Page 60 of Her Athlete's Wedding Secret
Chapter 14
Tessa could hear the babbling of a brook through the trees. They walked farther down the trail, and she could hear the roaring of the waterfall. Excitement built in her as she anticipated jumping in the refreshing water. She’d worked up quite a sweat in the tropical humidity. They descended a set of stone stairs the curved around the hillside. The trees parted, and the waterfall came into view. It was about fifty feet tall and fell into a large pool of water.
“This is prettier than I’d imagined,” Tessa said. The water was turquoise blue and contrasted beautifully with the surrounding rainforest.
“That water’s calling to me,” Benson said. He took off his hat and backpack and set them on the ground. Then he peeled his shirt off and tossed it on top of his bag. He turned to Tessa. “You getting in?”
She’d been too absorbed in watching him strip off his shirt. “Oh, yeah. I totally am.”
She took off her tank top and shorts and placed them with their stuff. She felt Benson’s eyes on her as she stood there in her swimsuit. Her cheeks grew hot.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Tessa.”
“You think I’m beautiful?” she asked.
“Are you kidding me? You’re gorgeous. I’m lucky to be married to you.”
“You mean that after all those girls you’ve been seen with around New York?”
He walked closer to her. “I mean that. I think about it all the time.”
She swallowed and looked up at him. He put his hands on her bare arms, and goosebumps rose there. “You think about me being beautiful?”
“You haven’t noticed me checking you out?” Benson asked.
“Well, yeah, but I just figured that was a normal male response.”
“That’s because I’m highly attracted to you.” He was so close to her now.
“I’m attracted to you too. You’re the hottest guy I’ve ever seen, let alone been close to like this.”
“You think that.”
“Of course, I do. I mean, look at you. You’re ripped, and you have those adorable dimples.”
He smiled at her, and his dimples made their appearance.
“See? There they are.”
He laughed.
She looked into his eyes. They crinkled at the corners. She was in love with this man. She knew that now. How could she not be? He was everything she’d ever dreamed of and then some. She felt like her heart was connected to him, like she’d always known him. That was the most important part of all. There was something so intimate about being alone with him like this. She felt safe and comfortable in his arms. He felt like home.
He bent his head down and kissed her. She put her hands on his shoulders and ran them down his rock-hard arms.
“That feels nice,” he said against her mouth.
She stroked the back of his neck and touched the spikiness of the hair on the back of his head. She felt protected in his arms like this, like he was cherishing her. She’d never envisioned that she would feel this way with a man. Her parents hadn’t been like this. She assumed she’d end up with a guy who cared about her on the surface, but this felt deeper. The depth of her feelings for Benson surprised her. It felt new and fresh and exciting.
He pulled away. “Should we see if this water is as refreshing as it looks?”
“Absolutely.” Her lips were swollen where he’d kissed her.
She stepped into the water with Benson at her side. “This is paradise.”
Benson smiled at her. “I’m glad to be here with you, Tessa Patrick.”
“I’m happy I’m here with you too.” She smiled at the way he used his last name when he spoke to her. It made her feel all tingly inside when she thought about being his. She stepped deeper into the water and then launched deeper in as she swam forward on her belly. She rolled onto her back and looked up at the bright blue sky. She sighed at the perfection of it all.
