Page 45 of The Outpost (Jamison Valley 4)
Hot damn.
I desperately wanted to grab on to his chiseled hipbones while my tongue found exactly where that trail ended.
Thankfully, before I could start drooling, Beau dropped his T-shirt on my head. By the sound of his chuckle, he had definitely caught my visual perusal of his chest.
Curses.
I pulled his shirt off my face just in time to see him drop the cargo shorts and reveal his black swimming trunks. They hung low on his waist, revealing two dimples at the base of his sculpted back.
Without a backward glance, he waded into the water. My suspicions about the temperature were confirmed when he sucked in a sharp, hissing breath, but by the time he made it across the pond and to the far rock wall, he seemed to have acclimated to the cold. The water only came up to his waist but he sank down low and let the waterfall run over his face.
I toed off my shoes and sat, letting my feet and calves lazily float in the cool water. Closing my eyes and tipping my head to the sky, I let the sunshine heat my face.
“This is so wonderful,” I told the air.
When my own words hit my ears, I sat up straight as my eyes flew open wide.
Wonderful? I’d just said that spending an afternoon in nature was wonderful? What was happening to me? Old Sabrina would never have enjoyed this. There were bugs out here. And dirt. The water was crystal clear but certainly there were microscopic bacteria swimming between my toes. Old Sabrina would have found this akin to torture. Her only acceptable outdoor excursions required a sandy beach and a cabana boy.
But the Montana wilderness really was wonderful. At some point during my three months at the outpost, new Sabrina had started to appreciate the woods.
I laughed to myself and went back to lounging, enjoying my new appreciation for this beautiful part of the world.
“Are you coming in or not?” Beau asked.
“Not. I like my rock.”
“Okay.” He dipped his body back down into the water.
“That’s it? No pressure?” I was braced and ready to defend my choice but Beau just kept swimming.
He shook his head. “No pressure. Not today.”
I gave him a wary glance, but he just kept lazing around in the water, floating back and forth from one edge to the other. The chill from the water must have only been temporary because he looked relaxed and comfortable.
Evil genius. Now I wanted to get in the water.
“Fine. You win.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Exactly.” I pushed myself up to standing and unbuttoned my shorts, sliding them off my legs. Then I went for my tank, whipping it over my head and tossing it on the rock.
Beau’s eyes raked up my bare legs. As his gaze rose, a rush of heat followed, my skin warming from the heat in his eyes. I wasn’t worried about the cold water anymore—not in the slightest. I needed to get in that water and cool off before I did something crazy like untie my top and let it join the pile of clothes.
I tore my eyes away from Beau’s and sat back down, putting my legs in first. One. Two. Three. I pushed off the rock and into the water, sinking all the way to my shoulders. “Oh my god,” I gasped. “That is cold.”
I breathed through the chill and took a few breaths before looking over to Beau.
He was rubbing his wet hands over his face. When he brought them down, his eyes were still hooded with lust. “Good?” His voice was hoarse.
I nodded. “Good.”
“I’m going to . . .” He trailed off and swam to the waterfall, letting the water run over his hair and face.
Thanks for the suit, Felicity. I smiled to myself, glad I wasn’t the only person affected by the other in this pool.
Swimming for a few minutes, I made my way around the pool but avoided the waterfall so I wouldn’t get my hair wet. Though the water wasn’t frigid, it was cool and I decided to get out and let the sun warm me back up.
