“Please,” I try again.
He stops when he’s fully inside again, pulling his forehead off mine and examining my eyes. I swallow at the adoration swirling in his, knowing mine reflect the same thing.
“Fuck falling. I’m already in love with you, Lia.”
I gasp, my eyes blinking fast as I feel the telltale sign of tears stinging the back of my eyes. My hands flutter up and over his neck before they cup his cheeks in the same way he always does to me. “I love you, too.”
His eyelids slam shut as his muscles tense and then a couple of seconds later, he opens them back up, his gaze connecting with mine before he pulls back and thrusts back into me, harder this time.
I relish in the way he seems to lose control as he pistons his hips to a bruising rhythm, not letting up for a second. My moans mix in with his soft grunts and I clutch onto his shoulders, trying to keep myself rooted as he takes me in the way I wanted.
He may have said the words, but right now he’s showing me just how much he loves me. Every single grunt coming from his throat seems to bring me closer to the edge, and when I shatter for the second time, I tense around him. He buries his head into my neck, baring his teeth and biting softly as he explodes, releasing inside of me and stilling.
We hold onto each other for a while, the water flowing around us, the sounds of the waterfall slowly making its way back into the bubble we created.
“Wow,” I whisper, running my hands through his hair. I had a feeling I knew what being with Nate would be like, but I had no idea it would devour me in that way.
He lifts his head, his gaze focusing on his task as he rights my bikini bottoms and then lifts my bikini top, tying it back into place.
I frown as he continues his ministrations, not bringing his gaze to mine no matter how many times I tilt my head to put my face in front of his.
When he pulls away and gently lets my legs down, I grind my teeth together as he still doesn’t say anything.
“Nate?” He shakes his head a little, his face a mask I can’t penetrate. “Nate?” I say, louder this time.
“That was amazing but…” He looks up at me. “We didn’t use protection. I didn’t plan on this happening, I got carried away.”
My mouth curls up into a smile before turning into a grin as I watch the way he’s freaking out. “We’re fine,” I tell him, wading forward. “I’ve got us covered, I’m on the pill.” I wink in jest and walk back through the waterfall, turning back when he follows me. “I’m clean… are you?”
His laughter echoes around us as he threads his fingers through mine and pulls me toward him. “We’re good, I promise.”
He plants a soft kiss on my swollen lips before his cell rings out from his bag. It stops before it starts back up again and his eyes flash with annoyance.
“Go and check it,” I tell him, placing my lips against his again.
“Sorry about this, it could be work.”
“It’s okay,” I tell him as he pulls away, his eyes twinkling as he gives my body a once-over, biting his lip.
I don’t move my eyes off him as he wades through the water, staring in fascination as his back muscles ripple. My eyes follow a droplet of water as it flows and dips between the contours of his back and finally stops at the waistband of his shorts.
When he bends down in front of his backpack, I lie back and float in the water, closing my eyes and basking in the silence.
“Shit!” I turn my face toward him and see him holding his cell up in the air before he looks at me. “I’ve got a bunch of messages and missed calls from work. Sorry to do this right now but do you mind if I try and find a signal?”
“Sure.”
He flashes me a grateful smile and walks off, holding his cell up in the air above him as he goes, turning around in a circle before
he walks around a tree and out of sight.
I lie back again, closing my eyes and enjoying the warm water and the peace surrounding me. My mind is empty, no rampant thoughts batting around. For the first time in months, I’m not worrying about anything at all.
The sound of leaves being crushed and a twig snapping has me standing up and zeroing in on where it came from, expecting Nate to appear. But when I hear his voice in the opposite direction, my eyes widen.
Goose bumps travel over my skin as another twig snaps, the hair on the back of my neck rising. I haven’t had this feeling in weeks, but I know I’m not imagining it—I’m being watched.
I quickly wade through the water, not drying off as I grab my shorts and tank top and get dressed. Wrapping my arms around my waist, I watch the trees for signs of… anything.