Page 23 of The Getaway

My mind is so focused on his words, thoughts of him kissing and fucking me playing on a loop in my mind, that I barely register my feet moving. I’m so consumed by memories of how his tongue felt against mine, that I don’t realize I’m jumping until it’s time to let go of the rope. With a squeal, I open my hands, the drop causing my heart to lurch as I squeeze my eyes shut and plunge into the water below.

The warm water clashes against my skin, cooling me down and leaving me with only the sound of the blood pounding in my ears. My chest tightens with excitement and the moment I break through the surface, I’m wiping my eyes off and looking up to where I just leapt from.

Noah stands at the edge, a wide smile across his face as he stares down at me. When the tour guide steps up behind him with the rope, Noah doesn’t remove his gaze from mine.

Kicking my feet, I watch him and begin to swim backwards, toward where I know the caves are. “Well, what are you waiting for?” I shout up to him.

Even over the sound of the waterfalls, his laughter reaches my ears. I continue swimming backwards and watch as Noah takes a step back before launching himself off the cliff. It isn’t until he’s about to hit the water that I finally close my eyes, turning my face away to protect it from the splash he makes.

With a laugh, I turn back to where he landed, expecting to find him already coming up for breath, but he’s not there. Just as I’m about to call out for him, hands are wrapping around my waist and pulling me forward. I screech and am about to shove myself away when Noah pops up in front of me, a smile stretched across his face.

“Shit, Noah!” I exclaim as my hands find purchase on his shoulders, using him for support as I wrap my legs around his waist. Sucking in a deep breath, I try to calm my racing heart. “You scared the crap outta me.”

One of his hands sprawls out against my lower back, holding me to him while the other moves back and forth under the water with his legs to help keep us above water.

“You jumped,” he murmurs.

I beam down at him, nodding. “Well, someone knew all the right words to say.” My eyes drop to his lips, and I lean down until our lips are just barely touching. “Apparently there’s a cave close by.”

With that, I untangle my legs and push away from him before swimming in the direction of one of the caves.

His laughter and the sound of splashing water follows me, pushing me forward and motivating me to swim faster. Not that I actually want to get away from him.

No, I’m simply having fun.

As I approach one of the cave entrances, it occurs to me that I’ve felt happier in the last twenty-four hours with a stranger than I have in the past eight years.

Just proves that leaving Paul was the right choice.

Shoving those thoughts away, I focus on the cave entrance in front of me before glancing over my shoulder, only to find Noah hot on my heels. I lurch forward, and in an attempt to swim away, I suck in a big breath and dive under water, but he’s too close. Just as quickly as I went under, I’m being pulled up and my back is colliding with his chest.

Briefly, I’m grateful that I had thought to braid my hair back earlier, otherwise I would be looking like the ginger version of the creepy chick that crawls out of the television in that scary move my sister forced me to watch.

Twisting in Noah’s hold, I turn to face him.

“See,” I motion with a thumb over my shoulder and smile innocently. “Caves.”

Noah laughs, shaking his head and sliding his hands down my sides until they land just below my ass. Instead of responding, he bends down and just when I think he’s going to kiss me, he’s lifting me and moving us forward. I cling to him, half expecting him to stumble and go underwater, but Noah moves with ease.

This cave itself isn’t that big, probably just enough space for three or four people at a time. As he makes his way further in, now walking in the shallow water, I wait for him to put me down.

But he doesn’t.

Instead, Noah carries me around the small bend and in the next heartbeat, I’m pressed against the side of the cave. The cool rock digs into my back, making me gasp as I try and escape, but Noah remains immovable.

“I told you what was going to happen when I got you alone,” he whispers.

Tilting my head back, my pulse thuds heavily as I look up at him with a smirk.

“And yet, I’m not being kissed,” I taunt.

“That fucking mouth of yours,” he groans.

And then his lips are on mine.

He kisses me slowly, tracing his tongue along my lips and capturing the moan that escapes before plunging his tongue into my mouth. Every inch of my body hums to life, thrumming with desire and need as he reminds me with just a simple kiss how good last night was.

At this moment, nothing else matters. Not the rock digging into my back, not the shouts from other tourists or the five-minute warning call from the tour guide in the distance.

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