Chapter Fifteen Jake #2
“Yeah, and you love me for it.” I lunge for her as she freezes, staring at me. Pulling her close and kicking my legs to keep us both afloat, the words I just said come racing back to me. I can feel the panic in her as her body stiffens, which has me quickly fumbling over what to say next.
“You know what I meant. Being an idiot makes you laugh, and you know you like it.” I sound like a high school kid trying to dig himself out of a hole.
If she hadn’t reacted the way she did earlier today, shushing me and telling me, “not today,” I would’ve just blurted out the words that are sitting so close to the surface. But I’m holding back so I don’t spook her any more than I already have.
“Anyway, I should be the one worried about the cold water again for the second time today. Shrinkage is not flattering to the male ego, you know.” Changing the topic as quickly as I can, I run my hands down over her ass and lift her legs so they’re wrapped around my waist, making it easier for me to keep us afloat.
“I’m not sure that’s even a thing, because what I can feel right now still can’t be considered small.” Her face begins to relax again as we move past my dropping of the L word.
“Besides, I should be the one panicking. What if someone else arrives here and I’m naked. Like, full butt naked. Do you realize I’ve never been naked outside in the open before? And now I’m in the middle of the woods, a place that freaks me out, with another human being . . .”
I interrupt her rant to add, “And a dog.”
“Fine, and a dog, plus a million creepy crawlies that I don’t even want to think about that might be swimming inside my hoo-ha right now.
For fuck’s sake, how do I let you get me into these stupid situations?
” The way she’s pushing her pussy so hard against my stomach, I’m guessing she thinks she’s sealing it off from danger, and that’s what’s got me now absolutely losing it.
I struggle to hold us both above the water. My concentration is lost from laughing so hard at her comment.
“It’s not funny!” she exclaims, slapping me on my shoulder. “I’m a vet, I know about animals. There is weird shit that lives in water.”
I kick my legs and propel us toward the rock ledge so I can hang on to it with one hand.
“Okay, let’s get a few things straight so we can relax and enjoy the rest of the swim.” I was not picturing that she would freak out this much.
“Firstly, the only thing that will be inside your hoo-ha while we’re in this water is me—if you’re lucky.
Secondly, Peace Falls is on Heatherbrae property, so the only people who could be here today are me or my family.
Gran can’t walk up here anymore, and Chase is not stupid enough to gatecrash our date.
That’s why he let Rosie go and didn’t bother chasing after her.
It’s guy code not to interrupt private time with your girl.
So, slow down that breathing and just enjoy this.
” I kiss her softly on her wet pouty lips.
“Trust me, Ash. I would never put you in a position to be hurt or embarrassed. I will always be here to protect you. For as long as you let me.” Her hands, that have been around my neck and hanging on for dear life, start to loosen a little, and I can see her shoulders droop a bit.
“I do, it’s just all new to me.” She reaches forward and kisses my lips gently.
“What, having someone protect you, or swimming naked?” I won’t let her get too much inside her head.
“Both,” she admits.
“Then I’m glad to fix those problems for you.
” I let go of the rock and start to drift out to the middle of the pool.
“Now stop gripping me like a monkey and lie on your back. Just float and enjoy the sun on your skin. Look around at the picture-perfect scenery . . . and just breathe. I have a feeling you have forgotten how to just . . . be.” Keeping my tone calm and gentle, I bring her back to the serenity of the moment.
Her body is still rigid, but it doesn’t take long before her limbs stretch out and her muscles begin relaxing.
“I’ve got you.” Holding her hand, we float alongside each other in the current of the water created by the waterfall. A very fine mist settles on our faces from the spray. From the corner of my eye, I see Rosie has settled on the big rock in the sun, her eyes lowering as she takes a nap.
“The water doesn’t feel so cold now,” Ash says quietly, trying not to disturb the tranquility that has finally descended.
“Your body is acclimating to the temperature, and we are on the top of the water where the sun heats it more. But for me, the cold refreshes and rejuvenates my soul.” I turn to look at her and see she has finally been overtaken by the magic of this place.
Her eyes are closed, soaking in the sun and just enjoying the moment.
