Chapter 18
18
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T he next morning, Harper sits across from me, her expression softer than it has been in days. Something in my chest eases at the sight. Yesterday’s reunion—Billie holding her close, Zane’s careful protectiveness, the strength she drew from being around those who cared the absolute most—has left a calm I haven’t felt since I rescued Harper.
She glances up and catches me looking at her. She tilts her head, raising one eyebrow in challenge, a teasing smile tugging at her mouth. “See something interesting?”
“You could say that,” I reply, not bothering to hide the amusement in my voice.
Her cheeks flush a faint pink, the color spreading down her neck, and I smile deeper.
“You seem better today. Happier.”
She nods, eyes drifting toward the window, lost in thought for a moment. When her gaze returns to me, she offers a sincere smile. “Yesterday meant more than I realized it would. Having everyone here reminded me that people still believe in me and care.”
“You were never alone, Harp,” I tell her firmly. “Not then. Not now. Never.”
Gratitude and something warm flicker behind her careful expression. Silence hangs between us, but it’s easy and comfortable.
I watch her, sensing she needs something more than just sitting around the cabin today. Something away from this space where we’ve both processed too many heavy moments lately. An idea sparks in my mind, one I’ve been holding on to for the perfect moment.
I push myself away from the table, standing. “Let’s go hiking. Not to the pond. Somewhere different.”
She’s instantly intrigued. “Yeah? Sounds like fun.”
“You’ll love it,” I promise, already imagining the excitement she’ll have when she sees where I’m taking her.
She studies me, curiosity dancing in her gaze. “So mysterious, Calloway.”
“Always,” I reply.
As Harper moves toward the door and slides on her shoes, I watch her, taking in the subtle confidence returning to her steps and the gentle sway of her hair down her back. I promised myself I’d never let anyone get too close again, never lower my walls enough to feel this. But as Harper glances back at me, her eyes bright and trusting, I know I’ve already lost that battle. Fuck, with Harper, I’ve lost the war. And right now, I couldn’t care less.
I smirk as I hold a hand out to her. Her fingers lock with mine. The simple touch sends a slow pulse of heat through my veins. We walk together down the trail, and there is nowhere else I’d rather be.
This time, I openly steal glances of her, and we exchange smiles when our eyes meet. The anticipation of Harper’s reaction hums beneath my skin as we navigate the path. I crave her reaction when she experiences something new. The urge to impress her—to show her something meaningful, something uniquely mine—is stronger than I’d like to admit.
The trail winds downward through tall pines and thick underbrush. She rubs her thumb gently across mine, causing my pulse to quicken, but I keep my expression calm. I’ve become an expert at hiding how her simple touch affects me.
“We’re almost there,” I say.
Her eyes flicker up to mine, curiosity dancing in their depths. “Almost where?”
“Patience, Harp.” I offer a wink, but reveal nothing.
She huffs, pretending to be irritated, but her grin gives her away. “Fine. Keep your secrets.”
I lead her onward, weaving through the trees until the soft rumble of water echoes in the distance. I feel her awareness sharpen, her curiosity intensifying as the sound grows clearer. Finally, the trees part, revealing a secluded waterfall tumbling down a cliffside.
The water glistens silver in the sunlight as it cascades into a deep, clear pool below. It’s beautiful, completely untouched and hidden away on the mountain. It’s a place I discovered the weekend I escaped here, the weekend Eden died. I’ve not been back. Until now.
Beside me, Harper draws in a soft, awed breath, her lips parting. She turns to me, her expression softening into something breathtaking.
“Brody,” she whispers, stepping closer, eyes never leaving mine. “This place is like a dream.”
“That’s a good way to put it. Especially with you standing here in front of me,” I admit, my throat tightening at the raw emotion on her face. “You’re the first person I’ve shared this with.”
“I feel special.” She moves even closer, eyes searching mine intently, filled with unspoken meaning.
Her gentle words almost undo me. I reach up, brushing my thumb along her cheekbone, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my touch. Harper leans subtly into my palm, eyes fluttering shut momentarily to savor the contact.
“You are special, Harp,” I whisper. “I’m glad it’s you.”
Her eyes drift open slowly, locked on to mine. Neither of us moves or speaks. We stand in a charged moment, the unspoken words between us nearly too loud to bear.
Finally, I let my hand fall away, stepping back to break the intensity. I gesture toward the water, offering her a small, playful smile. “Come on. Let’s get closer.”
Her eyes linger with emotion. She steps beside me, our shoulders brushing again, and this time, I don’t pull away. We walk toward the waterfall together, silence settling around us, filled with possibility and an understanding that something powerful between us has shifted.
