“How long were you sick?”
She smiled, grateful to him for understanding that she was sick and not crazy. “Less than a year. My mother realized what was going on and forced me to get help.” She stuffed the protein bar wrapper into her shorts pocket and stood up. “I have a much better body image now, thanks to that therapist, but it is a struggle.” She took a deep breath. “As long as I don’t smell bacon or a few other foods, everything is good.”
He stood up as well, pocketing his own wrapper, but she could tell from the look in his eyes that he wanted more of the story. “Is that why you don’t date?”
She stepped back, careful to not step too close to the edge of the trail because there wasn’t much beyond that except for a steep drop. “I date.”
“You won’t date me.”
Selena’s heart raced with his words. Oh, if he only knew about the fantasies she’d woven with Reid as the star! Shaking her head, she sighed. “Because you’re not serious.”
“I’m not?” he asked in surprise.
She shook her head. “Nope.
“So, you will only date men who are serious about relationships?”
She stopped and looked up at him, a realization dawning. “Actually…no.”
“Why not?”
“Because…” She wasn’t exactly sure why. The thought struck her that she hadn’t dated anyone in…a long time!
“Because…?” he prompted.
Selena stopped walking and looked back at him. “I don’t know why.”
He moved closer, not touching her. “Perhaps I can offer a reason to change your status?”
She wanted to back up, to put some space between them, but she couldn’t move. Didn’t really want to, if she were honest with herself. Up here in the mountains, it seemed like a perfectly wonderful thing to do, staying close to him.
She felt more alive, somehow. More invested in the world. It was as if the cleaner air at this altitude was able to blow away the smog of her past. Her heart raced when he wrapped his hands around her waist to her closer.
“What if I don’t want a status change?” she asked, thinking that she was crazy. Of course she wanted to change her status! She wanted…
Reid. She couldn’t say much more after that because he kissed her. It started softly, barely there for a long moment. It was almost as if he were testing her, giving her the chance to back away. Did she want this? Yes! The resounding answer in her head caused her to pull his head closer.
That was the only invitation he needed. His arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her up slightly as his mouth covered hers. His head slanted as his lips moved over and over on her own. Automatically, she opened her mouth to deepen the kiss, her body tingling with the raw sensuality of his caress.
His response was to pull her closer, pressing his arousal against her stomach, which gave her a sense of power that she’d never felt before. She moved closer, sliding against him and heard his groan. Smiling, she felt an almost overwhelming need to hear that sound again, run her hands along those muscles that she’d been admiring recently, but hadn’t had the courage to touch. Now she was touching, she was feeling and…yeah, he groaned again.
Her breathing was ragged, she couldn’t seem to get enough oxygen to her lungs and rested her forehead against his chest. Thankfully, he was feeling the same way, if his heaving chest was any indication.
“We can’t do this here,” he murmured, his fingers sliding into her hair, ruining the neat and tidy braid she’d pulled her hair into.
“Why?” she asked, letting her fingers slide over his chest. He caught one of her hands, the deep rumbling in his chest telling her that just that simple movement was exciting him.
“Because if you continue touching me like that, we’re not making it down off of this mountain tonight.”
She stared up at him, not sure what he meant. He threw back his head and laughed. “You have no idea, do you?” he asked. He moved the hand he was holding until her fingers covered his erection, pressing urgently against the canvas of his shorts. “This is what you do to me, Selena,” he warned her. “And if you continue to look at me like that, I’m going to encourage you to explore this in a bit more detail. On that rock right there.”