Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
HARPER
I ’m not going to lie. I could get used to this.
We’re sitting on our mats on the patio surrounding the pool, legs crossed and hands pressed together over our chests.
Every breath is full of clean, fresh mountain air. There’s only a light breeze this morning, and the sun is out, so we’re not too cold.
I would do this every chance I could get.
Blake is next to me, and the man killed yoga. It was hard to ignore him in his little black workout shorts and teal tank top. And I know I felt his eyes on me, especially when it was time for downward dog.
He’s a man.
There have to be thirty people out here. I recognize some from book club. Billie’s here with Dani and Skyla, and I know Dani’s sisters, Charlie and Alex. I’m learning the Wild family, but I still feel like I need a map or a family tree .
Ava and Xander even joined us.
It’s been the most relaxing morning I’ve had since I moved home.
Yeah, I’d do this every damn day if I could.
“Namaste,” the instructor says with a smile, and we repeat it back to her before standing and rolling our mats.
I turn to Skyla, who’s behind me. “Skyla, does anyone offer yoga classes in Bitterroot Valley?”
“Of course,” she says. “I offer it at my studio. I’d love to have you join us. I’ll text you the times.”
“Thank you. I’ll be there.”
I glance back to look for Blake, but he’s wandered away. He’s talking to Brooks, who did not do yoga, over by the lodge entrance. It looks like an intense conversation, so I let them have space. Blake’s face is somber, and then he frowns and looks down at the floor, his hands on his hips.
I hope everything’s okay.
“You’re really good at this,” Dani says as she joins me, eyeing the pool. “I, on the other hand, thought I was going to die.”
I laugh and pull her in for a hug. “You did great.”
“I didn’t die,” she counters. “And it reminded me that I need to get back to Skyla’s classes. It’s not easy after a baby.”
“Girl, you pushed a human being out of your body. Like, less than two months ago. The fact you’re even here is amazing, and you need to pat yourself on the back. You’re a badass, Dani. ”
Dani grins, then eyes the water again and takes a step away from it.
“Wanna take a swim?” I ask her. “I have time before Blake and I go hike.”
She shakes her head. “Nah. I don’t like water. Childhood trauma.”
I nod but don’t ask any more questions. It’s none of my business.
“Hey, pretty girls,” Billie says as she and Ava join us. “We’re going to have a girls-only cocktail hour this evening before dinner. I have a signature drink planned, and I thought it would be fun. Thoughts?”
“I’m down,” I reply.
“Me too,” Dani says.
“Girls’ cocktails?” Alex asks as she joins us. “Hell to the yes.”
Suddenly, two very attractive men join Alex. One takes her hand and kisses it, and the other slides his arm around her shoulders and kisses her temple.
And the smug smile on Alex’s face is adorable.
“Harper, this is Adam,” she gestures to the hottie holding her hand, “and this is Gabe.” The one with his arm around her shoulders grins at me. “They’re mine,” she adds with a grin.
“And we’re stealing you away,” Gabe says. “It’s throuple massage time, butterfly.”
“Oh my God, yes ,” Alex says. “See you later, guys.”
She waves, and then they’re off, and I blink after them before turning to Dani and Billie.
“They’re the hottest people I’ve ever seen in my life,” I inform them.
“I know,” Billie says. “They’re so sexy. And I’m happy for them. They’ve been together as long as Connor and I have.”
“Well, I’m happy for them too,” I reply as Blake heads my way. “Hey, handsome. Everything okay?”
“It will be.” He steps behind me, wraps his arms around me, and buries his face in my neck.
“Dude, that’s my sister,” Xander says, scowling from a few feet away.
“I know,” Blake replies and kisses me again. “Let’s get out of here, sweets.”
“Have a fun day,” Billie says. “Be nice to her. I like her. Let’s keep her, okay? I’m going to add her to the text thread.”
My heart stutters. God, they’re all so sweet and welcoming.
“The goal is not to chase her away,” Blake says. “Now, stop being a brat. I’ll see you later.”
“Bye!” Billie waves, Blake takes my hand and leads me inside.
“Your family is incredible,” I inform him as we take the stairs up to our floor.
“I know.” He kisses my hand and leads us to our room. “And they obviously like you back.”
“That’s a relief.” This has been nothing like family time with Nathan’s family. I feel accepted and wanted here. Welcome. Like I’m one of them already.
As soon as we’re inside the room, I peel off my sports bra because it’s sweaty and then do the same for my leggings. “I have to change for the hike. These are too sweaty. That girl gave us a workout this morning.”
“I’m changing too,” he says, but his eyes are glued to my body.
“It doesn’t look like you’re changing. Looks like you’re staring.”
