I frown his way. “What do you mean?”
The smile on his face makes me feel petty. “Nothing.”
Is he laughing at me?
I throw him a punch to the shoulder. “Stop being an asshole.”
“You said my cooking was bad,” he retorts.
“Fine.” I roll my eyes. “I guess I deserved some payback.”
“You’re right, though,” he says, still smiling like a motherfucker. “It was bad. Which is why I can’t wait to see what you come up with if you’re up for it.”
He winks.
And for some reason, that makes me blush. Hard.
“So what’s next?” I ask, trying to stop thinking about how handsome he is when he smiles.
He walks back to his bike and opens the back compartment. “Something special.”
I narrow my eyes at him as I chuck the bag inside, and he closes the lid again. “Sounds secretive.”
“It’s a surprise,” he says as he hops on again. “Get on.”
I do what he says and wrap my arms around him. It almost feels normal. Familiar. Comfortable.
Too comfortable.
“Hold on tight,” he says. “It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.”
We go up the mountains near the village, closer to the cabin, across an unkempt dirt road surrounded by trees and bushes. I feel like we’re headed straight into the middle of nowhere, out in the wild, where no one will be able to find us, and something about that makes me feel uneasy.
But his warm body against mine keeps me steady. He said he wants me more than anything, which means I’m safe with him. At least, as long as his hands aren’t on me. Or his tongue.
I shiver with delight.
The bike stops behind a thick tree, and just up ahead is a big clearing with rippling water. I can’t see it, but I can hear it.
“We’re here,” Liam says, and he helps me get off again like a true gentleman, holding out his hand and all.
I almost feel like I’ve ended up in the twilight zone. Like I’m not really someone’s pet captive at all. Because as I step toward the clearing, my eyes land on the most beautiful, pristine little lake I’ve ever seen.
“Wow…” I mutter.
“Impressive, isn’t it?” Liam says, walking closer too. “I found it on one of my trips off trail. But once you know the landmarks, it’s not hard to find.”
“Is this for real? Am I imagining things?” I rub my eyes because this place just doesn’t seem real. Surrounded by pine trees and big rocks, the lake seems untouched. Unspoiled by humans. Too good to be true.
Liam laughs and grabs my hands, leading me closer. “C’mon.”
I pause and let go of his hand as he turns to face the water.
And starts taking off his shirt.
And his shoes.
His socks.