Page 42 of Pictures in Blue
Whatever hangs in the air between us, he breaks it and stands, going to the edge of the water. To my surprise he starts taking off his boots, socks, then his shirt, leaving the heavy conversation behind us and filling my mind with something much,muchbetter.
The image of Hudson Waters shirtless.
My eyes widen.Holy shit.If I had my phone and Charlotte on FaceTime, I’m pretty sure she would pass out. I’m unsure on whether or not I am going to pass out.
“Whoa, what’re you doing?”
“What does it look like?” He says, teasing as he proceeds to take off his pants revealing the navy blue boxer briefs underneath. I must look like a fish breathing underwater, because my mouth hangs open before I close it only for it to fall open again.
“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod,” I let out in a jumble, making my eyes go anywhere other than where they desperately want to go. My hands come up to my face, covering my eyes to resist the temptation to stare to my heart’s content.
“Just want to wash all the mud off,” is all he says before slowly wading into the pool. The water around him ripples and spreads as I peek through my fingers unable to resist. He’s turned toward the waterfall and I let myself admire his muscular back and broad shoulders. Toned from whatever it is he does for a living. Long red scratches stretch from in between his shoulder blades to his lower back and he hisses the further down he sinks into the water. He reaches up and tugs at the ponytail holding half his hair back, letting it fall into his face.
“I can feel you staring,” he calls back, face half turned toward me. I don’t think I have ever had a fantasy as good as the one unfolding in front of me. Without overthinking, I stand on my right foot, careful about the weight I put on my left, and start undressing until I am in my black sports bra and matching underwear. I make a mental note to thank Charlotte for the matching sets she shoved into my suitcase.
My eyes travel to him and our gazes lock, green to blue.
“Nowyou’restaring.” I smirk, knowing I leveled the playing field and watching. If he thought he was getting away with the glances and stares he had been shooting my way during the whole hike, he was wrong. I noticed every single one and my body reacted each time. But that was nothing compared to standing here now as bare as I have been in front of anyone in years.
I wade in slowly, hiding my body beneath the water as I drift toward the waterfall. Hudson stays where he is, but I feel his gaze following me, burning into me.
The water above runs through my hair, the mud slowly cascading down my back. My ears strain to listen to the sounds of the water, to figure out where he is standing now, if he is moving closer to me.
“Let me,” his voice comes from behind and startles me. Before I say anything, Hudson gently places his hands on my head and starts cleaning the mud from my hair, his fingers moving in slow circular motions gently pressing into my skin.
“Is this okay?” he asks, just loud enough for me to hear over the water. I just nod. I don't trust my voice right now. The man has his hands… in. My. Hair. And it feels more than good. Better than anything I have ever felt. Better than sex. Okay, probably better than the sex I’ve had and I wonder how much better sex with him would feel. But, nope. Not going there. Although, my body really wants to go there. I close my eyes and focus on the feel of his hands massaging my scalp, his fingers combing through the thick strands.
“If I knew the noises you’d make while washing your hair, I would have asked to do it a lot sooner.”
My eyes fly open and I realize I had in fact been moaning at his touch. Red floods my cheeks and I’m embarrassed. Again. How many times can I be embarrassed in front of this man? You know what, no, I’m not embarrassed. His hands feel nice. The massage feels nice. That’s it. I’m not going to hide the fact that I am enjoying this moment.
I turn toward him and my breath catches at the sight of him under the waterfall. His chest is at eye level and I get quite the view. I allow myself to take my time to meet his eyes, taking in every ounce of lean muscle on his pecs, the peaks of his brown nipples with water dripping down, down, down…
Hudson clears his throat and my eyes dart up to his. His deep, green eyes. Send a search party, because I am utterly lost in them. His lashes lower dangerously, eyes landing on my lower lip. My chest rises and falls in a quick rhythm, my brain not catching up with what is happening. Whatishappening? Hudson is looking at me like he wants to kiss me. Is he going to kiss me? Do I want him to kiss me? Yes. I do, I decide.
He places a hand on the back of my neck and slowly pulls me closer. So slowly, it feels like the slow-mo feature is on. His head dips and he draws a line from the left side of my jaw with his nose, down to my chin, over my lips, until we are nose to nose, our shared breath mingling with the water falling between us.
“What are you doing?” I ask, breaking the spell he’s cast upon us. I hate myself. Why does my brain decide to catch up atthatmoment?
Hudson stalls and clears his throat again. “Nothing. Um…uh…sorry. That was out of line.” He pulls away and the cold air creeps in, goosebumps replacing where his hands were, my body already missing his touch.
“No—” I start, but he’s already making his way back to our stuff.
“I’ll go get a camp set up.”
Shit. What did I just do?And why do I feel a gnawing pit in the center of my stomach?
When the mud is completely washed off, I retrace Hudson’s path to the bank and start to regret taking my clothes off. I have nothing to use to dry off and it is starting to get colder. He must notice my shiver because he pulls a blanket out of his pack that is apparently bottomless and wraps it around my shoulders, careful not to make any contact with my skin.
The pack proves even deeper than I imagined, because Hudson pulls out a sleeping bag, a thermos, more food items, a canteen, and a tarp.
“Uhhh, did you plan on staying for the week, or?”
“Always be prepared,” he answers.
“For what?” I ask.
“Anything.” He starts to lay out the tarp on the ground in front of the makeshift fire pit he must have put together while I finished cleaning myself.
