17. Isla #2
“You know, like with their initials carved into the metal. It’s very cute. Some of them are super rusty, though.”
“Hmm,” he said, his face pinched, “I don’t know if I like you running over some old, sketchy bridge.”
“It’s not sketchy,” I laughed. His concern was adorable and warmed my insides. “It’s perfectly safe.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” he said. And when we finally reached the bridge, he spent at least ten minutes inspecting it, walking back and forth along the boards and shaking the handrails.
“See?” I said. “It’s sturdy.”
He hummed, then let out a sigh and turned to face me. “Don’t get mad at me.”
“For what?”
He dropped his hands to his hips. “I’m probably going to have this torn down and something new built. I’ll have to make sure the entire trail to the waterfall is completely safe if I’m going to encourage guests to visit.”
“I figured you would,” I said as we started down the path again. “Can you just promise me one thing?” He tilted his head, curious. “Keep the locks and put them on the new bridge? I’d hate to think about all those relationships being tossed into some rubbish heap.”
“If it’ll make you happy,” he said.
“It will.”
“Then consider it done. Coming soon: The Isla MacRae Memorial Lock Bridge.”
“That’s not necessary,” I groaned.
He grinned at me. “Too late. It’s officially in the construction plans.”
I rolled my eyes, my retort falling off as we neared the waterfall, the rush of the water drowning out my thoughts the way it always did.
Up close, it never failed to be magnificent.
The trail continued up and over the falls, heading back to the distillery, but I’d always preferred it down here, and Ranger loved to play in the stream. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”
“Aye,” Locke agreed.
I turned to him. He wasn’t looking at the falls, but at me. My pulse skipped at the base of my throat. I couldn’t get enough of that heated stare and the way he could turn my insides molten with a single look.
I stepped closer to him, pressing up on my toes, my stomach twisting in anticipation as his arms curled around me. Desire pooled low in my belly as his lips met mine, and all I wanted was to wrap myself around him.
He ran his tongue along my lips, and I sucked it into my mouth. I let my hand drift down his stomach until I found the zipper on his jeans.
“Watch yourself, you little minx,” he whispered. “Don’t start something you’re not prepared to finish.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Who said we weren’t going to finish?” I popped the button and slipped my hand down the front of his pants, stroking his cock. He was definitely interested.
“Can people see us from the trail?” he asked, lips pressed to my ear so I could hear him over the rush of the water.
“Afraid someone might see your arse, Mr. Fraser?”
“That’s exactly my concern,” he said. “I don’t need my arse all over the evening news.”
I grinned as I stepped away from him, pulling my tank top over my head, leaving me in my bra and shorts. “Or worse,” I joked. “On the front page of Jo’s paper.”
“What are you doing?” he asked, his eyes flicking up to the trail then back to me, clearly torn.
“Ever been skinny-dipping?”
“Isla,” he groaned.
I inched back along the rocks. “You can’t see behind the waterfall from the trail,” I said coyly, shooting him a seductive smile as I turned away, slipping along the rock wall and disappearing from view.
Behind the falls, the water was calmer, the rocks forming a secluded little pool perfect for swimming.
“How’d you know this was here?” Locke asked, appearing a moment later.
“My mother and I explored these woods back to front when we still lived here. She’d bring me swimming on really hot days, and we’d take shelter back here to get out of the sun.”
He stroked his hand down my bare arm, sending my heart galloping. Awareness flared between my legs. I unclasped my bra and wriggled out of my shorts before turning and stepping into the pool. The water felt perfect against my flushed skin. “Are you going to join me or just keep staring?”
Locke hesitated for a beat, then he yanked his T-shirt over his head. His pants came down next, and I licked my lips, enjoying this private striptease just for me as he slid into the water, gliding over to me.
“Fancy meeting you here,” he murmured when he caught me. I curled around him, and his hands kneaded my thighs.
I entwined my arms around his neck and let him guide my legs up around his hips.
Locke braced us against the rocks as I reached for his hard length again.
I was desperate for him, already soaked with desire, and I arched my back, guiding him where I wanted him most. I groaned at the sensation, shuddering as he filled me in one smooth motion.
“That’s it,” he said, pulling out slowly before gliding back in.
I pushed off against his shoulders, using the leverage to rock faster, chasing my pleasure. Locke grinned, his grip on my hips tightening, slowing us down again.
“We’re going to take this nice and easy.”
I groaned, trying to urge him on. “Please.”
“Please, what?”
“Just fuck me.”
“Can’t hear you over all that water,” he teased, releasing my hip to brush his hand against my clit. I jerked, my fingers digging into his shoulders. “Why don’t you say it again?”
“Locke,” I grumbled.
“That’s right,” he said, swirling his fingers around that sensitive bud. I slammed my eyes closed, gasping.
“Locke!” I cried as he pulled out and slammed back in.
“That’s right. Remember who makes you feel this way,” he said, focusing the pressure of his fingers, swirling perfect circles around my clit. “Tell me what you want.”
“I want to come,” I begged, rocking against his hand, reveling in the stretch as his cock pulled out and drove back in again. The water slowed our movements in a way that made everything more intense, keeping the heat at bay as my insides smoldered.
“Not yet,” Locke grunted, gritting his teeth.
“Please.” I didn’t think I could wait. “Please!” I cried out as one perfectly timed thrust sent me over the edge.
I trembled through the orgasm, clinging to Locke as his hands returned to my hips, shifting my angle as he pumped in and out, his movements growing jerky until finally he moaned, the sound getting lost in the rush of the waterfall. “Bloody hell, woman!”
“I know,” I groaned against him, drooping like a noodle that had sat too long in a pot of water. I huffed a laugh. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to walk back to the car.”
“Then I’ll carry you,” he said, kissing my cheek, my temple, my ear. I pulled back slightly, stroking my thumb along his jaw. Sharing this place with him had been special, but sharing it with him in this way…Well, there were no words for it.
Being with him made me feel so amazing, but that just drove home how much I was going to miss him when he left. Even though I knew our separation would be short, I still wasn’t ready to say goodbye.