Page 70 of Feels Like Falling
“Nobody’s More Country” by Blanco Brown blasts from the speakers as soon as the engine roars to life, making me shimmy in my seat as I sing along.
Montana grabs my hand, linking our fingers before bringing our joined hands to his lips where he places a sweet kiss on my knuckles. We’re mostly quiet as we take the winding roads to Cedar Lake. It’s been a lifetime since I’ve enjoyed one of Tennessee’s most beautiful and secluded wonders.
It’s a bit of a hike and not easy to get to but it wasours,or at least it had been. That thought sours my stomach, forcing me to turn in my seat.
“Did you bring other girls here?”
Montana chuckles. “Call me a romantic, but I always knew you’d come back to me.” He winks and I roll my eyes even as my cheeks heat. “And even if you hadn’t—this has only ever been our spot.”
“You knew I’d come back?” I ask because sometimes it feels like a dream being back here.
He lifts a shoulder and lets it drop, his eyes still on the road. “I had a hard time believing our story stopped when you left for college. I mean I know it was more complicated than that but…”
He lets the words hang between us. He doesn’t elaborate and neither do I. Up ahead, the road veers off, the trees getting thicker, and Montana slows as pavement is replaced by dirt under the tires.
A couple of cars and trucks are parked in the lot, the path to the main waterfall well-worn and loved by locals and tourists alike.
Sharing a secret smile, knowing we won’t be joining them, we gather our stuff and wait patiently until the coast is clear before turning the other way and dodging the brush and moving toward our spot.
It’s so quiet, the farther we get from the crowd, the only sound coming from the rushing water, the birds flying above, and me huffing and puffing like I’ve never exercised a day in my life.
“You gonna make it?”
“Shut it, Max.” He laughs and I shove him enough to make him laugh harder as he takes off ahead of me down the makeshift trail. We walk a while longer before the trees open up to reveal a place so beautiful my heart swells in my chest.
The earthy tones of the rock shelf are magnificent as the water cascades over it before landing in the crystal-clear pool below. The teal color of the water is almost unnatural—a true sight to behold—and one that never fails to take my breath away.
I know the water is colder than the pool at my childhood home, but that thought is secondary to Montana dropping his gear onto the ground and ripping his shirt over his head.
“Stop starin’ at my ass.”
“Never.” I grin like the Cheshire cat as I gawk at him, sweeping over his body. My gaze is more salacious with every flex and ripple of muscle. Shaking his head, he looks at me over his shoulder, his cheeks the slightest shade of pink.
“Your turn.” His voice is husky as he watches me set down my bag and inch my cover-up higher over my thighs, then my hips—acutely aware of every intake of breath and groan Montana makes. By the time I toss the gauzy white fabric onto the cooler, the man is practically panting, the bikini top pushing my breasts up and out for his enjoyment.
But there’s more.
Montana eyes me like I’m his next meal, the black barely there fabric accentuating exactly what the expensive price tag promised. Bending forward, I grab the sunscreen from my bag and stand slowly.
“Can you put some on my back?” I ask sweetly, my expression full of faux innocence as I turn, pulling my hair to the side, my bottom lip caught firmly between my teeth.
“Holy hell,” Montana curses under his breath before dropping to his knees behind me and palming my bare ass cheeks. He growls, alternating between squeezing and peppering my skin with kisses, his stubble sending shocks of electricity straight to my core.
I’d been half out of my mind ordering this bathing suit, somehow being in a push-up top and a skimpy thong bottom more nerve-racking than skinny-dipping.
“Spread your legs and put your hands on the cooler,” he rasps, and I don’t argue because I’m getting exactly what I’d hoped for the moment he pulls my bottoms to the side and licks up my slit.
Gasping, I arch my back as his hand comes down on one cheek, the flesh stinging before his palm is rubbing and kneading the undoubtedly pink skin.
“Wider, El, show me what’s mine.”
Whimpering, I let my feet slide out a little more, his growl of approval making me wetter with each passing second.
“I love that this is all for me.”
“What are you gonna do about it?” I taunt even though I’m the one completely exposed to him, my body too primed for his touch to be self-conscious. There’s not a whole lot I wouldn’t do for Montana Greene in this moment, and instead of being terrified, it has my heart pumping faster as I push back toward him.
An offering.
