His lips curved into a sexy smile. “Sounds like a great idea. You did promise to take me hiking,” he agreed, looking down at his watch. “How about we make a quick stop at the store and get you all you need, instead of going back to your place. I wish I thought of it earlier. I would have had those clothes brought here.”

I frowned at him. “Seems like a waste of money.”

“Don’t worry about that,” he replied, smiling.

Even though I didn't like the idea of him spending unnecessary money for the things I didn't need and shopping wasn’t my thing, I couldn't resist the idea to do something simple with him. Something so basic. Only him and I.

Chapter Eight

An hour later, we were driving to Boonsboro, in western Maryland, both of us dressed comfortably and ready to hike up part of the Appalachian Trail to Annapolis Rock.

I glanced at him, admiring his good looks. I still couldn’t believe how good this man looked in everything. I never saw him in anything but suits, and it was bizarre to me that he even had clothes to hike in.

“Do you like what you see?” he teased, catching me eyeballing him.

I laughed and answered right away. “You know I do. I have never seen you in anything but suits. It is weird seeing you wear something so casual.”

“Well, you technically saw me naked too,” he replied back laughing. “It doesn’t get more casual than that.”

“I think I prefer you naked,” I told him as I playfully smacked him on the arm.

My phone buzzed, signaling a text message, and I checked to see who it was from. I laughed out loud.

“Your mom and her group are having a good time,” I spoke up chuckling as I showed him the picture that just came in showing them all sitting on the porch of my house in Croatia drinking alcohol I recognized. “They found the wine,” I noticed smiling and sending a message back.

“You should really let me pay you,” Kristoff claimed, his one hand on the wheel while the other lightly brushed my hair out of my face. “It will cover your expenses and let you replenish your alcohol stock, since I’m pretty sure they’ll leave a dent in it.”

“Absolutely not,” I objected. “It makes me happy to do this, and alcohol would have sat there for years to come anyhow. They did me a favor by clearing bottles out of the cabinet.”

“But, Gemma…” he started and I stopped him right away with a smug look.

“If you really insist on paying for their stay,” I offered. “I’ll let you. We could write up a personal contract lining out what kind of services you can pay me with.”

I couldn’t help the smile on my face, happy I was able to give him a little bit of his own medicine.

Kristoff threw his head back and laughed. He gently tugged my hair.

“Touché, beautiful. You got me there,” he admitted, smiling. “Ok, I’ll drop the subject. Although, I have to say you piqued my interest on what kind of services you had in mind exactly.”

I smiled back. “I was going to test your kinky skills. But I guess we’ll never find out now.”

While keeping one hand on the wheel, he wrapped his other behind my neck to pull me closer and gave my earlobe a gentle bite. My body instantly responded and heat pooled between my thighs. I pressed my legs together trying to tamper my lust for him but it caused the opposite effect.

“Tell me,” he whispered in my ear.

I shook my head in a feeble attempt to deny him, which prompted his gentle bite at the nape of my neck. As erotic shiver run down my body, spiking my desire few notches; a faint moan escaped my lips.

“Tell me,” his voice is a sexy demand.

“I considered,” My voice breathy. “...letting you tie me up.” He pulled me over to him and his lips mashed against mine in a hard kiss.

He pulled back just an inch and murmured against my lips. “You got it.”

Fuck, that was hot!

Noting our exit, I quickly pointed it out to him and he swiftly moved his Range Rover over into the right lane. He followed my directions, and ten minutes later, we were parked and ready to go.

“Ready for your first hike,” I asked as I met him around the vehicle. He nodded and took my hand into his, taking another piece of my heart with that simple action. “You are lucky the girls are not hiking as well. They chatter the entire time.”