Page 70 of Always You

“Yeah?” I hold the door open, waiting for her.

“Is this where you’re going to kill me?” She blinks.

“Kill you? Babe, I can’t live without you,” I cry out incredulously.

Letting out a chuckle, we both exit the truck while I reach in the back to get out my backpack. I hang it on my shoulder while she’s waiting for me on the only path there is. When I reach her, I wrap my arm around her neck, tugging her along as I press a kiss to her hair, glad she somewhat forgave me for my asshole behavior from last night. I was as drunk as a fiddler, yet I couldn’t sleep, wondering if I lost her forever.

Finally, I fell asleep around midnight and luckily woke up five hours later with a newfound determination to fix the damage I’d done.

“Nah, this is not where I’m going to kill you,” I begin.

“Oh, thank God,” she jokes, dramatically gripping her heart.

“This is where I’m going to kidnap you, and keep you for the next thirty years as my personal toy.”

She stops in her tracks, our bodies disconnecting, and I turn around to look at the scowl on her face that makes my laugh echo through the woods. A bird rustles through the leaves of the noise as I lock my gaze with her jaw that fell to the ground.

“That’s not even flirting anymore,” she states, her hands firmly planted at her sides, though excitement dances in her eyes.

“So, now youdowant me to flirt with you?”

“I didn’t say that.” She purses her lips with a busted look on her face before I turn around to keep walking with a smug grin on my own.

“You didn’t have to.”

“You’re an asshole, Hunter.” Her footsteps stomp behind me.

“But I’myourasshole, Charls.”

I wasn’t joking when I said I’m not sure how long I can resist this thing I feel for her. The feeling that makes me want to tear her apart and make her scream out my name.

She’s my best friend, but I’m not sure how long that will be enough for me. For both of us. Last night was a dead giveaway. Since the moment we started spending our days together, I loved getting that sparkle of jealousy from her. It filled my chest with pride and made me feel wanted. But last night was a whole different ball game. Last night was a desperate attempt to get her attention, and I hurt her in the process.

The more days that pass, the harder it becomes for me to let go.

And while at first, I could still keep my hands to myself, I catch myself physically reaching out to her more and more. Wanting to keep her as close as possible at all times.

We keep walking for about five minutes while she’s huffing and puffing behind me, the occasional swear word leaving her lips.

“Are we there yet?”

I look up at the steep few yards we have to climb, and I reach my hand out to her.

“Almost.” I give her a wink, laying her hand on mine, and I help her up the small hill until we reach the top. She sucks in a deep breath when she notices her surroundings, a look of awe forming on her face.

I bite my lip in satisfaction, pleased to get the exact reaction I was going for.

“Wow,” she whispers, the corner of her lips curling into an amazed smile as she looks up at me. I mimic her expression when she pushes her body against mine in a side hug, and I wrap my arm around her. “This is gorgeous, Hunter.”

“I know. My dad used to take us here,” I explain while we look over at the waterfall in front of us that leads into a clear blue quarry. A line of trees hides this special place from the outside world, only traceable if you know where it is or you spot it from above. The water is deep in the middle, but the edge we are standing on gradually slopes down, making it the perfect spot to go for a swim. “My brother and I would go diving, while my mom and dad would keep an eye on us from the edge.”

Her arms tighten around me, as if she’s grateful I took her here.

“How has this still not been discovered by a bunch of touristy people?”

“Apparently, it’s been some kind of secret in my dad’s family. Wanting to keep it for themselves, my father didn’t even let us take any friends when we were younger. It was the reserved spot for a family day.”

She gazes up at me, and my eyes focus on her plump lips, looking perfect as ever.

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