Chapter Eighteen #2
But then he was behind me, his hands sliding down my arms, he turned me and then looked me in the eye.
“Can I kiss you.”
I should have said no. We should have left and gone back and organised the million things we needed to, but instead I just nodded.
His eyes darkened and his mouth quirked ever so slightly. He lifted his hands back to my face and then kissed me, softly at first and desperate - like yesterday had been desert and today was a mirage.
He needed me, just as much as I needed him.
The kiss deepened, his tongue sliding against mine. His hands moved from my face to my waist, pulling me flush against him. He was hard against my hip, and I moaned into his mouth.
“Gin,” he breathed, pulling back just enough to look at me. “We should—”
“Don’t.” I grabbed his shirt, pulling him back. “Don’t think. Don’t talk. Just... please.”
Something in his expression shifted. His hands slid under my dress, gripping my thighs, he nodded and we walked backwards to the rock.
“Here?” he asked, his voice rough. As we both lay down on the smooth flatness.
“Here,” I confirmed. “Right here. Replace the memory.”
He groaned and kissed me harder. One hand cupped my face while the other fumbled with his belt, his zipper. I reached between us to help, desperate, needing this with an intensity that bordered on pain.
He stilled and I thought for a second he was having second thoughts.
“Please, Theo. I need you.”
He freed himself, pushed my underwear aside, and then he was there, pressing against me. He pushed in with one hard thrust and we both gasped.
“Fuck,” he groaned against my neck. “God, Gin.”
This sex felt dangerous, but necessary. Like neither one of us could have waited until we were somewhere more private. This was raw, frantic, filled with the knowledge that anyone could walk down that path. That we were out in the open, barely hidden by trees.
And the risk only made it hotter.
He thrust into me hard and fast, the rock smooth against my back, but hot through my dress. I buried my face in his shoulder to muffle my moans, one hand fisted in his hair, the other gripping his shoulder.
“You feel so good.” He panted
I couldn’t respond, could only hold on as he fucked me on the rock, out in the open. Each thrust hit deep, the angle perfect, his pelvis grinding against my clit with every movement.
“Touch yourself,” he commanded breathlessly.
I slipped my hand between us, finding my clit. The added sensation combined with his thrusts had me climbing fast.
His grip on my thigh tightened, his thrusts becoming harder, more erratic.
My fingers circled faster. The tension built and built until I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I bit down on his shoulder to keep from crying out as the orgasm crashed through me, my body clenching around him rhythmically.
“Fuck, yes,” he groaned, and I felt him swell inside me. “Gin, I’m—”
He thrust deep one last time and stilled, pulsing inside me as he came. I felt the warmth of him, felt him filling me, and another aftershock of pleasure rolled through me.
We stayed like that, both breathing hard, hearts pounding.
“We should—” I started, but then we heard voices.
Hikers. On the main path. Not close, but close enough.
“Shit,” Theo breathed. He carefully withdrew and set me on my feet. We both fumbled to fix our clothes—him tucking himself back in and zipping up, me smoothing down my dress and trying to make my underwear sit right despite the mess between my thighs.
The voices got closer. I grabbed his hand and pulled him further into the trees, around the far side of the swimming hole. We crouched behind a large boulder, trying to stay quiet despite our labored breathing.
Two hikers walked past the clearing, commenting on the pretty water. They didn’t see us. After a minute, their voices faded.
Theo and I looked at each other and started laughing—quiet, breathless laughter born of relief and adrenaline and the sheer ridiculousness of nearly getting caught.
“That was insane,” I whispered.
“That was fucking hot,” he corrected. He pulled me close, kissed me softly. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I was sticky and uncomfortable and probably had leaves and dirt all over the back of my dress, but I was okay. Better than okay. “We should get back though. Take the photos to Sloane.”
“Right. The photos. Sloane” He grabbed his camera from where he’d dropped it by the rock. “Almost forgot why we came here.”
We made our way back to the truck, this time walking close together, his hand finding mine. The awkwardness from last night felt like it had happened to different people.
As we drove back to the Bennett house, Theo’s hand rested on my thigh. I covered it with mine, and for a moment, I let myself believe that maybe this could work. Maybe we could figure it out.
That maybe I was worth staying for.
Once we were back at the house the rest of the day passed in a blur, the amount of planning and phone calls and logistics soaking up all of the time.
Kay and Steve handled permits and insurance.
Jasper coordinated with the rental company to redirect the chairs and arch.
We sent mass text messages to all the guests and ensured that there was a shuttle available from the campsite to the reception.
By the time we got back to the motel it was already dark. Theo ordered room service, while I finally had a shower to wash off our tryst in the wilderness.