Page 115 of Body Shot

“I want to be as brave as you.” She holds my gaze with her big brown eyes, shiny and brimming with emotion. “You aren’t the only one who developed feelings, Beck. I . . . I love you.”

My heart is about to burst out of my chest.

“I want to be as brave as you. I want to jump out of that plane with you.”

“Jesus Christ.” I step closer and set my hands on her shoulders, my thumbs caressing her throat. “You love me?”

“I do.” She holds my gaze steadily.

“Fuck.” I close my eyes. “Fuck me.”

“Maybe later,” she whispers.

I groan at the laughter that erupts and set my forehead against hers. “Seriously? You want to jump out of a plane?”

She bites her lip. “Yes.” She wraps her hands around my wrists, her palms cold and clammy.

“You don’t have to do this,” I whisper. “I’ll love you even if you don’t.”

“I know. I want to prove this to myself. To know I’m worthy of you.”

“Christ, Hayden. I can tell you, youare.More than worthy.”I’mthe one who needs to show her I’m worth loving. And I will. If I get this chance to have her back, I’ll make sure she knows every day of her life how special she is.

“Are you trying to talk me out of this?”

“No, baby. But I know sometimes I’ve pushed too hard, making you do things outside your comfort zone. This iswayoutside.”

“It is. And you’re the person I want to do this with.”

I stare into her eyes, at the love and devotion and admiration I see there. I’ve never seen anyone look at me like that. Never. My heart expands in a sharp burst, full of gratitude and love of my own. “I love you so much.”

“Love you, too.”

“Okay. Let’s do this.”

She smiles.

Hayden goes through the brief lesson, focusing on what she has to do with her usual studious attention. Then we harness up and cross the field to load into the plane. I hold her hand in mine, hers still damp, trying to warm it up and reassure her. The other guys are clearly freaked out, but laughing about it, joking around and shouting. At least it makes Hayden smile.

The plane takes off into the clear blue sky. The weather is perfect today, no clouds and little wind. After about ten minutes, we reached altitude, the buzz of the propellers loud in our ears, and it’s nearly time to jump. “We’ll go first?” I ask Hayden.

Her long eyelashes flutter and she shakes her head rapidly, shrinking back.

I smile. “Come on. What do you need to focus on?”

“The next move. Jumping.”

“Right. You know I’ve got you—right, baby?”

She nods solemnly.

“Always.” Our eyes met and hold for an attenuated moment, communicating without words. “Come sit on my lap.”

It’s what the others were doing too, but I’m so goddamn happy I have Hayden here. I get us all strapped in, checking and double-checking everything, which I always do, but also because today I have the most precious person in the world harnessed to me.

We move to the back of the plane and the opening.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this!” Hayden screams as we pause.

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