Chapter 22 Sloane
SLOANE
He’s my best friend. A puppy that I’ve known for a few weeks. Is that pathetic?
Probably, but he already knows all my secrets, so I can’t exactly not keep him.
He’s an Australian Collie mix, and he is absolutely stunning. An ice coffee-colored coat with little white patches. He even has that condition where you have one blue eye and one brown eye. I really couldn’t have picked a more perfect name for him.
I think Beck likes him, too. I caught them cuddling on the couch this morning when I woke up, and I had to take a picture.
All I wanted to do was post it everywhere. Show off my gorgeous man and my cute puppy.
But we haven’t had that talk yet. Or really any kind of talk about what this is supposed to be or where it’s going.
I don’t want to think about it, because if I do, I think about how it could all be over and how I might have to leave Mocha here so that Beckett doesn’t get lonely, and then I just get double sad.
So I pretend like it’s not happening.
“Did you two already have breakfast?” I ask as I sip on my coffee and answer the few emails that I knew were coming today.
“No, we were waiting for you. Weren’t we bud?” He asks, and Mocha lets out a little bark.
“Ok, I can make you guys pancakes if you want. I was gonna have some eggs and avocado toast.”
“That’s fine, you don’t have to make me anything special.”
“Ok,” I mumble, with a shrug.
“You spoil him too much,” Beckett says, coming into the kitchen and pouring himself a cup of coffee, sitting at the counter.
“I do not, he deserves it. Who knows what kind of life he lived before this?”
He rolls his eyes at me playfully, but I catch the hint of affection. He doesn’t fight me on it, so if I had to guess, then I’d say that he knows I’m right.
“What do you want to do today?” he asks, coming up behind me and wrapping me into his chest.
“You pick today. I picked what we did the last few times,” I whine, relaxing into his strong arms.
“Well, are you feeling ok?” He asks, kissing the side of my neck.
“Yes, I actually feel significantly better than I did earlier this week. So I’m pretty game for whatever,” I tell him honestly.
He’s quiet for a few moments, like he’s thinking about what to say. “Go put on an outfit you’re ok with getting dirty. I’d suggest jeans and maybe a hat. I’ll get everything ready, including Mocha.”
I turn to look at him over my shoulder, but he’s already walking away, heading outside with Mocha right on his heels.
I braid my hair before putting on my Converse and an old tee and making my way outside.
When I find Beckett, he’s changed into what can only be described as ‘hot country man’ dark jeans, a brown tee that fits him too well, and a backward baseball cap.
He’s tying down one of the side-by-sides that he keeps in the garage, a cooler on the back, and Mocha dancing around his feet, probably being more annoying than helpful.
“Ready to go?” he asks, picking up Mocha who licks his chin and wiggles excitedly in his arms.
“Yeah,” I say, nodding my head. Holding my jacket close to my chest, I wonder if he’ll expand on what his plan is for the day.
“Great, here’s fur ball. Let’s go,” he says, handing me my little friend and opening the truck door for us.
I get in and secure my seatbelt. Mocha wiggles around in my lap, like this is the first time he’s seen me in days, when I was only gone for like a half hour.
“Ok, ok, calm down.” I laugh as I pick him up and snuggle him to my chest. He holds onto me like a toddler would their mom, his legs around my belly, and his front paws on my shoulders as he whines in my ear, as his nose nuzzles my neck.
“Beckett, that’s a mud puddle.”
“You know, it’s really a wonder you made it this far in life.” His sarcastic comment literally makes my jaw drop, and it leaves me flabbergasted. I’m supposed to be the comedian, not this old man.
“That was rude,” I mumble. He reaches over and grabs my chin, making me look at him.
I pout at him, and his face changes from amused to worried in a matter of seconds.
“I’m sorry, Sloane, I didn’t—” He cuts himself off and rolls his eyes when my lips curl up into a smirk.
Without another word, he turns back to the dirt trail and presses down on the gas pedal, sending us through the huge puddle, making me screech as the three of us get covered in gross mud.
“Beckett!!!”
I can’t even stay mad at him; the sound of his laugh makes me laugh, as we hit another puddle.
The two of us laugh while Mocha lets out little barks as we slow down once we’re through the mud.
I look over at him as he pulls over to the side of the dirt trail, but he’s already looking at me.
“You have a little something…” he whispers with a smile, his hand cupping the side of my face and brushing clumps of mud off my face.
“Wow, wonder how those got there?” I tease, and his smile widens.
