Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
“But it’s my day off,” I whine to Nikko. I know I’m being a brat, but he woke me up at the ass crack of dawn. He fed me and gave me orgasms, but I’m still annoyed. I planned to spend all day in bed with him, not ride for hours on the back of his bike.
Okay, it was a nice drive, but still.
“Where are we?” I ask as he helps me remove my helmet and fixes my hair.
When I slip off his bike, he stops me, drops to his knees, and ties my shoelace before looking up at me.
“Somewhere fun. We are going to spend an entire day doing what we want and having a good time. Today, you aren’t a Xander and I’m not a boxer. We are just Zia and Nikko. Okay?”
“That sounds awfully close to a date, which fuck buddies don’t do,” I mutter, narrowing my eyes.
He stands, wearing a guilty grin on his face. “Does it? How weird. Come on, handsome, get moving.”
Grumbling under my breath, I catch up to him and walk at his side.
His hand brushes mine once, twice. I feel him looking at me, then he suddenly catches my hand and interlaces our fingers together.
I don’t pull away, but I should. I should yell at him and force him to stop, but I don’t, and I can almost hear his silent triumph, and when I glance over, he’s grinning.
Idiot.
We walk down a hill, and he holds me tightly so I don’t slip. At the bottom, the trees break open, showcasing a massive lake and what I can only describe as inflatable balls, tracks and swings across it.
“What the hell is that?” I snarl.
“An assault course.” He grins at me.
“You think I’ll be going in that dirty water on those things that a million unwashed bodies have probably touched?” I hiss.
“Yes.” He winks at me. “I do.”
He whistles as he drags me over and checks us in. There’s an outside changing area with wooden cubicles, and he opens a bag at his side, pulls out some shorts and a shirt, and hands them over to me. “Go on, get changed.”
“Not a fucking chance,” I snap. “Take me home—”
“Not a fucking chance,” he mocks, ignoring the others watching us. “Stop being a brat. Get changed, unless you’re scared.”
This motherfucker. I know he’s doing it on purpose, and it works.
Grabbing the clothes, I head inside and get changed, carefully folding my clothes before stomping out.
Nikko puts them in his bag and then in a locker and slides the key onto his wrist. I can’t help but stare.
He’s pretty much wearing the same outfit, but the way the shirt clings to his muscles makes me drool.
He’s totally oblivious as he approaches with a life jacket and slips it on me while I continue to gawk.
Swallowing, I delicately wipe my drool away and force my annoyance back into the forefront of my mind.
I mean, it does look kind of fun. I can’t remember the last time I got to do anything like this.
It isn’t good for an heir to be caught goofing off, since there’s no time for fun or just being stupid, but this is important to him.
Nikko wants to make me happy. I can’t let him think he’s won too quickly though.
“Tell you what,” he offers as he finishes fastening my life jacket. “Whoever wins gets to pick what we’ll do next.”
“Deal.” I tilt my chin up. “Prepare to lose.”
“I’m a natural athlete, baby. You’re the one who will lose.”
“I never lose, and I fight dirty, remember?” I warn.
“I can’t wait.” He steals a kiss and then leads me over to the ramp down to the lake. I stare at it for a moment.
“It looks cold,” I mutter.
“I’ll warm you up later,” he promises, but I still stand there despite our bet. I have to keep him on his toes. I can’t let him think he can get his way all the time.
“Seriously, can’t we just spend all day fucking and call that exercise?” I pout, and everything goes silent. I glance over to see the shocked faces of a group behind us. “What? You don’t agree?”
“Totally,” the middle-aged mom of the group responds, and we nod in solidarity before Nikko tugs me down the ramp with a chuckle.
It is fucking cold, but it’s also a whole lot of fun, especially watching Nikko wipe out several times.
He’s big and fast, but a lot of the obstacles are not made for that, so he slips and hits the water over and over again.
I can’t help but cheer each and every one, rating his landings as he drags himself up.
I’m starting to think he does it just to see my reaction and show me it’s okay to fail at this, but he doesn’t know me very well.
I fail at nothing.
When it’s my turn, I run down the ramp, leap onto the spinning merry-go-round, and cling on.
I ride it around once before sliding off onto the ramp on the far side.
Once there, I stumble to my feet and hop across the posts, and then I climb up the slippery bridge and slide down.
The ramp Nikko wiped out on is before me, and he waits there.
