Page 51 of Into the Mountains
“Then it seems we both read each other completely wrong.” I step around the blanket, heading in her direction. She mirrors me and we come to a stop in front of each other.
“I can’t believe you, of all people, liked me.”
“Why does that sound so hard to believe?”
“Because I was the weird nerd girl.”
“So what? Did you ever notice I never dated in high school? I never wanted to, because the only person I was ever interested in was you.”
“I find that extremely hard to believe. I remember girls practically fainting in front of you to get your attention.”
“They never had a chance in hell, red.” I push her hair back, threading my fingers through her hair. She places one of her hands on my chest, the other resting on my hip. The pull is mutual as our lips meet and we both inhale sharply. Immediately, the hand on my chest goes to the back of my neck and into my hair. And suddenly our hands are everywhere. Our admissions of past feelings fuel the small flame that has awakened between us and even though this is only our second date, this feels like something that has been a long time coming.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHARLOTTE
MAY - FIFTEEN YEARS AGO
THE SECOND DATE
My decision to bring Elias here was an easy one. When my parents bought the boat and Dad worked with me so I could get my license, the first thing I did was come out here to explore the other side of the island. Everyone always docked on the main beach and I constantly wondered what was on the other side and the rocks made it too difficult to travel around to it. So much of my time was spent here soon after that, watching the sun set and the stars pass by as a book played in my headphones.
I loved coming here alone, but I think I might love coming here more with him. His hands are tangled in my hair and my heart feels like it’s trying to escape my chest just so it can touch him too. I didn’t bring him here for this, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t cross my mind at all.
A moan escapes my lips, echoing off the walls. “For the record, I didn’t bring you here for this.” The nerve endings on the surface of my skin feel him smile against them.
“Admit it, red. You brought me here to seduce me.”
“Mmmm, you caught me.” I push against his chest just hard enough for him to back up a few steps away. “I had the utmost dire intentions to bring you here, strip down and tempt you until you started begging on your knees for me.”
“I’d beg just to be allowed on my knees for you,” he says with no hesitation in his eyes. And I imagine him in that position for a brief second, my legs on either side of his head and my face heats. He notices it, too, and a sly grin spreads to one side of his face.
“Will you let me be on my knees for you, Charlotte?” The sound of my full name on his lips almost brings me tomyknees. I unbutton my jean shorts and slowly push them down my hips, then my thighs before letting them fall to the ground. I kick them off to the side and throw my sweater over my head, letting it fall to join the small pile of clothes on the ground with a soft rustle. He lets out a strained sigh as I stand in front of him almost naked. I may not have intended for this to go all the way, but I did make sure to wear a matching underwear set. Just in case. After going back and forth for almost an hour on which color I should wear, I settled on classic black, and by the bulge practically begging to be released from his shorts, I made the right choice.
“Come here and let me worship you.”
“If you intend to worship me, shouldn’t you be the one coming to me?” I tease.
“You’re going to drive me insane, woman.”
I let out a giggle, because seducing him is more fun than I could have imagined. I’m far from that shy girl in high school. I’m out of my shell and confident. And ready to take him on.
Or in, in this case.
He levels the field by shedding his own shirt and shorts and it is my turn to stop in my tracks. I’ve seen him with his shirt off before, sure. The soccer fields were located near the entrance to the school, which was also the exit. So every day after school, I’d go to my car, which was conveniently parked at the bottom lot right next to the fields and take as much time as I needed (or wanted) to leave school.
But he must have kept up with a serious workout regime over the summer and at college because he definitely didn’t gain anything since he’s been away. In fact, I think he’s actually gotten more toned if that’s even possible. Usually the first year of college is reserved for taking a step back, having fun, but also focusing on classes. Then again, he did go on a partial sports scholarship, so he had to have been forced to maintain some kind of gym routine.
“Now, who’s the one ready to worship?” He cringes at his own words. “Ew, that sounded so egotistical coming from a man. I deeply and wholly apologize for that.”
“I never knew you to have such a big ego,” I say sarcastically because we both know that’s the biggest lie.
“I think you’re the one with the bigger ego,” he argues, moving closer to me. I don’t let him get a step closer. I step around and we start circling one another.
“Oh really?” Lacing my fingers behind my back, I step near the large rock where he started. He takes his chance and moves across the distance between us before I can react. His hands come under my thighs, lifting me off the ground and I don’t try to stop him. Instead, I wrap them around his waist, locking my ankles at his lower back.
My arms come to rest on each of his shoulders and I press my body to him, the warmth from his seeping into my chilled skin. Goosebumps prickle on the surface, raising my freckles.My brain automatically flashes to the last time someone noticed my freckles like this. The way she hurried to gather her clothes, not even bothering to get dressed on the way out. I can still hear the door slamming behind her as she left without so much as an explanation.
