Page 23 of The Billionaire Offer
CHAPTER15
BART
Serenity and I had an amazing day together the next day. She turned to me as we left the restaurant where we’d just had dinner, practically beaming as we headed to the cab.
“I’ve got a confession to make,” she said. “When you told me this morning that we were hiking in a national park today, I very much thought it was going to be a huge letdown after the black-sand beach and the hot springs, but it really wasn’t.”
“In that case, I’ve got a confession to make, too,” I said, bumping my shoulder lightly into hers. “I thought the same thing, but Dolf insisted that we should do it and I’m glad we did.”
“Same. Do you think he has a fan club we can join? If not, then he should have one. He’s a great guide.”
“I’m not sure about a fan club, but I’m sure he’d appreciate a review on the tour company’s page after the trip.”
She bounced her head from side to side. “I’m still thinking he should have a fan club, but we can definitely leave a wonderful review. He even delivered on the restaurant recommendation. I need to stop doubting that man. When we walked into that place, my first thought was that I hoped we still had something in our fridge to cook when we got back, but I don’t think I’ll have space to eat anything for a week after that.”
I laughed. “Who knew a cabin in the woods could make food like that, right?”
“Well, to be fair, it wasn’t the cabin itself,” she teased. “It was their chef, but I agree with the sentiment. His food sure surprised the heck out of me.”
“When the cab pulled up in front of it, I thought for sure we were going tobedinner, not have dinner.” I glanced back at the restaurant after opening the door for her to precede me into the cab. It really was little more than a cabin in the woods, set back from the road with only a narrow, dark path to the front door.
Once we’d gotten inside, though, it had opened up into an intimate but beautiful dining room that’d been built on the edge of a cliff and offered magnificent views as the sun had set. That’d been hours ago, but I knew I’d be seeing that sunset every time I closed my eyes for a long time to come.
Sighing, I vowed to go back there one day.
I followed Serenity into the cab and settled in for the short drive back to the lodge. It was late, but the clouds had cleared about an hour ago and it had turned into a crisp, clear night. Our waiter had assured us there was a very good chance we’d see the Lights tonight, so we were both cheerful and excited as we headed into our glass igloo to change into our bathing suits.
“Meet you outside at the hot tub in a few?” I asked her when we separated just inside the door. “You’re still taking the bathroom to change, right?”
“It seems safer that way since I’ll probably take longer than you,” she confirmed the agreement we’d made earlier after we’d found out the locals expected the sky to clear soon. “If you’re taking drinks out again, I think I’d better stick to beer tonight. That wine was delicious, but it’s a little heavy for me. I don’t want my memories to be foggy tomorrow morning.”
I nodded. “That’s not a bad idea. I think I’ll stick to a beer, too.”
As she turned and walked into the bathroom, I let out a quiet sigh and rubbed the back of my neck. I hadn’t come up with a solution for how concerned she was about the money aspect of our relationship yet, but it hadn’t come up again, and since I’d paid for dinner while she’d been in the bathroom, it had been a worry-free day.
After changing into my swimming trunks, I grabbed two beers for each of us and headed outside. I was only just sinking into the hot tub when she emerged in another bikini, equally modest but as sexy as yesterday’s had been. Tonight’s was a deep red and made of shimmery material, and I tore my gaze away before she caught me staring at her again.
As I’d expected, being in such close proximity to her at all times and not having the privacy of my own room or even a closed bathroom was becoming incredibly frustrating. I had no idea if I was going to have enough time by myself to do anything about it before we headed back home, and the prospect of that was daunting, to say the least. If it was true, I was going to have to buy one of those travel satchels to have something covering my groin area long before it was time for us to leave.
Willing my dick to calm the fuck down as she sank into the water beside me, I motioned up to the sky. As I did, I looked up just in time to see the Northern Lights. I blinked, whatever I’d been about to say dying on my lips as I stared at the most breathtaking natural phenomenon I’d ever seen.
Serenity gasped, as moved by the sight as I was if the fact that she was speechless as well was anything to go by. We sat side by side, both gaping at the sky as we took in what we’d come all this way to see.
I suddenly felt like there was a vise around my throat for how tight it had become.Dad would’ve loved this. God, I wish I could’ve shown it to him.
It took a few minutes for the intensity of the emotion to subside, but even when it did, I still felt raw inside. I glanced at Serenity. She was pressed right up against me now. I turned and felt like I could’ve fallen into her if it had been possible for that to happen. The lights were dancing across her face, bathing her in its multicolored hues and making her more beautiful than anything I’d ever seen.
She turned toward me suddenly too, and in that moment, I was entirely unable to help myself. It was like I was being propelled forward by an otherworldly force as I leaned in and kissed her, my arms wrapping around her body to pull her into me. She returned my kiss passionately, her hands cupping my jaw and her lips parting for my tongue when I licked at their seam. I moaned into her mouth, holding her closer and lifting her onto my lap. When our lips lost contact for just a second as she got settled on top of me, she pulled back slightly.
“We shouldn’t,” she whispered breathlessly.
With my own chest rising and falling as rapidly as hers, I rested my forehead against hers for a moment before I nodded. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“No, it’s okay,” she replied, gaze locked on mine. She stroked my jaw before letting go of it. “Trust me, I really enjoyed it. I’m just not sure if I’m comfortable going further, with you paying me to be here and all.”
Fuck. There it is. I sighed, closing my eyes. I moved my arms back to my sides and felt her climbing off me. “I understand. I don’t like the thought of paying you for sex either, so we’re on the same page.”
We desperately needed to get onto a different page, but for now, it was what it was. Reluctantly, I moved off the seat we were on and reached for my towel. “We should probably head in for the night anyway.”