I take a running start at it, but halfway up, I slip, and there’s nothing to stop me.
I slam into the freezing water and resurface with a gasp.
Apparently, I stand corrected. I fail at water obstacles.
I drag myself up and out and slick my hair back as I glare at Nikko, who’s sprawled back on the inflatable ramp, laughing his ass off.
“Shut up,” I grouse. “I’m still going to win.”
“Sure, baby.” He grins and holds up his hand, and I help him to his feet.
This time, we run at it together. We both hit the water again, and it takes us five more attempts to get up it then slide down.
Climbing up onto the next section, I offer Nikko my hand, and he grabs it, giving me a wicked grin.
“Don’t you dare!” I yell as he yanks me into the lake with him.
I kick to the surface as he wraps himself around me and kisses me. “You look good all wet.” He grins. “I couldn’t resist.”
“Cheater,” I mutter as he pushes me back onto the platform. The next part is a large swing, and I look at Nikko. “Team?”
“Team.” He nods, and we step onto the base.
One of his arms is anchored around my waist like he’s worried I’ll fall, while the other holds the edge, and he starts to swing us faster and higher.
When he lets go, I leap onto the other side.
He quickly follows, landing next to me, but he starts to slip off the slanted edge. I catch him and hold him in place.
“My savior,” he teases.
I grin. “Nah, I told you that I play dirty.” I let go with a push, and he plummets into the water.
Laughing, I get to my feet and climb up the wall, and when I reach the top, I hit the button that alerts for our time. Leaning over the edge, I grin as Nikko climbs up and gawks at me.
“I won!” I yell.
Shaking his head, he cups his hand around his mouth and yells up, “Cheater!”
I shrug, and his eyes narrow. He climbs up the wall, and I turn to race away, but he catches me and throws us off the edge. We plummet into the lake below.
I shout his name when we resurface, but I’ll admit, I’m smiling.
There are no other thoughts than him and the fun I’m having in my head.
“Really?” He eyes the shop. “Baby, I have big hands. I won’t be good at this.”
“Tough.” I grin as I tug him after me, but he stands still, looking out of place. “I’ve always wanted to do this,” I admit. “Faiz never wanted to. He said it was stupid.” I hesitate, wondering if I’m sharing too much. “Let’s go somewhere else—”
“Not a chance, just don’t laugh at my attempts.
I didn’t want to embarrass you.” He holds my hand tighter and guides me toward the boho jewelry shop.
The bell tinkles above the door, and the older woman behind the counter grins at us.
She has feathers and paint in her hair, a total hippie, and I instantly love her.
“We are here to make bracelets,” I annouce.
“Amazing.” She claps and hurries over to a paint-stained table and pulls out two chairs. “Sit here and let me get your supplies.”
I sit, and Nikko pushes my chair in for me before taking his, wrapping his feet around mine under the table.
She comes back with two baskets and lays everything out before us.
“Okay, I’ll show you how to make them, and then you can try.
I’ll be right here if you need any help.
Pick any colors and charms you want and make it as personal as possible.
Fill it with your love and good energy.” She offhandedly chooses one and slowly weaves it to show us, and then she grins.
“Have at it. I’ll be over there if you need me.
” She walks away, giving us space, and I consider my choices.
I look at Nikko for a moment, contemplating which color will best suit him.
I never mentioned I was going to make it for him, but I want to.
The idea of giving it to him makes me shy, but I pluck out a thick, black rope and hope he’ll like it.
I add a purple strand as I begin to weave, the color of his gym.
I check on him every now and then. His eyes are narrowed in determination, even as his big fingers fumble over the weaving.
I’m picking through the charms when the lady walks over. “Oh dear.” She chuckles and helps correct Nikko, whose cheeks flame. “You have big hands, which will make it harder, but good for other things.” She winks at me.
I laugh as Nikko looks absolutely mortified, and when she walks away, Nikko shyly asks, “What did she mean?”
“I’ll tell you when you’re old enough.” I chuckle as I focus on the charms, still grinning to myself.
“Fuck,” he mutters, and I look over to see the ropes wrapped around every single one of his fingers. He holds them up, looking so confused and fucking cute. “I don’t even know how I did that.”
Biting back my smile, I help untangle it and straighten it for him. “Want me to make it instead?”
“No,” he replies in concentration as he starts again. “I can do this. I want to make it. It’s important.”