“I’m appreciating,” he counters and takes a step toward me.
“Blake, if you attack me right now, we’ll never go on a hike.” His eyes shoot up to mine, and then he cups my face.
“Okay. A hike it is. But I might fuck you in the woods.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Ew. No. I don’t want dirt and bugs in my lady bits, thank you very much. You’re a doctor, Blake. You know better than that.”
He brushes his nose over the shell of my ear. “I’ll bend you over and make you lean on a tree while I rail you from behind, baby. No dirt will touch your perfect pussy.”
I bite my lip when he drags his hands up my naked sides.
“Focus, Blake. We’re hiking.”
He backs away, and I immediately feel the loss of his touch. Maybe I was too hasty.
“Come on, sugar. The wilderness awaits.”
“How many grizzly bears do you think are on this mountain?” I ask Blake as we hike along a trail that circles around the entire ski village, and would eventually end up back in Bitterroot Valley, but we’re not hiking that far today.
“I have no idea.”
“But if you had to guess. Are we talking two? Or thirty? Or a thousand?”
“Probably somewhere between two and ten.”
“Oh, you think that’s all?” I tilt my head, thinking about it.
“Baby, it doesn’t matter how many there are. I can’t win against one. ”
“Sure you can.” I grip his biceps and squeeze. “Look at that muscle. The bear would run from you in terror.”
Blake laughs and scoops his arm around my waist, then lowers his lips to mine.
“Are you afraid of bears, Harper?”
“Every single day,” I confirm, nodding my head. “I have a phobia of being mauled and killed by a pissed-off mama bear.”
“I won’t let that happen. Besides, you hike all the time.”
“I know. But most of the places I hike don’t have grizzlies. ”
“Black bears can be just as mean,” he says, and I scowl up at him.
“Well, thanks for that little nugget of wisdom. Now I’ll be on edge all the damn time.”
He’s so handsome when he smiles at me like this. Like he’s so taken with me, so smitten.
He loves me.
I about had an aneurysm when those words came out of that talented mouth last night.
They were full of passion and truth , and for a heartbeat, I was terrified.
And then a warmth I’ve never felt before moved through me.
My heart ached but in a delicious way. In a way that told me this was a life-altering moment, and I fucked it up.
I wish I’d said it back. I wish it was easy for me to say it back. Because I do love him. I love everything about this man.
So why can’t I tell him?
“Blake?”
“Yes, baby.” He kisses the tip of my nose.
Say it. Just say it. It’s only three words.
I bite my lip. He’s watching me with those hazel eyes with gold flecks, and I chicken out. I move into him, press my face to his chest, and hug him close.
“I love you, too, sweetheart.”
Fuck , I’m an idiot.
“Are you okay?” he asks against the top of my head.
“Yeah. Just worried about bears.”
He smiles against my hair. “I’ll take your mind off that.
” His hands roam down over my ass, making heat pool in my core.
You would think that after all of the sex we’ve been having, I wouldn’t want to do it again.
But you’d be wrong. “Have I mentioned that you look fucking incredible in these yoga pants?”
“No. I was fairly sure you hated them.”
He snickers and urges me back enough that he can kiss my lips. “I can’t keep my hands off your stellar ass when you wear these, sugar.”
“Well, you’re wearing that backward hat again today, so I’d say we’re even.”
He pushes his hands into my leggings, urging them down my hips. “You have the softest damn skin. Remember what I said in the room?”
“You said a lot in the room.”
He spanks my ass, and a sizzle moves up my spine. It looks like Ava isn’t the only one who likes a good ass smack once in a while.
“Bend over and grab onto that tree.”
“Blake, literally anyone could come down this trail. Your family. My family. A bear. ”
“It wasn’t a question, Harper.” Gently, he guides my hands to the trunk and pulls my hips back so I’m exposed to him. “Christ, you’re already dripping wet. Does the idea of getting caught turn you on?”
“Not really. Mostly, you turn me on.”
He kisses my ass right over the spot where he spanked me.
“I like seeing my handprint on your skin.” He nibbles and works his way to the middle, and then his tongue is inside me, and all rational thought leaves the premises .
“Holy shit.” My head hangs down as he assaults my core with his lips, teeth, and tongue. Before I know it, he pushes two fingers inside me, and I come so hard that I see black spots at the edges of my vision.
“Good fucking girl,” he says, lapping me up, and then I hear rustling as I assume he pulls his shorts down. He guides the crown of his dick against my entrance, then pushes all the way inside me, and I gasp. “Am I hurting you, Harper?”
I shake my head.
“I need your words, baby.”
“You’re not hurting me. God, Blake.”