Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE WATERFALL . . .
ORIE
I can’t bring Carson to my house while my brother is staying with me—a temporary thing—but a waterfall date? Not necessarily my brightest idea if I want to test out some more…things with him.
Luckily for me, there are lots of private waterfalls within the massive conservation area. Using shadow travel, it’ll be quick to get to them, and hopefully from there, everything can happen naturally.
As I near Green Glen Cabins, Carson is just stepping out of one, locking it behind him.
“Hey,” he calls out, approaching me with the same chipper smile that I’m growing quite fond of seeing.
My mind wanders instantaneously, darting down to the lips I kissed the other night. I was hesitant at first—I’ve never kissed someone with facial hair—but I rather enjoyed the way it lightly scratched my face with every movement.
I want to feel that same sensation elsewhere, maybe my inner thighs…
Oh my Gods, I need to say something. I’ve just been watching him walk toward me.
“Ready to go?” I blink myself from my thoughts, pushing my desires to the side as his scent rushes into my nose. “Tonight, I’ll show you my favorite waterfall in the forest. It’s hidden away, just like the crystal cave.”
With a nod, he follows me toward the shadow of a nearby tree. “I’ll have to take you to my favorite places someday.”
“Here, or places you’ve traveled to?” I ask as I wrap my arms around his waist, preparing to travel.
I wait for his answer before starting the shadow travel, and he blushes down at me. “Places I’ve traveled to while I was searching for my muse…” His eyes search mine as he trails off.
Why is my heart pounding right now? The way he said those words sent a different kind of shiver through me, something that runs deeper than desire.
Instead of dwelling on it, I take us through the shadow, hopping through the forest until we get to the tree line of my waterfall. Instantly, he sucks in a breath, and I loosen my hold to let him step into the moonlight.
The calming sound of water rushing floats into my ears, the world coming back into focus around us. In the dead of night, shadow travel is its easiest, since there’s darkness almost everywhere for me to travel through.
The pool at the base of the waterfall has a small clearing around it, the moonlight illuminating the area.
There are various pastel glows appearing and disappearing along the tree line.
The crystal caverns beneath the conservation area are home to crystalloid fireflies—what they’re doing on the surface tonight is beyond me.
“This is gorgeous,” he says, turning around slowly to take in all the scenery. “I would love to paint here one day.”
Watching him marvel at nature’s beauty makes me feel drawn to him even more, which I didn’t think was possible. How could I have even considered that he was evil? He exudes light and love.
My cheeks warm as I stare at him, and I can’t help but offer to make his wish come true. “That could be arranged. I could bring your art supplies out here using my shadow travel.”
“Really?” His eyes sparkle, the blue looking so radiant that they appear as though they’ve captured some of the moonlight in them permanently.
I nod, my heart rate picking up the longer I stare at him. “Yeah, of course, I’d have to help you get them back as well.”
“It would be so incredible to be able to paint the scenery as I see it.” His eyes completely light up when he talks about his art. It’s cute. “Usually, I sketch them out first.”
Covering one of my burning cheeks with my hand, I nod again. “I know.”
He laughs, the sound untainted by nervousness. “Oh, right, I almost forgot. My watcher from the shadows.”
His watcher from the shadows.
His.
I want to be his, as he is mine. At least, he is in my heart.
“Want to go for a swim?” I cock a brow at him, placing my hands on my hips. “It’s not too deep—you can stand in most spots, and there are solid rocks at the base of the falls.”
He rubs the back of his neck, his cheeks gaining the pink hue I quite enjoy. “I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”
My heart races, and for a brief moment, it feels like I forget how to use my tongue. I have to fight with my brain to let my heart do the talking—to let my instincts guide me. “You don’t need one.”
His gaze stays on me, an intensity flowing into his light-blue irises and electrifying them.
Reaching down, I grab the hem of my shirt, not breaking eye contact.
As I pull my shirt over my head, I watch his expression change.
His lips, which were pressed together, are now parted, and his face is flush.
I shimmy my shorts off, leaving myself standing in only my underwear across from him.
His eyes seem strained, as if he’s fighting to keep them from wandering.
Little does he know, though, I want them to wander.
I want him to see every part of me—I want him to react to me.
