Page 25 of Flock
I blush, combing my fingers through my hair. “I just woke up.”
“You’re beautiful,” he stalks toward me.
I nod over my shoulder. “You can come in. My dad won’t be home until later on today.”
He moves to greet me with a kiss on the cheek and I shy away. “Morning breath.”
“I don’t give a fuck.” He leans in and plants a soft kiss on my jaw, lingering while the air grows thick between us.
Breathless, I resist the urge to pull him closer.
“Do you have hiking boots?”
His question throws me. “Uh, yeah.”
“Dress light and put them on. I’ve got something I want to show you.”
“You’re taking me on a hike?”
Hiking is the last thing I want to do with him.
“It will be worth it.”
“This is beautiful,” I pant out as we climb another set of boulders at the edge of the mountain. Muscles I haven’t used in years scream as the foreign feel of moss brushes my shin while I try to scale the rock. Behind me, Sean spots my every move, his breath hitting my thighs as I glance down where he trails my lower half taking care to help me, in case I lose my footing.
“Couldn’t agree more,” he cups my ass with a hand to help me over a ledge of large rock. The clear insinuation of his tone spreads to my toes as I make it over.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask when I clear the last step and take in the view before he hauls himself up to where I stand, the large backpack strapped to him doing nothing to weigh down his climb. He grips my hand, lacing our fingers when he reaches me. “Not too far now.”
I glance at my watch. I’m supposed to meet Roman for dinner, and I hate the trepidation I still feel when it comes to him. I’m eleven years old all over again. After several meals, we’re no more comfortable together than we were when I arrived.
“What time is it?” Sean asks, eyes flashing my way.
“It’s early.”
“Do you have somewhere to be?”
“No, sorry, it’s just my father,” I release a stressed breath. “I’m supposed to have dinner with him later.”
“But that’s later.”
“Right . . .” I draw the word out to make it more of a question.
“So, your free time is now, here, with me.”
I stop and draw my brows. “Uh-huh.”
“So, you should be here, with me.”
“I am?”
“Is that a question?”
“No. I’m with you.”
“But you’re thinking about your dad.”
“Can’t help it.”