Sunlight shimmers through the cascading water, sending prisms of color dancing across the smooth stone walls of the hidden cave. Harper pauses just inside, her breath hitches as she takes in the magic of the secluded space. Tiny droplets sparkle on her skin and hair, capturing the filtered rays of sunlight, and my pulse quickens as I watch her take it all in.
“Wow,” she whispers, eyes wide with amazement. “This is breathtaking.”
I nod slowly, unable to look away from how the shifting light plays across her face, illuminating every delicate feature. I can’t help but agree with her assessment, but I’m not referring to this place, but rather her.
I step closer, removing some of the space between us. “It felt right, bringing you here.”
Her eyes meet mine, warmth flooding her expression. “Thank you. It’s perfect. Magical.”
The sound of rushing water is muted, and nothing but a gentle curtain separates us from the outside world. Harper steps forward slowly, mesmerized, and I instinctively move with her, guiding her across the slick stone floor of the cave. The footing is slippery beneath us, and she stumbles forward.
“Careful,” I say, catching her around the waist, pulling her close to my chest.
“My hero.”
Harper’s sharp intake of breath echoes around us, her hands gripping my shoulders as she steadies herself. She looks up at me, sparkling blue eyes, chest rising and falling rapidly as she realizes how close we are. My heartbeat crashes against my ribs, the sensation of her pressed against me igniting something inside me that I’ve been trying to suppress for weeks, years even.
“You okay?” I whisper, my voice barely audible.
“Better now,” she breathes, her voice trembling, her gaze locked on to mine.
The world narrows to the soft rise and fall of her chest, the warmth of her body, molded against mine. My gaze dips to her lips, soft and slightly parted, inviting me closer in a way that shatters any remaining resistance I have left. Slowly, my hand rises to cup her cheek, and my thumb brushes her jaw. Harper’s eyes drift closed, a soft sigh escaping her as she leans into my touch.
My pulse thunders in my ears, and an unfamiliar ache spreads through my chest.
Suddenly, the fragile thread of my control snaps.
I lean in, my lips brushing hers softly at first, a gentle touch, but the instant our mouths meet, something uncontrollable erupts inside me. Harper gasps, her fingers gripping the back of my neck, pulling me closer. The kiss ignites, spiraling us both into something raw, urgent, and necessary.
Her mouth opens beneath mine, a sweet moan slipping past her lips as the kiss deepens. Heat floods my veins, electrifying every nerve, and suddenly, I’m drowning in the sensation of her. Her warmth, sweetness, and hunger are unlike anything I’ve felt in years. Her body arches into mine, pressing closer, fueling the fire between us as she threads her fingers through my hair. I savor every inch of her mouth, overwhelmed by how perfectly she fits against me, by how much I craved this very moment.
“Brody,” she breathes again, her voice ragged, and it sends chills down my spine.
Her moan fills the space and awakens the sleeping dragon inside me, flaring back to life. Desire and longing mix together in an unstoppable wave that crashes over us.
I grip her tighter, deepening the kiss, needing her in ways I can’t fully comprehend, yet understanding how long I’ve waited for this, waited for her. Our tongues twist together, and her soft whimpers are nothing more than a surrender to this, to us. It nearly undoes me. We’re dangerously close to losing control, passion building to a sharp, reckless edge, and if we don’t stop, we’ll fall off the cliff together.
My heart slams painfully in my chest. I’m alarmed by the intensity of our emotions. Slowly, I pull away, breathing heavily, my forehead resting against hers.
“Harp,” I rasp, the ache of longing bleeding into my voice, “there is no rush.”
“I know,” she whispers, her voice shaking slightly, eyes still closed. “You just make me want to lose control.”
The feeling is fucking mutual.
We linger, holding each other close, breathing in the hush behind the waterfall. The gentle mist settles against our flushed skin, cooling the intensity to ground us in the moment.
When Harper finally opens her eyes, the softness and vulnerability in her gaze steal my breath. She smiles faintly, shy and sweet, her fingertips tracing down my face.
“You feel it too, don’t you?” she whispers, barely audible.
“Yes,” I admit, pressing my forehead against hers again. “I do.”
I swallow hard, feeling every wall I’ve built to protect my heart crumbling to ash. I’m still breathing hard when I pull away. Not because I want to. Hell no. If I had my way, I’d keep kissing her until the sun dipped below that rock ledge and the cave filled with shadows.
But I know that if we don’t pump the brakes now, we’re going to cross a line there’s no coming back from.
