Page 34 of Allison

He doesn’t wait for her reply, just gives her a wink and closes the door. Allison strips off his t-shirt, dropping it into her open suitcase. She heads for the bathroom to get ready for the hiking trip.

“Fucking hell!”Allison whispers, a couple hours later, followed by a loud grunt. She is trying to pull herself up a particularly steep part of the trail. Small trees are growing along the side, but they aren’t much help. Firm hands land on either side of her ass, giving her a boost. She shoots an annoyed look over her shoulder. Russell, who has been helping her all day, gives her a wink. She should be grateful, but she isn’t. Just annoyed.

When she’d grown up in this part of the world, she’d been a tomboy. She and Emma could outdo most of the boys when it came to outdoor activities. Now, however, Allison is coming to realize hitting the gym a couple times a week isn’t enough to keep up her fitness level.

“You’re doing great, sugar,” Russell says encouragingly, but it does nothing to boost Allison’s mood. She’s hot, tired, and very cranky. She huffs a big breath, blowing stray hair out of her eyes. “Let’s take a break, yeah?”

She shoots daggers at him with her eyes, but follows him to the side of the trail, where he directs her to a large flat rock, just the right height to sit on. Russell pulls a canteen from his backpack. He twists off the top before handing it to her. She rolls her eyes but accepts the canteen, taking a drink. She hands it back, and he takes a long pull from it, then replaces the cap.

“How much farther, Papa Smurf?” she asks, knowing the answer she’s going to get. They’ve been playing at this all day.

“Not far now,” Russell grins with his reply. Allison shakes her head but grins in return. She’d been delighted when she discovered Russell liked the original Smurfs cartoon. They’d only been on the hike for about fifteen minutes when she’d cheekily asked, ‘How much farther, Papa Smurf?’ Emma had laughed at Allison’s reference to the 80’s cartoon the two of them had watched reruns of as children. Russell had answered with a “Not far now” which had sent both women into a fit of laughter. Allison had kept it up for the rest of the hike.

“All right, Papa Smurf,” she says, rising to her feet. “Let’s get on with it. I don’t want to be the weakest link.” Russell laughs, taking the hand she offers to pull him to his feet.

“I think you’re swapping shows on me,” he accuses, good-naturedly.

“Yeah, yeah,” she waves her hands around. “Sue me, okay? I’m too pooped to come up with a Smurf line that fits this situa—ahhhh!” she squeals when Russell sweeps her up into his arms, carrying her bridal style up the steep trail. “What the hell are you doing?” she demands. “I’m much too heavy for you to be carrying me on this trail. You’re going to hurt yourself and likely me in the process!”

“You’re light as a feather, sugar,” Russell assures her. “I’ve carried much more weight on much longer hikes before.”

“You’ve carried women before?” A sharp bite of jealousy shooting through her like a sharp knife. She could just imagine some tall, beautiful woman in his strong, capable arms.

Russell shakes his head, a huge grin on his smug, handsome face. “I said weight, sugar, not woman.” She narrows her eyes at him, scrunching her nose. “In drills and on deployments, we hike ten miles or more at a time with full gear on. Trust me when I tell you, carrying you isn’t a burden. I’m rather enjoying having you in my arms.”

Warmth spreads through her body settling in her chest. An overwhelming feeling of happiness brings a smile to her face. She tucks her head against his shoulder to hide it. No need to give the arrogant bastard a bigger ego.

“You were jealous thinking I’d carried other women like this,” he accuses, a few minutes later. Sending her happy mood on a sharp downward trajectory.

“I was not!” She lies. “You think much too much of yourself, caveman.” Russell chuckles, shifting her a little higher in his arms. “You really should put me down. The trail is leveling out now.”

A grunt is her only reply as he continues to carry her along. They’re making much better time now that he isn’t having to help her. Rounding a bend in the trail, Allison sees the dense foliage is thinning, opening up into a clearing. Emma and the others in their group are almost to it.

“Please, Russell, put me down,” Allison begs. “I don’t want Gloria reporting back to Aunt Jenny and Aunt Lettie I was being a damsel in distress.” He gives her an exasperated look.

“As you wish,” he says, imitating Wesley fromThe Princess Bride.Allison giggles. He lowers one arm allowing her feet to hit the ground. Keeping his arm around her back, He steadies her until he is certain she can stand on her own.

“Thank you,” she whispers, looking up at him. Their bodies are so close, touching from chest to toes. Flickers of desire dart through her. Licking her lips, her gaze drops to Russell’s lips. A salacious grin spreads over them just before they crash into hers. The kiss, like all they’ve shared, is hot and wild. Russell pulls her closer, but he doesn’t need to, because she’s pressing herself into him as close as she can get.

The clearing of a throat behind them ruins the moment. Russell pulls back, leaving Allison dazed and breathless. “Excuse me,” a male voice says. “Sorry to interrupt, but we’d like to pass by.”

Allison peers around Russell to see an older gentleman with greying hair holding hands with a silver-haired woman standing on the trail behind them. The couple is grinning knowingly at Allison and Russell. “Oh, of course,” Russell readily agrees, urging Allison to the edge of the path. “Sorry about that.” Russell’s face is flushing a little which Allison finds adorable. She is certain her own face is pickled beet red.

“Don’t be sorry, young man,” the woman says, as the older couple walks by. “We might be old, but we haven’t forgotten what it’s like to be young and in love. Enjoy the honeymoon while you can. Once the children come along, those moments are harder to come by.”

23

WORM

“Oh, we aren’t a…” Allison trails off watching the couple continue on without stopping to hear her reply. Worm isn’t sure why, but Allison denying them being a couple in love doesn’t sit right with him, not at all. They aren’t really a couple, and certainly not in love, but hearing her protest puts him in a foul mood.What would it hurt to let the older couple believe he and Allison were a happy, in-love couple on their honeymoon?

“Let’s go,” he demands abruptly, irritation showing in his words and actions. “Everyone will be wondering where we are. We wouldn’t want to give Gloria something to gossip about.” He stomps off down the trail, much faster than Allison can manage.

He hadn’t intended for his words to come out so harshly. He is acting like a child throwing a tantrum, but he can’t curb his annoyance.Why does this girl drive me so crazy?

“Russell! Wait!” Allison calls, jogging along behind him. “What’s got your panties in a wad?” she questions, catching up to him.

“Nothing, just trying to save your reputation,” he semi-lies, still with a severe tone. He does want to protect her reputation. He knows her family would treat her terribly if they suspected he and Allison were ‘cavorting’, but her denial stings.

---