We stepped closer.
The further we went, the more I felt like we would sink into the ground and maybe fall into the water.
Phoenix looked at the lake and gasped. “So pretty.”
Raindrops disturbed the lake’s surface, inciting more ripples.
I glanced over my shoulder making sure the forest closed us in and no one from the main house could see us. If West or Griff spotted me with Phoenix like this, they would think I’d really lost my mind.
Maybe I have?
Something bothered me about the game we’d played. I hated that one of the senses that she felt was the handcuffs. If I really wanted her to heal out here, then she would need to experience some sense of freedom.
I dug my hand into my pocket and took out the keys. “Give me your cuffed wrist.”
Shock filled her eyes.
She lifted it between us.
I stared at her. “Can I trust you?”
“Y-yes.”
She wouldn’t know how to get out of this forest anyway.
I undid the handcuffs, freed our wrists, and slung the metal on the muddied ground.
The rain fell to the grass near us and then crashed to the ground. The wet soil swallowed them away.
I checked behind me.
The breeze shifted to a mighty wind that stirred the trees into a haunting dance.
I turned back to Phoenix.
She rubbed her hands together. A sound of relief left her mouth. She touched her wrist. Then, she grinned like a little kid.
That shit made all of my insides mushy.
Fuck. She’s making me lose the small bits of my mind.
She stepped over to the lake. “Is there anything in the lake?”
“Besides life?”
She stopped her bare feet an inch from the lake. “Is there anything crazy that will bite my foot off?”
I chuckled. “You’re not a country girl. Are you?”
“I’m all city.”
“Nothing will bite your foot off in this lake. The fishes’ mouths are too small to do anything more than nibble at your dead skin. And that’s if they don’t swim away from you completely.”
Thunder boomed.
The rain picked up.
More drops fell, wetting her long black hair and kissing her brown skin.
“Then. . .” She gazed around. “I’m going to do it. I’m going to put my foot in here.”
With a wicked grin, I nodded. “Do it.”
Exhaling, she stepped into the lake.
Intrigued, I followed and got to her side. Water rose up to our knees. If we continued forward it would rise over our shoulders. At the center, it would be several feet over our heads.
“Holy shit.” She closed her eyes and turned her face up to the sky.
Raindrops landed on her forehead and cheeks.
I stood there in utter amazement, drinking the glorious moment in.
This is. . .heaven.
Still keeping her face turned upward and her eyes closed, she raised her arms to her sides like she was about to fly away. “Maybe nature does heal.”
Fascinated I whispered, “It does.”
Fuck. I’ll never let her go. I can’t.
“Tell me more.” Opening her eyes, she lowered her face and turned to me. “How does it heal?”
“Scholars claim walking barefoot is therapeutic. The ground helps absorb the negative charge from the earth. It’s an electrical connection.”
“How?”
“We’re all energy. And everything around us is energy.”
She stared down at her feet. “And the lake?”
“Water is an energy we can’t live without.”
“But does water heal?” She turned to me. “What do your scholars say about that?”
“They say water has tremendous healing potential for the human mind, body, and spirit.” I couldn’t take my gaze off her. “Phoenix. . .”
She blinked through raindrops. “Yes?”
I didn’t even have a question or anything to say. I grabbed her and pulled that lush body close to me, molding her soft breasts against my hard chest.
My mouth was on hers next, tasting. Feasting. Needing to be inside of her any and every way. And our kisses changed to more passion, more sensual.
She wrapped her arms around my waist, falling into the desire rising between us. Tasting the sweet longing within me.
My dick grew hard.
The rain increased, yet it only served as the backdrop. I didn’t care that we would be getting drenching wet from the storm.
I didn’t care if the wind blew us away.
I was bound to her mouth, this kiss, so wild and inflamed with passion, it burned me deep to my soul.
Droplets streamed down our faces. Some spilled between our lips.
Our tongues danced together. Still, we didn’t stop. So untamed, we devoured each other with mad hunger.
Our lips were locked together in the storm.
Our hands were feral. Needy. Yearning.
The world stopped moving. It disappeared. The forest dissipated into nothing but shades of brown and green. The lake blurred. Everything paused from existing.
There was only her, and the taste and warmth of her. The silkiness of her skin. The soft sound of her moans.
The rain brewed to a storm.
Thunder boomed above.
Moaning, she lost her footing.
I’ve got you.
Not stopping the kiss, I lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around my waist and straddled me.