Page 115 of Roughing It

“Why couldn’t we bring the ATV up here?”

“Stop whining. You’re earning thatprincessnickname right now. Plus, the path is too narrow. Come on.”

“I can’t! I’m dying.”

So dramatic. And heaven help me, so fucking cute.

Dangling a carrot, I say, “If you hurry, I’ll give you areward.” I toss the words over my shoulder, not bothering to look back as I climb higher up the jagged path.

A part of me worries she’ll sit down and demand I come back and get her. The memory of the infamousfuck the fucking sunrisehike plays in my head. But one thing I’ve learned? Blakely Bradshaw is treat motivated. My girl likes praise and touch. Two things I’m more than happy to give her. When I hear her distant footsteps quicken, I grin.

“What kind of reward? What makes you think I even want it?”

Turning, I plant my feet and gaze at her. “Oh, you want it.”

Like those four words are a fresh battery pack in her vibrator, Blakely scrambles up the path, catching me.

“What’s my prize?” she pants, hands on her knees.

“Stand up and you’ll see.” My words fan over her skin as my fingers walk up her back until they settle on her neck.

Blakely straightens, closes her eyes, and cranes her chin, expecting a kiss and more from me. I brush my lips over hers. “Open your eyes; you’re missing it.”

The moment she realizes how high we hiked writes itself on her face. Eyes wide, mouth wider. She looks over the cliffside in awe.

From here, I can just make out the clearing that houses the cabin, Lake Pica, and miles and miles of forest. It’s one of my favorite places. The sun glitters off the water, lazy clouds float in the sky, and the trees shift in the distance from the mild breeze.

“Wow.” Blakely draws in a deep breath as she takes in the scenic panorama.

“I knew you’d like it.”

“Yeah, you cocky bastard. I admit it. This is amazing.” She cautiously takes a step closer to the edge and peers over.

Every protective cell in my body goes on high alert. We’retwo hundred feet from the next ledge. “Careful. I can’t fly, so if you go over...”

“You wouldn’t dive after me, breaking my fall with your body? Selfish, really.” She winks at me and takes one more step towards the brim.

Another shot of adrenaline courses through my system. “Don’t joke about it—now step back.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

A growl tears from my throat, and I grab her hips, pulling her into my chest. “Daddy? Does my little brat need a spanking to remind her to listen?” I tickle her sides until she wriggles out of my arms and collapses onto the ground. Like an apex predator, I pounce, pinning her to the mossy earth.

“Hudson! S-stop!” She gasps between giggles. “I’m sorry! I won’t go near the edge again.”

“Oh, you think it’s not listening that got you here? Try again.”

Biting her lip, she grins up at me. “Sorry,Daddy,I didn’t know that would set you off.”

Groaning, I kiss her like I can brand her lips with mine. This beautiful creature. Shit. The way I want to claim her. I pour myself into the kiss, trying to imprint her taste on my lips.

Only when we’re both breathless do I pull back and study the woman in my arms. She’s a goddess—covered in dirt, moss, and sweat. Her blonde hair is tangled and askew, her lips pink and swollen, her cheeks flushed.

Whether we’re bickering, fucking, talking, or cuddling, it all feels so goddamn right. If I were a different sort of man, an impulsive man, I’d ask her to marry me here on this cliff. But I’m not, and I can’t risk driving her away, not when we have so little guaranteed time left together.

Blakely squirms beneath me. “Can you let me up?”

“Are you hurt?”

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