Page 10 of Dare to Fall
By the time I recognize the urgency in both his tone and his widened eyes, it’s too late. My paddle snags on a large rock, snapping right out of my hands. It’s instantly lost to the quickly rushing river. The kayak hits next, the brunt force of the collision enough to throw my upper body all the way forward.
One moment I’m upright, the next I’m underwater.
Training and instinct take over as I free myself from the kayak skirt and attempt to swim to the surface. The rough rapids do their damnedest to pull me under, and it occurs to me that I should have spent a little more time in the gym beforeaccepting my new job. What kind of rafting guide can’t even save themselves?
For a moment, I’m certain it’s all over. This is the end.
Then, two firm hands hook beneath my shoulders and yank me to shore.
I cough, spitting out water as our kayak is yanked downriver. By some miracle, my waterproof bag caught around my wrist and made it to dry ground with me. I unzip it, nearly crying in relief at the sight of my phone. I’d have a helluva time getting to California without it. Everything I need is stored in that little device—contacts, addresses, schedules.
“You okay?” Tucker asks, hovering over me. The concern is heavy in his eyes, and it pisses me off.
“No, you don’t get to do this,” I say, pushing up to my feet, abandoning my bag—and my phone—temporarily. I wobble once, and he reaches out to steady me. I swat his hand away. “You don’t get to pretend that you care about me now, Tucker. You abandonedme.”
“Is that what you think?”
“That’s what I know.”
“You don’t get it, do you?”
“Then enlighten me, Tucker. What don’t I get?”
Somewhere in our passionate debate, we’ve come toe-to-toe. If I reached my hand to his jaw, I could comb my fingers through his beard. Or yank him by it, dragging his mouth down to mine.
“It’s always been you, Gabby.”
His hand cups my cheek, and I momentarily forget that I’m pissed at him. I press my face into his damp palm, imagining that warm, calloused hand in other places on my body. I can’t stop staring at his lips, wondering if his beard would tickle if I kiss him or would it burn like the fire raging between us right now?
“Me?”
“You,” he reaffirms, tilting my chin up and pressing his lips to mine.
My entire body sags in relief at the touch I didn’t know I was craving so damn much. I melt against him as our mouths move as one. As though we’ve kissed a thousand times. When his tongue teases the seam of my lips, I part them in invitation.
The sensual kiss turns feral in seconds.
Tucker backs me up against what I assume is a tree, but I’m too busy molding my entire body to his to care if it’s a grizzly bear. I greedily slide my fingers through his damp beard, his hair, up the back of his wet neck. The near brush with death that left him drenched in river waterwouldmake him sexier.
He lifts one of my legs, until my knee is level with his hip. His hand slides up beneath my thigh as I rock against him. The layers of clothing do nothing to dull the sensation of his touch.
“Tucker,” I pant his name, sinking further into this dreamland that is only the two of us. A part of me believes I’ve always wanted Tucker Black but just never allowed myself to admit it. He was so far out of my league back in high school that I felt lucky just to be his friend.
It’s always been you.
He tugs the zipper down on my wet suit and slips a hand inside, cupping my breast. There’s still too many layers, but this is so much fucking better. I arch into his touch, moaning with need.
A loud, siren like noise sounds, startling us both.
We split apart, as though we’re teenagers who’ve just been busted making out under the bleachers.
“What is that noise?” I ask, trying to hide the heavy panting. Every pore of my body is tingling with desire. Had we not been interrupted, I’m fairly certain I would have let Tucker fuck me against the side of—I turn my head over my shoulder to verify the hard surface—this massive boulder.
“My radio.”
The lusty haze evaporates in a single second, clearing the way for renewed anger. “You’ve had a fucking radio thiswholetime?”
Chapter Six
