Page 20 of Almost Him

I grasp at the back of his shirt that’s wet halfway up his back. “Put me down!” Ignoring me, he slaps my ass and not lightly. “Ow! That stung!” Especially since all that’s protecting my ass is a pair of wet panties.

“That’s what you get for making me come in after you.”

“I was getting out.” His response is another slap on my ass as he wades out.

Laughter rings out from the others, and they follow us to shore. The wind picks up, sending a chill through me when he sets me on my feet. A giggle spills out of me when I see he didn’t even take off his shoes. They squelch when he takes a step, and rivulets run off his jeans into the grass.

He does his best to sound annoyed. “You think that’s funny?”

“I’m pretty amused by it, yeah.”

He shakes his head, fighting back a smile. “Get dressed so we can head back.”

“I remember when you said you’d never tell me what to do. How far we’ve fallen,” I say with an exaggerated sigh.

Alden turns his back to let me dress as if he hasn’t already seen right through my bra and had his hand on my wet ass. The others aren’t paying any attention while they’re focused on getting dressed behind me.

Alden’s eyebrows climb his forehead when I walk around to stand in front of him. I unsnap my bra, take it off and wring the water from it. When I look at him, his attention is locked on my breasts. He’s never seen me topless. I’m about to show him something else that he’s never seen. To be honest, no one has.

My heart thrums in my chest but I don’t let myself look away from his eyes once they land on mine. I slowly pull my underwear down, then off, and wring the water from them as nonchalantly as possible.

The heat from his stare seems to reach my skin when he slowly drops his gaze. His tongue peeks out, wetting his lips, and I see his chest rise with a deep breath.

I’m doing my best to act like this is no big deal. Like I’m completely comfortable with showing my body to him. My shorts are too thin to go without underwear, so I put them back on, then slide my shorts over them.

I’m not the only one breathing harder. Alden keeps watching while I put my bra and shirt back on. “Ready to go?” I ask, my voice light.

“Jesus fuck, Ella, you’re killing me,” he breathes.

I don’t bother to respond. Even while we make our way back to the bridge and onto the tracks, I keep quiet. I’m not sure what to say. I’m still buzzed and a little high. It makes my thoughts wander all over the place.

The storm misses us, but heavy rain is right behind it. We’ve barely gotten a few steps down the tracks when the sky opens up. We’re both drenched to the skin in minutes.

Alden laughs and breaks the silence. “You could’ve gone swimming in your clothes too.”

“What fun would that have been?”

Alden reaches for my hand, but I don’t take it. “There’s no one around you need to protect me from.”

With a sigh, he stops and grabs my wrist. We stand in the center of the tracks in the pouring rain while he looks me in the eye. “Ella. I didn’t mean it like that.” He swipes a wet lock of hair off my forehead. “You’re my girl. You always have been. There’s no one I care about the way I do you. But I can’t have a girlfriend. Not now. I need to get my shit together first. I’m trying. I’m working hard, El. To get to a place where I’m worthy of you. Be patient. Please.”

His words stun me. Other than his little jokes about marrying me, he’s never mentioned us being together. Vulnerability shines in his eyes. I slide my hand around his nape and kiss his wet lips. Neither of us speaks for a long moment while I look at him. He’s so gorgeous. Tiny drops cling to his long eyelashes and his hair hangs over his forehead. “You’re worthy right now, Den. I’m proud to be your girl. But I understand.”

Maybe I don’t, completely, but he’s being honest. He’s telling me what he needs. Time. Independence is a good thing, an important thing, and I think that’s what he’s working on. Being his own man and not having to answer to anyone else. He’s a year away from adulthood and doesn’t have the support system I do. He’s scared. I would be too. Everything is going to change.

His smile is everything. “It was good to see you could misbehave. I had fun watching you tonight.”

“Ha! I’ll bet.”

Chuckling, he grabs my hand, and I don’t resist this time. We continue down the tracks. “Not only when you got naked. It was nice to see you let loose and have a good time. Full disclosure, though. You standing in front of me wet and naked is permanently entered into my spank bank.”

“That’s fair since I think about you when I touch myself.”

The groan he lets out makes me laugh. There’s no wiping the smile from my face. It really was a fun night, so different than what I’m used to. I watched a fight, went to a party, drank, smoked, and ended up nearly naked in Poke Creek. Now I’m walking home in the middle of the night in the pouring rain.

It’s a feeling that’s difficult to describe and I know will be hard to replicate. Something like joy mixed with freedom and youth. It’s a night I’ll never forget.

It’s almost dawn and the rain has stopped when we get to my house. “Do you want to stay?” I ask.

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