Her eyes widen at my confession.
“Did I overshare?” I ask, leaning my forehead to hers.
“No,” she whispers. “I just wasn’t expecting this from you.”
“I bet you thought I’d be all laughs and bullshit, huh?”
She smiles, looking up, our noses touching. “Pretty much. Though I did think there would be tickling, too.”
“The day has only started, sweet cheeks.”
“Part of me would be fine just staying in this Jeep all day.”
“And what would we do here all day, Chloe?”
“I bet you could come up with a few ideas.”
“Tempting, but no. I decided to forgo the rock climbing today though. I’m taking you on a hike.”
“What, you don’t think I can handle the climb?”
I shake my head, seriously. “That’s not it at all.”
“What is it then, Noah?”
I run my hands through her hair, pulling her to me, her cheeks fitting so perfectly in my palms.
“Chloe, I couldn’t bear it if you got hurt under my watch.”
Her eyes are glassy, filled with tears. “I didn’t expect to get so emotional with you, Noah.” She bites her bottom lip in that adorable way of hers. “But I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I love this softer side of you.”
At that I pull my girl even closer, moving her hand to my groin. “You’ll love the harder side of me, too, I promise.”Chapter ThirteenNoahAfter I kiss her perfect mouth, enjoying her vanilla latte-flavored lips, I take her on the hike.
The whole time we can’t keep our hands from one another, my hands wrap around her waist as she climbs up the path. I love watching her cute little butt move as she takes each step.
“Are you staring at my ass?” she asks, turning around, her eyes twinkling.
“Not just staring,” I tell her. “I’m imagining all the things I want to do to it.”
“I don’t know what it says about me that I can’t even come up with ideas about what you could possibly do to my ass. So, please, Noah, explain.”
“You’re killing me, Chloe,” I murmur. “If I tell you what I want to do to your ass, will you give me access to it when we have our night together in a few days?”
“Are you asking for complete access when we have our orgy... or whatever you want to call it?”
“Orgy, huh?” I shake my head, squeezing her little butt cheeks as I walk beside her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders as we make our way up the top of the path. “I never thought of it as an orgy—do you?”
“Honestly, neither have I. I mean I know it’s gonna be four guys and me but an orgy doesn’t feel very romantic. And what I feel for each of you... feels sensual. Really real.”
“Feels really real for me too.” I stop then, pulling her to me, knowing this secluded spot is ours. No one else knows the place. We’re underneath the rainforest. Beautiful trees create a canopy around us.
The sun breaks through between the branches, filtering light over us. Tropical flowers blossom everywhere, pinks and purples and bright yellows. The sound of a gently crashing waterfall is in the distance. It holds a cascade of water that I’m going to swim in with my girl, Chloe.
“I feel like there’s a lot to learn about you still. The other guys, they told me a little bit about their past. But you... Why are you the way you are?” she asks as I pull her closer to me.
“You feel that? How hard I am? I’m that way because I have the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on in my arms right now.”
She shakes her head. “See, why are you scared to be serious with me. Back in the Jeep, you were being all vulnerable. Do you not want me to know about your life?”
“My life is pretty boring. Honestly, why do you think I started adventure sports?”
“I don’t know. I thought it was kind of a thing that your buddies got really into and you guys discovered it’s a good job and you had fun doing it? Is there a deeper reason than that?”
I know I can’t squirrel my way out of this conversation. But honestly, my truth is different from hers. I don’t want to push her away with my reality.
“Growing up, my life was so damn boring. I grew up with parents who are nice enough. They pay their taxes and pay the mortgage and mow the lawn. But my parents weren’t like Enzo’s. His parents? Damn, they loved him and they let him know it every moment of his life. My parents? They were just there. I can’t remember my dad ever giving me a hug. Or my mom ever asking how I was really doing. My life was so vanilla.”
“Vanilla like my latte?”
“Not that kind of vanilla. Your vanilla is exotic and full of depth. Their vanilla, it was generic vanilla. It was synthetic vanilla. There was no vanilla bean with them. They were wash the car on Saturday and make a roast on Sunday and take off your shoes before you walk inside kind of people.”