The sheer beauty of the woman next to me, naked, with her face above the waterline and her hair spread out like a fan while different parts of her body float just above the surface.
Perfect brown nipples and half of her plump breasts point to the sun, a small sliver of her stomach around her belly button, a strip of skin down the tops of her thighs and the tips of her toes.
It’s a picture in my mind I’ll never forget.
A moment of peace captured in the pure beauty of the light flickering on the water, the shadows of the trees, and the unspoken love between us.
That thought of moments like this, just us and the love we share, has sealed it in my head. She’s it for me, and now I need to face some tough decisions to make sure she will always be the one beside me in the future.
I need to tell her everything.
Ashley
Who even am I?
This is not something I could imagine myself doing, even in my college days. I was never one to take a risk, so now, at my age, I’m surprising myself even more.
But Jake is right.
As I give in to being just in the moment, I feel this kind of peacefulness wash through my body. Is this why he brought me here and made sure I ended up naked in the water?
Just floating with no confines is a totally new experience and one I don’t want to end just yet.
It’s healing. I lost trust in every man after Jeremy, but now, in a way I can’t explain, I trust Jake. He’s open with me, and I feel like I can lay my soul bare to him, knowing he won’t crush it.
I don’t know how long we have been floating in the sun, but it’s something that I will treasure long after Jake has gone back home.
If it wasn’t for him, I would never have made it this far into the woods and up to the falls.
Looking to my side, I see him watching me with a look of pure desire on his face.
It makes an inner burn run through my body, and this time it’s not lust but something I can only describe as love.
His eyelids start to open wider, like he’s surprised. He places his finger to his lips and then points to the opposite side of the pool to where Rosie is sleeping. I turn slowly and at the same time drop my body into the water in case someone is there who will see me.
I gasp with shock at the sight before me.
Standing on a small dirt patch that leads into the water is a fawn taking a drink.
But not just any fawn, it’s my fawn. The one I tried to save that night.
I can see the scar on her leg and the facial markings that I remember so well after watching and trying to get close to her for what felt like hours.
I was sure she would’ve died from an infection or been attacked by a bear or wolf drawn to her by the scent of her blood running from her wound.
“I can’t believe it,” I whisper to Jake, who’s now also upright in the water, pulling me back against his chest and helping to keep me up.
“She’s beautiful. Seeing an animal like this in her natural environment, I can understand your passion for them.”
And if I wasn’t already in love with him, that would seal the deal.
“She’s not just any animal, she’s my fawn from that night. The one I tried to help.” I’m transfixed by her, watching her drink as though she isn’t threatened by us being so close. There is no way she doesn’t know we are here. Animals are too smart for that.
“Holy shit.”
His freak-out sounds so funny as just the faintest whisper.
“Maybe Tiff is right, that the waterfalls in this town have magical powers.” I watch her take her last drink and lift her head to look directly at us.
“Do you think she’s trying to tell you thanks for attempting to help her, or sorry you were so clumsy and hurt yourself, but at least you got a Prince Charming out of it?” Jake never ceases to bring humor to my world.
“I just think she’s here to show me she’s fine and healing from her injury.” For the first time I sound like Tiff in my head, hoping this is the sign to me that I’m healing too. Every minute I spend in Jake’s arms, more of the weight I have been carrying over the years is breaking away.
“What a gift from the universe,” Jake whispers as he kisses my cheek.
“Yes, it is.” My words mean more than he will ever understand.
A crash behind us wakes Rosie up, and she lets out a loud bark, scaring the fawn into scattering back through the shrubs.
Panic races through me as Jake and I both turn quickly in the water, only to see a branch that has fallen from a tree landing just behind Rosie.
She’s now standing on her rock, fully alert and growling a little to let us know how unimpressed she is as she watches the leaves of the fallen branch drift slowly to the ground.
“It’s okay, girl,” I call out to Rosie to get her attention.
“I should get out and reassure her,” Jake says, pushing us toward the edge.
“No, she’s fine, she’ll settle. You have something far more important to do.” My heart celebrates seeing his concern for Rosie.
“What?” He turns us face-to-face and kicks us back out into the pool a bit farther.
“Fuck me under that waterfall.” I can’t believe I just said that.