Page 65 of All Roads Lead to You

Day 8

A quiet solitude settled between Logan and me after our shower last night. We hadn’t talked much as we sat by the campfire next to the river. I nestled between Logan’s legs, leaning against him as we stared out at the starry sky over the steep cliffs. The area was pretty secluded and away from other campers, so we were comfortable touching each other openly.

With his free hand, he trailed his fingers over my shirtless skin, trying to touch anywhere he could. The sensation was relaxing and made me a little sleepy. I didn’t think we uttered a word at that moment, enjoying each other in the comfortable silence of touch.

Of course, I had to ruin it by talking, as I was prone to doing. “You know what’s really odd?”

“Hmm?”

“I mean, we’ve known each other for years, but this, right here and now, it’s like we’ve always been this way.”

“I’m not sure I follow.”

“Like we hadn’t always been fighting or ignoring each other. Instead, it just feels like we’ve always been comfortable around each other. I don’t know if that makes any sense. Sitting here between your legs, touching each other, just seems… as natural as breathing, like we’ve been doing it our whole lives. That’s weird, right?”

“I’m not sure it’s weird, but while it does feel like we slipped into a place that’s easy, our road was bumpy, too.”

“Yeah, more like full of potholes, but I like the road we’re on.”

“Me, too.”

Logan felt… real. All this time, I’d been surrounded by superficiality. Maybe it wasn’t quite superficial, but more like practice for something deeper.

“I’m tired. Let’s get to bed,” he said. “I can’t stop yawning.”

Logan stood and reached his hand out. I grasped it, and he hefted me up.

When we headed back inside, Logan and I shoved the twin beds together, making it large enough for us to spread out. We didn’t fool around since we quickly fell asleep after our long day.

By the next morning, it was me who ended up wrapped around him.

The day stirred to life with the subtle sounds of the river and birds chirping through the open window. Logan’s back was to me with my arm wrapped around him, palm resting on his chest, feeling his steady heart. At some point, he’d curled his fingers around mine as if afraid I’d roll over or move away.

As I stirred awake, I pressed my nose to his skin and took a deep breath. Even with my eyes closed, you could tell there was nothing feminine about him. Logan smelled soapy, earthy, and sleepy.

God, why did I keep needing to inhale him?

Because he smells forbidden.

“Are you sniffing me?” he mumbled into his pillow.

“Maybe. You smell oddly good.”

Logan yawned loudly and stretched before rolling over to face me. “I have to admit, there’s something nice about sleeping in a real bed. I slept like a rock last night.”

“Same.”

He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me close, nuzzling his face in my neck. His growing beard tickled and scratched my skin at the same time.

“Let’s stay in bed all day,” he said.

“No way. We have hiking to do and waterfalls to see. I have a better idea.”

“What?”

I reluctantly pulled away from him, climbed out of bed, and reached out my hand. “Come on, Snuggle-Wuggles. Get up.”

“Jesus… Are you still calling me that?”

---