Page 139 of Rough and Rugged

They retreat, offering a wave before disappearing into the trees again, leaving us alone at the pristine lake nestled in the woods.

Blaine gives me a gentle kiss, squeezing his arms tightly around me. “I appreciate you standing up for me, babe, but Jax definitely beat me.”

I chuckle against his mouth. “I know. I just like giving him shit because he’s such a nice guy and would never cheat.”

“No, he wouldn’t.” He shakes his head. “But I’ll get him in the next competition. You know sawing is my best event.”

Raising my hand out of the water, I rock it side to side. “I don’t know. I feel like fucking is your best event.”

He growls low. “Oh, really?”

“Yes, definitely.”

Blaine

My chest swells at her compliment, one I know isn’t just bullshit ego boosting because of the way she always looks after.

Satisfied.

Glowy.

Blissful.

I grin at her, tightening my grip on her waist. She squeezes her legs around me, aligning her core to grind against my still very much awake cock.

“And here I thought you fell in love with me for my intelligence.”

She laughs and leans in to feather her lips over mine. “Oh, I find your intelligence incredibly sexy, too. And your drive to succeed, and your creativity, and how passionate you are, in and out of the bedroom and boardroom.”

I raise my brows at her. “Wow, what did I do to deserve all these compliments today?”

Her slender shoulders rise and fall. “I give you compliments all the time.”

Nodding, I search her soft features for something I’m starting to get the feeling she’s holding back. “You do, but…”

She raises a brow at me. “But what?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. Today feels different.”

This entire trip has.

But especially today.

Waking up beside her in the beautiful house we built on the land that the Schroeder family has owned for over a hundred years. Hearing the birds chirping instead of car engines on the street. Smelling the fresh wood and leaves and clean air instead of the tinge of exhaust and overall smog that lingers near the house in the city.

All of it was so… pristine.

Annie nods slowly. “I agree. Today feels different, though, I don’t really know why.”

Staring into her evergreen eyes, I’m transported back to the first time I saw her. “I think I do. Because it’s been so long since we’ve been here, and it’s where we met.”

Her lips curl into a grin. “Do you remember that night?”

“Of course I do. How could I ever forget?”

“I was so scared.” She sucks in a sharp breath and shakes her head. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t come along.”

Something I try not to think about—ever.

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