Page 81 of The Reality of Us
She tried to raise her arms out wide but tired, so very tired. “Haven’t we been doing that all day?”
He chuckled, dropping a featherlight kiss on her lips. The warmth of his hand blazed through the sweaty patch on her back where her pack had been all day. His hands met on her shoulders. He applied just enough pressure to make her forget she was a sweaty, gross mess while he looked like he could still run a marathon.
“We have, yes.” His warm breath danced across her skin.
What were they talking about again?
“You’re very good at this,” she murmured.
He laughed, the sound giving her a burst of energy she wouldn’t have thought possible an hour ago.
Alice wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against the spot on his chest she was starting to think belonged to her.
“Raff and I camped here the year we raced as well. There’s a creek nearby. Fancy a dip?”
She pulled away, jabbing Owen in the side when he laughed at her. “But it’s so cold!”
He raised his eyebrows in challenge. “I’ll warm you up after,” he promised. “Be good for all your sore muscles …”
“It’s getting dark. Shouldn’t we start a fire? Rehydrate food for dinner?” Her stomach rumbled. All she’d eaten since lunch had been a few jellybeans, some energy gels, and boiled, salted potatoes. The potatoes had been surprisingly good.
“This will take ten minutes, tops. It’ll be fun.”
“I think you just want to see me all wet.”
Owen smiled wolfishly, his hands venturing to her front, stopping shy of cupping her breasts. Maybe she wasn’t that tired after all.
“I absolutely do. What do you say?”
Once the tent was up and a fire had been set for their return, Owen took Alice’s hand and helped her down an embankment covered in ferns.
“Are you sure you know where you’re going?” Alice looked over her shoulder in the direction of where they’d left the trail behind five minutes ago.
Owen stifled a smile. Her nervousness was more adorable than he’d expected. “It’s all here on my watch, honey. I loaded all the maps on to it.” The pet name slipped off his tongue extra easily and he thrilled at how her cheeks flushed a deeper red, still tinged from the day’s exertion. “That’s where the campsites are.” He pointed. “We’re down here.”
Running water bubbled in the distance, and birds sang to each other as they settled down for the night. Something rustled in the long grass on the other side of the creek, and Alice clutched his arm. There was no hiding his smile this time.
“Is that a snake?” she hissed.
“Probably a roo,” he said calmly. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She huffed but didn’t let go of his arm. When he looked down at her, the waning sunlight highlighted all the golden strands in her hair. Dirt was smeared on her cheek and forehead. She’d never looked better.
They stopped next to a moss-covered boulder, and Owen toed off his shoes and peeled his socks off. Alice followed suit, stepping warily onto the small rocks, leaves and twigs that covered the riverbank.
“You ready?” Owen asked. He leant away from her, needing to see her face. He’d pull the pin on this idea if he caught even a whiff of discomfort from her.
“I didn’t bring swimmers, obviously.” Her gaze searched through the thick wall of tall trees.
He hooked his fingers in the side of his running shorts, planning to swim in his boxer briefs.
She bit her lip. “No one’s around?”
He spread his arms open wide, spinning in a circle. Aside from a few cockatoos in an old gum tree with a blackened trunk, he couldn’t see anyone or anything. “It’s just us here, honey.”
She looped her arms around him, her hands sliding past the waistband of his shorts and underwear.
“Really?” He looked down at her, searching for any sign she was doing this to make him happy, but there was nothing.