Tilting my head, I keep my gaze locked with his while reaching behind my back and finding the clasp to my bra. Once I unhook it, I see his pants begin to bulge at the crotch. Even though nerves course through me, I maintain my confidence and toss my bra aside.
He loses the battle against himself, his gaze dropping as he slowly scans down my body. I watch him as he does, hooking my thumbs beneath the waistband of my thong and sliding it down.
My tail whirls behind me as I step out of the underwear, leaving them on the ground.
I turn, my heart racing as I head toward the water, fully exposing my backside to him.
The vulnerability is terrifying, but at the same time…
it feels right. I’m safe with him, even if it’s taken me a while to admit.
There isn’t a bad bone in his body.
There is however, a bone of his I’d like to take into my body.
As I enter the water, the waterfall’s mist cools some of my inner heat. Once I’m submerged to my hips, I turn around, facing where he stands at the water’s edge.
His jacket is already on the ground, his tight, paint-stained t-shirt clinging to him as the waterfall’s mist dots it. He’s clearly interested, but something’s holding him back.
“You don’t want to join me?” I tease, biting my bottom lip and bringing my wet hands to the upper portion of my body.
The water is cool against my skin, making my nipples perk up even more. Hopefully, the glow of the moonlight catches the wetness and makes me glimmer.
I want to entice him the way he entices me.
A smile darts onto his face, but it’s not his usual one. It’s less gentle, making it all the more sexy. “Just enjoying the view for a moment—I couldn’t paint something so beautiful.”
Instantly my cheeks warm, and I’m sure if I wasn’t in the water, I’d be dripping from my arousal. Gods, I need him to get into the water. I need him close to me.
I need him.
Gripping his t-shirt, he swiftly pulls it over his head, revealing a much more chiseled chest than I expected. My eyes must widen as they travel over him because a deep chuckle leaves his lips.
“What?” he asks coyly as he undoes his belt. “An artist can’t also workout?”
They most certainly can, and I see that he does. His arms are bigger than I thought now that the t-shirt doesn’t conceal them. He has more rigid abs than I can count, though I’d like to get close and try, with a treasure trail leading down to the belt that he slides out of his belt loops.
Now it’s my turn to watch—and this time not while hidden in the shadows.
He undoes his pants, removing them in a much clumsier manner than his shirt.
I can’t help but let out a giggle. Even from this distance, I can see his cheeks flame up, painted red from blushing.
His fingertips hold the waistband of his boxers, but he doesn’t pull them off. He stands there, a blushing mess, staring at me.
“Don’t get shy on me now,” I purr, trying to seem in control even as my heart races.
That seems to be all the encouragement he needs. “I wouldn’t dare,” he says, sliding the boxers down his legs.
Once they’re off, he wades into the water, but my eyes are being drawn in too many places. His face. His chest. His abs. His bouncing cock.
The things I want to do to him…want to do with him.
And Gods, I might be ready to admit that I really, really do want him. Fated mates or not. I want him—body, soul, mind, and heart. I want all of him, all to myself.
The water bends around him as he gets closer to me, the moonlight dancing over the ripples he makes. Time feels slow as he approaches, and I’m glad it does. I could get used to this view of him, all wet and sexy in the middle of the night, in the middle of the woods.
He stops a few feet away, releasing quiet, shaky breaths as he takes in every visible inch of me until he reaches my eyes. I stare into his, this time not trying to hide any emotion that may show.
I don’t know how to explain to him how he makes me feel. The words are lost in my brain, the only things swirling about are all the desires he awakens.
“You can touch me…” I tell him as I take a step closer, loud enough that the waterfall doesn’t totally drown out my voice. “If you want.”
He wastes no time taking a step of his own forward, leaving mere inches separating us. “I want.”
Water drips from his hands as he raises them. Every part of me buzzes with anticipation as he reaches for me, cupping my face gently with one hand while the other cradles the back of my neck.
“You are the most ethereal woman that will ever walk this earth, Orie.” All I can do it watch his lips as they move, the sweetest words I’ve ever heard leaving them.
I can’t fight the smile that overtakes my face, and it triggers one on his. It also must give him the confidence to explore more of me, his hands slowly moving down.
My skin is on fire as his fingertips graze every bit of exposed skin, tracing over curves as if he’s painting his mark into me. His touch is unlike any I’ve experienced, and it’s the only touch I ever want to feel again.