Page 49 of Tinder Embrace
"I'll check with my administration first," I promised.
The Quartzite Mountain trailhead was in between Campfire and Spokane, making it an ideal spot to hike and have lunch. Davis found parking along the road by the trailhead, and we donned our backpacks.
"Have you done this hike before?" Davis extended a hand for mine like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I shook my head, shivery warmth washing through me from our clasped palms. "I've done some closer to town, but nothing this far out."
We walked to the trailhead marker and followed the path into the trees. Blue sky peeped between the clouds, but I was glad for my heavy jacket. Until the sun climbed higher, it'd be chilly in the shade.
"I forget that you didn't grow up in the area. You're from Spokane, right?" Davis asked as we picked our way along the path.
"Right," I murmured, following his broad back when the path narrowed, forcing us to drop our linked hands.
"What made you move to Campfire?"
Davis paused until we were shoulder-to-shoulder on the trail, and I swallowed, debating my answer. My usual response was that I'd driven through Campfire on my way to a camping trip on the Columbia River and fallen in love with the small-town feel, but Davis deserved the truth.
"I wanted to get away from I-90 and Spokane traffic."
"That's one thing living in the boonies spoils you for. Do you miss it?"
I side-eyed Davis, not sure if he meant the question as simple interest, or interrogation. "No. I like my life in Campfire. Occasionally, I wish for larger stores and the options you only find in a bigger metro area, but I've learned that shipping works just fine."
"What about you?" I asked. "Do you ever regret coming back to Campfire?"
"Nah. No one else would have me."
I snorted. "Liar."
We started a steep ascent, scrambling up in places, until I was breathing hard. Davis helped me with the challenging bits, hovering as if he expected my ankle to give out at any moment.
After about a mile, we made it to the small camping area. Eventually, we reached the memorial bench at the summit. It didn't look particularly comfortable, constructed of hard metal with spindly black iron legs. Davis slipped out of his jacket, covered the cold metal surface, and urged me to sit.
"How's your foot doing?" he asked.
"Fine," I said, surprised it was true.
Davis pulled a handful of containers from his pack, spreading them on the bench between us and popping off the tops to reveal a miniature feast: sliced cucumbers, pickled veggies, an assortment of cheeses and crackers, and a small clutch of early strawberries.
We munched companionably on our lunch, gazing out over the valley and the town of Chewelah.
Davis packed up the food when we finished eating, returning the containers to his backpack. He stretched, reaching his long arms above me before settling in closer, tucking me into his shoulder. I snuggled in, savoring his heat and the scents of forest that clung to him.
The sun beat down on us, and I yawned, feeling warm and content. Davis tugged me more firmly to his broad chest, wrapping his arms around me. Slowly, I became aware of his fingers threading gently through my hair. The delicate touch sent a shiver of awareness down my spine. I wanted his deft touch all over. My body demanded something more than his fingers combing my hair.
I spread my hand across one of his massive thighs above the knee, kneading it gently with my nails. The solid muscles beneath my fingers clenched.
“Bee – whatcha doing?”
I didn’t think it was possible for Davis’s voice to drop to a lower register, but in that brief pause between my nickname and his question, his timbre grew deeper.
I tilted my chin up, careful not to dislodge his hand from my hair. “If you’re going to stroke me like a kitten, I’m going to remind you I’ve got claws.”
Slowly, I scraped my nails up the leg of his jeans, pausing near the top of his thigh.
“Kitten, the beasts in this forest would eat you for breakfast.” His choked-out warning only widened my grin.
“Promise?” I arched my brows, and he chuckled, the low rumble enough to make me clench my thighs together.
