Page 46 of The Rescue

Holy fucking shit.

“You’re drunk,” I tell him.

“Nah, only tipsy. It’s the truth, you and those little cowboy boots drive me crazy,” he leans back and looks me in my eyes and I can tell he’s telling the truth from the look on his face.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.How did we get here? My whole body is on edge, and I feel like I could snap at any moment. It’s theconfirmation I needed, he is interested in me, just like I am with him.

He glances down at my lips as I wrap my arms around his neck. He finally wraps his long arms around my waist, and it feels like that they belong there. I should stop this right now—I shouldn’t have even gotten into the hot tub with him. I have no idea what I’m doing, but there’s this intense pull between us that I can’t ignore. He’s not like the other guys I’ve hooked up with; this feels different. He’s sweet, caring, and my mind is racing. I don’t want to hurt him, but the temptation is overwhelming. I’ve been wanting this moment since the day we met, and now, there’s something unspoken between us—an understanding that we both have our issues with relationships. I don’t know what this means, but I’m getting swept up in it. And honestly, I’m too selfish to think about the consequences right now. I just want one night of fun without worrying about how messed up life can be.

He bites down on his lip and his eyes search mine, he’s waiting for me to give the green light.

“Do you want this as much as I do,mo beag?”

I’ve suddenly lost all words. How is this man so in control and calm? It’s a huge turn on. I’m glad I’m in a hot tub because my underwear would totally be soaked through.

I nod my head too enthusiastically and a small smirk forms on his perfect lips. My heart is beating so fast. Fuck, this is really happening. I’ve been making up scenarios in my head for weeks of what it would feel like to finally kiss him, but this knocks it out of the ball park. He leans in close, and his warm, woodsy scent fills my nose and I think I might burst from the pure excitement running through my veins.

His lips barely brush mine just as the rest of the group come bursting through the backdoor in hysterical laughter. We both shoot apart like we’ve been struck by lightning. The look offrustration on Rabbie’s face is almost comical because I can tell he’s been waiting to kiss me for a while just like I’ve been dying to kiss him. He runs a hand through his hair, and shoots me an apologetic smile because our moment was ruined by our drunk friends.

16

Rabbie

Talk about shit timing.I thought I was finally going to get my chance to taste those sweet lips of hers, but our drunk friends know how to ruin a perfectly good moment. I shift back in my seat in the hot tub, the heat rises from my hard cock all the way up to my face. I take a quick second to rearrange myself under the water before Dylan comes staggering over to the hot tub.

I give Crystal an apologetic smile, I don’t want her to think I’m embarrassed by this, I didn’t want the first time I kissed her to be in front of our friends. The temptation was too much for me to bear, especially after seeing her perfect body in that skimpy little bra and thong. Her nipples were teasing me as I sat across from her in the hot tub, her perky round breasts bouncing softly in the bubbles. I’m shocked at myself for keeping so calm and not going full caveman on her as soon as she got in the hot tub.

She smiles back at me, but it’s half-hearted and that confuses the hell out of me.

“Surely you guys are wrinkly by now, you’ve been in here for ages,” Dylan slurs as she dips her hand in the water and splashes us.

“Yeah, pretty much. I was just getting out,” Crystal laughs at her.

Her sheepishness is a little too obvious and Dylan frowns at her and then looks at me. I try to keep a little composure, but Crystal’s sudden mood change has left me feeling cold and very sober.

Crystal quickly jumps out of the hot tub and wraps a towel around her before Cam and Hamish see her in her underwear. A prickle of jealousy runs through me at the thought of anyone else seeing her like that. Feeling slightly stupid being the only one in the hot tub, I jump out too and wrap a towel around my waist.

Crystal is avoiding eye contact with me, and now my anxiety is through the roof. The fear of thinking I’ve done something wrong runs deep, and my mind starts to go into overdrive. I came on too strong. I start overthinking every little detail, and obsess over it. I don’t cope well in situations like this. Maybe it was for the best that we didn’t actually kiss because my anxiety would not be able to cope with the thought that she might one day leave me like my mum did.

“Rabbie, come help us light this fire,” Cam calls over.

My attention snaps from staring at Crystal, and I look over to Cam, Hamish and Fiona all standing by the large fire pit on the deck with stuff to make s’mores. Dylan looks at both me and Crystal and she can sense something is up, she has always been the observant type.

Dylan and Crystal are mumbling something to each other as I walk over to the fire pit and help with starting a fire. The cold night air doesn’t even take the edge off how numb I already feel.

“Come on, you’re the rugged mountain man. Surely you know how to light a fire,” I try to act normal when on the inside I’m freaking out.

Cam grumbles at me in his usual grumpy manner. I help Cam load the fire pit with wood from the shed and light the fire. We all gather around the fire, Crystal is directly across from me and she’s still avoiding eye contact with me. Even the warm licks from the flames do nothing to ease how numb I feel right now.

“Rabbie, would you like a dram of whisky?” Hamish slurs.

“No, thanks mate. I’m gonna head to bed, it’s been a long day.”

Everyone looks a little perplexed because I’m usually down for a couple of drams of whisky by the fire, but I suddenly feel exhausted from all the anxious thoughts my brain has been overthinking. I stand and say goodnight to the group.

“Night, Rabbie,” everyone but Crystal says.

I slowly make my way into the house, and upstairs to my bedroom when I hear soft footsteps padding behind me on the stairs. I turn around to find Crystal standing at the top of the stairs. She’s breathing heavily and her eyes are wide, she’s still wrapped in a towel. She moves in close to me, and her sweet vanilla scent fills my nose. She’s so intoxicating that I have to take a step back from her. I need to create distance, my heart wouldn’t be able to handle falling for her and then her leaving me. It’s best this doesn’t go any further because I don’t want to fall for someone who can’t fully commit to a relationship because they are terrified to take that leap. Besides I’d be a huge hypocrite in laying all the blame at her feet, I have my own issues with thinking everyone will eventually leave me.

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