Harper’s eyes stay locked on mine—bright, breathless, daring. There’s a flush on her cheeks that matches the teasing curve of her swollen lips.
“Do you always stop when things start getting good?” she asks, voice light but laced with something more.
I exhale slowly. “Just trying to keep us from setting the whole forest on fire.”
Her grin spreads. “Your control is impeccable. Or is it?”
Fucking temptress.
Harper moves out of the cave, then takes a step toward the pool’s edge and lifts her shirt in one slow, fluid motion. She tosses it onto a dry rock, then shimmies out of her leggings and panties, not bothering with modesty.
I cover my eyes. “What are you doing?”
“It’s called living a little!” She dives into the large crystal-blue pool of water with a loud, “Woohoo.”
A beat passes. Then her head pops up, and a radiant smile waits for me as she treads water.
“Come on!” she calls out. “You scared?”
I arch a brow. “Of what?”
“Of me. Of this. Of skinny-dipping.” She swims around, laughing, and kicks lazily in the water. “Unless you’re a chicken! But I’m telling everyone when we get back to the city.” Her voice echoes through the forest.
I cross my arms, watching her. “What the fuck did you just say?”
She grins, eyes glittering. “Chicken!”
That does it. I yank my shirt over my head, kick off my boots, and strip with quick efficiency, muttering something about reckless women and how they’re going to be the death of me.
Then I dive in after her, water rushing around me like a jolt to the system. She squeals as I resurface near her, and her laughter wraps around me like a second current, pulling me in, deeper than the water ever could.
“Now admit I’m not.”
“Guess you proved me wrong.” She smirks, swimming toward me until we’re just inches apart.
The warmth from the sunshine covers us as the mood turns more serious. Her blue eyes glimmer, her dark hair is slicked straight back, and droplets of water cling to her sun-kissed shoulders like scattered pearls. There’s fire behind her eyes as she coaxes me to come even closer. And I do.
“If you keep looking at me like that,” she says, her voice hushed but electric, “I might think you have a crush on me.”
I lick my lips, studying hers. “What if I do?”
“Do you?” Her smile tilts, like she already knows.
Silence streams between us.
“Mmm. The nonanswer answer—love those,” she whispers, closing the last space between us.
My fingers find her waist beneath the water. She doesn’t flinch. She leans in.
“What do you think?” I ask, breath ghosting across her lips.
Her lashes flutter as her eyes close. “I can only hope.”
I don’t wait another second. I kiss her again. It starts soft, like we’re testing the edge of something too big to name. But her lips part with a sigh that undoes me, and before I know it, we’re clinging to each other, mouths urgent, bodies tangling in the water like we’ve been trying not to fall for years. She presses closer, fingers threading into my hair, her body molding against mine with no hesitation. No walls. Just heat and skin and want.
I can’t get enough of her. Of this. Of us. Her name’s on my tongue, and I want her, need her more than I need air, when lightning strikes nearby in a loud crack.
Our eyes jolt open just as thunder slams overhead like the sky’s being ripped apart.
Harper clutches close to me. We’re both panting, eyes wide, lips kiss bitten. We’re drunk on one another, lost in the high of finally fucking crossing the line.
“Well,” I say, trying to catch my breath, “that’s one way to kill the mood.”
But she isn’t looking at me anymore. Her gaze lifts toward the sky, where mist rises and sunlight cuts through the shadows like a spotlight. A rainbow has formed from the mist of the waterfall, and she smiles.
Floating there—fluttering just above the surface—is a butterfly. Pale yellow, wings delicate and shimmering like it doesn’t belong to this world at all.
Harper goes completely still, and a soft smile touches her lips. It’s smaller than before, but deep.
“What is it?” I ask, voice low.
She doesn’t answer at first. Just keeps watching the butterfly until it drifts higher and disappears into the trees beyond the falls.
When her eyes meet mine, they’re a little brighter than they were a moment ago.
“Nothing,” she says. “Just … the universe. Those little signs show up when I least expect it.”
And for once, I don’t need the full story.
The storm rumbles in the distance, the fire between us still smoldering, but now wrapped in something gentler. Something bigger than the whole fucking sky.
I steal another kiss, and she whimpers against me as I thread my fingers through her wet hair.
Before the kiss deepens further, I pull away. “We should be responsible and head back,” I mutter reluctantly, not wanting this moment to ever end. “Mountain storms move fast.”
“Always so logical.” Harper sighs, but grins.
We swim to the edge, and I pull myself out of the water. When I turn around, Harper’s eyes are focused on me.
I glance at her over my shoulder as I gather our clothes. “Like something you see?”
