Page 30 of Turbulent Fires

Wolf walks ahead of me, looking far too confident with a backpack slung over one shoulder and that damn swagger of his making me drool. He reaches back and helps me cross harder areas, and when we reach a rocky stream, instead of assisting me, he scoops me up and spins me around before bringing me to the other side. He lifts me as if it’s no effort on his part.

“You’re a showoff,” I tell him, laughing while clinging to his wide shoulders.

“I like taking care of my woman,” he says with a wink. Then he kisses me, and I forget all about our hike for a few moments. It’s wonderful.

Eventually, he sets me down, and we hike for another half hour before the trees open up and we step into the most breathtaking clearing I’ve ever seen. A narrow waterfall spills down a high rock face into a crystal-clear pool. The sun breaks through the canopy above, casting gold across the water like liquid light. It’s peaceful, with the water gently splashing on the pool, the birds chirping, and zero noise from traffic or voices. I could build a house right here and be content for the rest of my life.

“There are no words,” I quietly breathe as I gaze at the beauty before me.

“We don’t need them,” he replies, his own voice equally reverent.

Wolf strips off his clothes...allof his clothes.. . then runs to the pool and dives in with barely a splash. He emerges moments later, his hair slicked back, looking like a damn movie poster that would have women fantasizing about him long into the night.

“Come on, city slicker. The water’s perfect,” he taunts.

“What if someone shows up?” I ask as I look around. We’re here, so someone else could have the same idea.

He laughs. “If we hear another helicopter land, we’ll quickly climb out and put on some clothes,” he says. I hesitate a moment longer, then decide this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I strip away my clothes, feeling beautiful as he gazes at my body, his pupils dilating, and his mouth dropping open in appreciation. I walk slowly to the water, then dive in near him, sending a splash of water in his face to cool him off.

I come up for air with a smile on my lips. The water’s perfect, cool, and soft as silk. Wolf makes a splash toward me, but I kick away, sending another splash of water straight into his face. The chase is on, and for the next hour we play like children... and touch unlike kids.

He grabs me, kisses me, and the foreplay is glorious in our own little paradise that seems to have been made for only the two of us.

When our skin starts wrinkling, we climb up on a flat rock, sitting side-by-side as water cascades off of us. The cool water and warm sun couldn’t feel any better.

“I can’t imagine the adventures you’ve had in your life. I thought I was well-traveled, but I’ve never done anything like this before.”

He grins. “The experience is so much better with you here with me.”

“Am I another checkmark on your lists of adventures?” I ask with a laugh.

He stills, and his expression goes serious. “No, you’re the only adventure that makes me want to stop and stand still.” I’m captured by his gaze, a feat since I’ve been salivating over his body all afternoon.

I don’t know what to say, but luckily, I don’t have to figure it out because he pulls me onto his lap and kisses me, slow and soft, our wet bodies sliding against each other, the waterfall whispering behind us.

The kiss goes on and on as his hands glide over my back, and my body heats to molten levels. The volcanoes here have nothing on what Wolf does to my blood. I’m surprised I don’t suddenly combust.

He leans back, and I straddle his hips, lifting up before sitting on his beautiful, thick, hard arousal. We both sigh when we’re fully connected. I move up and down on him, my head thrown back, my hands braced on his hard chest. He holds my hips and groans, our sounds drowned out by the splashing water.

We’re both hot and ready and come together in an explosion of pleasure so intense it’s nearly painful. When we can each take a deep breath again, we slide back into the water to cool off, then move over to a grassy area to dry out and have a picnic.

We laugh as we tell each other stories, eat, and drink some wine he thought to bring. It couldn’t be better. He tells me about his flying experiences, and the time he and his brother crashed a boat party pretending to be Swedish DJ’s. I tell him about writing terrible poetry in high school and learning how to sneak out after being grounded. It wasn’t easy with the security measures my parents still have to this day. We talk until the sun lowers. Sadly, we have to eventually leave our little paradise that feels like it was created just for us.

After we’re dressed again, I look back one last time before breaking through the trees. I pray we come back here again, maybe in a year... if we’re still... This thought stops me. What do I hope we’ll be in a year? Friends? Lovers? Partners? I don’t know. I’m afraid to go there.

We make it back to the helicopter in time to ride back to the resort while watching the sunset from up in the sky. Neither of us speaks as we take it all in, lost in each other and the incredible day we’ve had.

But it’s still not over. We shower, change, and head to a private beachside restaurant with wide-open views of the ocean, lit by lanterns and candles. We’re led to a table at the edge of the beach, where the sand meets a wooden deck. Soft ukulele music plays in the background, and performers dressed in traditional Hawaiian attire begin dancing in slow, graceful motions as we’re served.

I sip on a pineapple mojito. “You do realize you’ve ruined me for all future dates,” I tell him.

“I guess I’ll have to try harder then forourfuture dates,” he quickly says. A flutter runs through me. Without saying the words, he’s clearly telling me he doesn’t want me to date anyone but him. I hate labels, but everything within me wants to define what we are to each other. This is a first for me.

“I see,” I finally say, not finding any other words.

“There are untold adventures all over. Don’t worry,” he assures me with a smile.

I nudge his foot beneath the table. “I’m sure you can find them all.”

---