Page 15 of Mess With Me
He admired her for a moment, geeky tube socks and all. What a fighter, working herself to the point of exhaustion. Now he had two choices, give her a piggyback ride to the end of the trail or help her back to the Jeep. The view was spectacular. She’d probably feel like a weenie sitting in the Jeep.
He nudged her arm. “Wake up, there’s an awesome view with your name on it.”
She kept sleeping.
He squatted next to her, took her water bottle from her limp hand, and plucked her hat off her lap. He fanned her with the hat. “Ally,” he barked, “up and at ’em, soldier.”
“Omigod!” one of the women exclaimed. “She fell asleep?”
Ethan straightened. “She’s not used to a strenuous workout. This is her second one today.” He nudged Ally’s leg with his foot. “Come on, wake up.”
The other hikers gathered around, looking at her curiously. “Has she been sick?” someone asked.
“No, she’s fine.” He loosened the cap on her water bottle and dripped some cold water over her head.
She startled awake, peered up at him still holding the water bottle over her head, and scrambled to her feet, snatching the water bottle from him with an unholy gleam in her eyes.
4
Splash!Right in his face.
“Hey!” he exclaimed with a laugh. “Someone give me water. I need ammunition.” All he had was Gatorade.
Someone tossed water at his back. He turned and suddenly a water war broke out, everyone laughing and squealing as the cold water hit. It was nuts and probably the most fun their group had ever had.
Finally they were completely out of ammunition. He turned back to Ally to find her pulling her now see-through soaked white shirt away from her body. She might as well have been standing there naked in her bra, her nipples beaded tight, luscious large breasts clearly outlined. His mouth went dry.
“Wet T-shirt contest,” she quipped.
And while he damn well appreciated the view, he could tell she was embarrassed. They still had another couple of hours on the trail.
He pulled his T-shirt off and offered it to her. “Here, it’s only wet in the back. We’ll put your shirt in the sun on one of the rocks, and when we get back, it should be closer to dry.”
She stared at his chest, her gaze trailing to his abs. He waited for her to meet his eyes. Hers were wide and dilated.Nice.
He pressed his shirt into her hand. “Go into the woods to change. I’ll wait for you.”
“Are those twelve-pack abs?” she croaked.
He looked down at himself. “Six-pack, I think.”
She gestured near his sides. “But there’s like ridges andwow.”
He smiled. He liked wow.
“Heading out!” Rob called. Everyone started gathering their packs and putting away their empty water bottles.
“Hurry up and change,” he told Ally.
She stared at him, her voice soft. “You gave me the shirt off your back.”
“It was the only one I had.”
She rushed forward and hugged him. It was so fast he didn’t get a chance to hug her back. She pulled away and hurried behind a large sugar maple tree. “Thanks!”
He just stood there in a warm and fuzzy daze.
She returned in his shirt, which hung low like a dress on her. Something primitive in his brain lit up with a possessive streak he’d never felt before. Like he’d claimed her.