She chews on her plump bottom lip. “We’re past like.”
Harper confidently steps out of the water, and I glance away, giving her privacy.
“You can look,” she mutters, running her fingers through her soaked hair. “I want you to see what you’ve been missing out on.”
My eyes slide from hers, down her body, and I absorb every small detail—the graceful curve of her neck, the soft strands of hair still damp from the waterfall. Her beautiful breasts and little pink nipples that are pointed like peeks. I slide down her stomach and notice a tattoo on her lower hip.
“Wait, you have a tattoo?”
She laughs, taking her clothes from my grasp. “Yes.”
“What does it say?” I bend down to look at the cursive writing.
She grins. “ Little Miss Disaster .”
Laughter howls out of me as we dress.
“Guess my nickname for you is permanent then?”
“Kinda stuck forever,” she tells me. “I did try to kiss you then puked on you. I earned it.”
“If at first you don’t succeed,” I say, not finishing, because I’m so damn glad she didn’t give up on me.
Need and want simmer below the surface of our stolen glances. I can feel it in the charged silence, in every smoldering glance Harper sends my way as she pulls on her shirt.
The first faint raindrops begin falling onto the leaves, and I can hear the whoosh of rainfall and wind in the distance.
I hold my hand out for her, and we start along the winding trail back toward the cabin. Our footsteps are muffled by the soft forest floor as the world around us darkens beneath the gathering storm clouds.
“Seems like I’m always running from a storm, figuratively and literally,” Harper says, glancing upward as another low rumble vibrates overhead.
“It’s not you. The weather is unpredictable this time of year. I should’ve looked at the radar. This is why I’m not spontaneous,” I reply, matching my steps to hers. “If we keep this pace, we’ll return before the heavy stuff hits.”
She gives me a faint smile, bumping her shoulder playfully against mine. “Just know there’s no one else I’d rather be caught in the rain with.”
I chuckle, casting her a sideways glance. “Fucking same.”
Harper looks up at me, eyes sparkling with amusement, and her lips turn up into a mischievous smile.
“What?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Nothing,” she says, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she glances away, biting back a grin. “Just trying to get the image of your perfect ass out of my head.”
“Good luck.” I shake my head slowly, my laughter gentle and deep as we step around a cluster of tree roots, our path growing steadily narrower. “I’m what dreams are made of.”
“There’s that Calloway cockiness I’ve missed,” she counters.
I lift a brow at her, and she shrugs.
I let myself relax, allowing her laughter and teasing to fill spaces in me I thought were permanently empty.
Our silence is comfortable, easy, as the distant roll of thunder grows closer. More raindrops fall, tapping more steadily through the canopy above.
The cabin comes into view just as the bottom falls from the sky. The rain feels like ice against my hot skin. Harper quickens her pace, reaching out to tug my hand lightly. I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder as I sprint to the porch.
“Brody!” she yells while laughing. “You can’t pick me up like a caveman and just throw me over your shoulder whenever you want to.”
I smack a hard palm against her ass before I set her down under the shelter of the porch roof of the cabin. “Just did. What will you do about it?”
The sky opens up, rain cascading heavily, drenching everything we just left behind.
“Might have to put that strength to work in other ways, like in the shower and up against a wall,” she mutters, biting her bottom lip.
“You should stop that,” I warn, knowing the little control I have left is dangling on a severed rope. It will inevitably snap, but when?
“What will you do about it?” It falls from her mouth like a challenge.
Her hair is damp, and her eyes are bright with exhilaration. My breath stalls in my chest at the sight of her being so carefree, beautiful, and alive.
“What?” she whispers, holding my gaze.
I step closer without thinking, removing all the space between us. I lean in and whisper in her ear, “You’re breathtaking.”
Her fingers cling to my shirt as she looks up into my eyes. “I’m tired of lines and rules,” she says as rain pounds steadily around us, closing us off from the world.
My fingers brush hers gently, her gaze dropping briefly.
“I’m trying really fucking hard.”
“I know,” she whispers, and a breathless silence settles between us, heavy with anticipation and promise.
I wish I could explain my hesitation, and one day, I’ll be able to fully articulate my fears, but I can’t. Not yet.
Harper smiles, almost shyly, as if she can read my mind, and she doesn’t push me to speak. She never does.
“We should get inside,” she mutters.
My chest tightens as she pulls away. “You’re right.”
She moves toward the door, casting me a final glance full of hope, almost like she can envision our entire future together. Through her silence, I know Harper’s not giving up on me, and, fuck, I’m not giving up on her either. We’ll make it through this storm together.