? It was a powerful thing, the way my Highlander and I came together.
I’d never get over the exquisite feeling of his body taking mine.
The rapturous way every cell lit up, pleasure bent and exhilarated.
And I had never needed anything more than this moment with him.
I inclined my head then loosened my hold on his neck and found my own grip on the ladder.
Now we could really go for it.
William made a guttural sound, and his mouth fitted over mine once more. Now, his tongue slicked in as he fucked deeper into me. His free hand found my ass, and he groped me, enjoying my body.
Around us, waves rippled, created by our lovemaking. The forest watched on, tall green sentinels guarding our moment. Oranges and yellows stretching over the sky as dusk crept in.
My heart hurt with the beauty of it all. Of him.
I worked my body in tandem with his moves. Meeting his thrusts, upping the tempo. It felt so good. Different, as the water made it challenging to hit hard, and it forced us to slow.
“Need more,” William said, pausing, resting his head against mine. “Hold on to me.”
He took my weight
“What are you doing?” I gasped.
Then he climbed the ladder into the cool air, taking us both onto the dry wood of the dock.
He crouched and tossed a towel down before laying me out on it.
How the hell he could lift me was a miracle.
I glanced around his side, scanning the banks for people. For his brother. “We could be seen.”
“I don’t care if you don’t. They’ll see my back if they look. I need ye and I’ll have ye.” William spread my legs wide. Then, with a single hard thrust, he was home once more. His wet body taking mine. Only this time he had no restrictions holding him back.
“Nng,” I answered, insensible and wanton.
He took two handfuls of my breasts, moulded and massaged me, a grin spreading over his face. Then one hand flew to my clit, and I got a whomp of extra sensation.
In no time, I was moaning.
William full-on smirked now, the happy expression after his emptiness doing unknown things to my mental state.
My orgasm hit me entirely unaware, a slamming, throbbing head rush that had my eyes closing by themselves and me gripping the towel, forcing myself not to scream his name to the whole area.
“Oh fuck. Christ, Taylor. I want to… Can I come?” Wild-eyed, he jacked his hips, building up steam.
“Do it. Please,” I begged. “Come inside me. I want you to.”
The gloves were off. William gave a series of staggering, hard thrusts, then growled out my name. Inside me, his dick pulsed, and he stilled, his muscles quaking with the effort.
Then he collapsed, clutching me to him as his orgasm blew his mind.
I drew a sharp breath at the newness of it.
We were instantly sloppy with the effects. A strange sensation I couldn’t have predicted. Then there was something else. A chemical reaction maybe, that had me wanting to keep him inside me.
To never let me go.
“Fuck,” I uttered. Then I kissed him on his lake-water-wet shoulder. “That was just magical.”
“Aye.” With his eyes closed, he nudged my face to find my mouth for a kiss.
We hugged, keeping together. Kissing endlessly. The approaching dusk brought glorious colours to the sky. The faint streaks now burning overhead and the surrounding trees darkening.
“The only problem we’ve got,” I said, conversationally, “is no condom means a mess. I need to clean up and get my clothes back on before your brother comes looking for us.”
William raised his head. Then he glanced at the water. “Easy solution for that.”
“No.” I glanced between him and the cold lake. Before, I’d been burning up to get him to focus on me. The cold hadn’t mattered. Now, I was nice and cosy in his arms. “Not again. It’ll be— Wait!”
My squeal came too late. William rolled, taking himself—and me—off the dock and straight into the lake. We hit with an almighty splash, and I floundered to the surface.
“You dick!” I splashed him hard, laughing even as I wiped water from my face.
“What?” He took a mouthful of water and squirted it at me. “Problem solved, aye?”
Then we just smiled at each other like dopes.
The mask had gone from William’s expression, and he no longer seemed lost. He was back. My William. At least mostly. I didn’t imagine one swim and a screw would solve all his problems. Gently, I sent another wave his way. “Glad to see you smiling.”
He sent one back. “I was always smiling at ye. I always will. It just won’t always be visible. And for that, I can only apologise.”
If hearts made a noise when they broke, mine would’ve boomed around the valley, crackling south over the mountains, causing chaos on its path.
Devastating the land like it devastated me.
I think I needed it, the swift pain of his vulnerability.
The hurt he’d been unable to hide presented as a burden.
I needed it to change me. To force a restart and to make me new. Better.
As a girl, I thought I’d never fall in love. Simply because no one had ever fallen in love with me.
What a tragedy that had been.
William still watched me, so I took on that ache to puzzle over later and leaned in to kiss him. “Don’t say sorry. Just let me in,” I said.
“I already have.”
“Then don’t let me out.”
His breath hitched, and emotion passed over his features. “I’m sorry for this. For what I am. Up until now, the worst I thought this could do was lose me my job, which would be a fucker as I’m nae good at anything else. But now, I’m more worried about you.”
I shivered, the cooler evening air chilling my shoulders and my wet hair. “I’m not going anywhere.”
William kissed my cheek. “Come on. Let’s get ye out,” he said gently.
We climbed out of the lake, and I watched the shoreline for movement.
Far more aware now of being naked and in plain sight.
Quickly, we dried off with the towels, then we dressed, quiet, but exchanging glances.
Grinning when we found the other doing the same.
I sat on the sun-warmed boards and towelled my hair.
A whistle came from the forest. A loud, tuneless melody.
“We’ve been a while. That’ll be Ally.” William hopped up and hauled his jeans over his bare ass. Then he checked me over.
“I’m decent.” I winked at him.
He winked back and put two fingers in his mouth and whistled as Alasdair emerged from the trees, looking anywhere but at us.
Ally swung his gaze around then waved and jogged to join us. Our moment was over, for now, but something huge had changed for me, and I felt it through every cell. I’d become thin, a fine glass version of myself, needing to resolve into a more substantial woman.
For too long, I’d been a shell. Now, I had to work out how to grow.