I could stare at his smile forever. Everything about him is so handsome, and I don’t think he has even the slightest idea how obsessed with him I am.
How can every little thing make me fall for him just a little bit more? He lets go of my face and turns back to the trail.
Mocha curls up in my lap, his coat now significantly more brown than when we started this ride. I pet him softly, while trying to gently pull little clumps of mud before they get too matted into his fur.
“What are we doing?” I ask as we stop and get out, Mocha fast asleep in my arms as I carry him like a little baby.
“Lunch,” he says, grabbing the cooler from the back of the side-by-side and a blanket out from under the cooler, setting it out underneath the small patch of trees we parked under.
“Oh.”
I watch as he sits down and pats the spot next to him. Mocha doesn’t even stir as he’s lying on the blanket. I sit down next to Beckett, who produces some sandwiches and some other things for us to snack on.
“Thanks,” I say, taking the sandwich and beginning to eat, not realizing how hungry I’d become.
I look around at the trees that surround us, liking how peaceful and calm it is out here. I could probably stay out here for a long time and never get tired of it.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asks, after we are both finished eating, grabbing my hand and lacing our fingers together.
I shrug. “Just thinking about how peaceful it is up here. How I wouldn’t mind staying up here forever. How I don’t think that I’d feel bad about it.”
He’s quiet while I talk. I like that about him; he listens. Or at least he always seems to be listening. He never interrupts, just lets me say whatever I need to say.
“Yeah, I like it up here, too.”
I nod and look back out at the trees. “It’s beautiful here, I think this is what I missed most about Timberline.”
“Yeah, it is,” he whispers.
I look over to find he’s already looking at me. His intense stare makes my cheeks turn the lightest shade of pink.
He pulls me into his lap, my back to his chest, as he rests his chin on top of my head. We fall back into a comfortable silence as we just enjoy our surroundings.
This is perfect, and I don’t think that there’s anywhere else I’d rather be right now.
I’m glad I came back here. Even if nothing comes out of this summer, I’ll always have the memories. And to me, that’s more than enough.
When we get home, I put Mocha on the couch and get clothes so that I can shower.
“Can I join you?” Beckett asks, knocking softly on the door.
“Yeah,” I reply.
I can’t see him because of the shower curtain, but I hear rustling. A few moments later, he opens the curtain, and he gets in behind me. He wraps his arms around me, holding me close to him.
“Did you have fun today?” he whispers, kissing the side of my neck and gently letting his hands grip my waist.
“Yeah, I did.”
I let myself melt into his tall frame. I’m not sure exactly how tall he is, but if I had to guess, maybe 6’2 or 6’3. I lean my back against his chest and tilt my head slightly.
He spins us so I’m no longer in the water, and after a few seconds, he turns me so that I’m facing him. The water dripping down his body makes him look so good.
Before I can say anything, his lips are on mine, and he pushes me up against the wall.
“Have I told you how good you look?” he mumbles against my lips before nibbling softly on my bottom lip.
He gently rolls his hips into mine, and I moan softly.
I roll my hips back, and he tries to muffle a moan.
“Beck…”
“Yeah, baby?” he whispers against my neck.
“I think I’m ready.”
“Are you sure?” he whispers against my lips, and I nod my head again.
He kisses me soft and slow, pushing his body up against mine in a way that feels so fucking good.
I moan softly as he grinds against me.
I get impatient with how slow he is, and I try to hurry him along, wrapping my hand around his hardening cock and pumping a few times.
“Not yet, baby, our first time isn’t going to just be some quickie in the shower. I want to take my time with you. I want it to feel good for you,” he whispers, gently removing my hand from his cock.
I pout, “I don’t care where it is, as long as it’s you.”
“I care. You deserve more than just a few minutes, ok?” he says, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear.
“You’re too good,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“I don’t know about that…” he starts, but I cut him off by kissing him softly for a few seconds. He pulls away first and spins me towards the water. “Let me clean you off, and if you still want to do more when we get out, then we can,” he offers, kissing the side of my head.
I nod, watching as he gets some soap and begins to wash my body, getting all the mud and dirt from our adventure off my skin. Then he moves onto my hair, washing carefully and peppering kisses across my neck and back, the kind that makes me crazy for him.
“Can I wash you?” I whisper, and he nods. He stands under the water as I wash away the dirt on his body, pressing kisses to the skin as he’d done for me. I have no idea why he thinks I wouldn’t want to do more, because if anything, this is making it impossible for me not to jump him.