Page 9 of Luka

“Ever gone fishing before?” Luka asked, looking up at Spencer with a smirk on his face.

Spencer shook his head. “Nope, but I’m willing to learn.”

Luka chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “It’s simple, really,” he said, showing Spencer how to bait the hook and cast the line. “The key is patience.”

Spencer tried his best to follow Luka’s instructions, but every time he tried to cast the line, it would get tangled up. Clearly, he was better at buying fish at the store than catching them himself.

Luka put his rod down and walked over to Spencer. He moved in behind him and then guided Spencer’s hands. “Like this.”

Spencer felt Luka’s body heat radiating off him, and a shiver ran down his spine. He tried to focus on the fishing, but the sensation of Luka’s hands on his was overwhelming. He could smell the musky, woodsy scent that clung to Luka’s skin, and he felt himself getting aroused despite his promise to keep it casual.

But then Luka pulled away, leaving Spencer feeling cold and empty. The guy had said no strings attached, and Spencer had taken Luka at his word, but now he was starting to wish at least one or two strings would embed themselves.

As Luka moved back to his own rod, Spencer tried to focus on the task at hand, hoping to distract himself from the growing attraction he felt toward Luka. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t help but steal glances at the other man. Luka’s body was sleek and muscular, and Spencer imagined what it would feel like to run his hands over Luka’s taut abs.

The sound of Luka’s voice broke him out of his thoughts. “You caught something,” he said, pointing to the end of Spencer’s line, where a fish was wriggling around.

“Ack!” Spencer started to toss his rod, caught off guard by the appearance of the fish, but Luka moved fast, grabbing the rod before it plummeted in the water. “Sorry. It’s just so...fishy.”

Luka’s booming laugh filled the air, and Spencer smiled. He’d never felt so at ease with anyone, so comfortable in his own skin. It was like Luka brought out a different side of him, a side he didn’t even know existed.

And his loud laugh probably scared off all the fish within a ten-mile radius.

“It’s okay, Spencer. That’s how you know it’s fresh.”

Spencer grinned, feeling a sense of accomplishment as Luka reeled in the fish. He’d never been much of an outdoorsman, but with Luka by his side, he was starting to appreciate the simplicity of life in the woods.

An hour later, they sat by the river, cooking their catches over an open flame that Luka had made. Spencer couldn’t believe how relaxed he felt, how peaceful, all thanks to Luka, an undeniable mystery who had barged into Spencer’s life and seemed to make everything better.

The two of them ate in silence, the only sounds around them the gentle rustling of the leaves and the occasional chirping of birds. It was a comfortable silence, and god, the fish was delicious. Luka had brought a few seasonings, and whatever he’d used, it had made Spencer thoroughly enjoy his meal.

When they finished, Luka stood up and stretched his arms over his head. Spencer watched as his muscles rippled beneath his shirt, feeling his desire for the other man grow stronger with every passing moment. The guy’s shirt had lifted slightly, showing off a patch of tanned skin by his waist. Spencer damn near drooled at the sight.

“You ready for that hike?” Luka put the fire out with dirt, and then they cleaned up their mess, putting the dishes back in the backpack. “We have the entire day ahead of us.”

Spencer nodded, looking up at Luka with a grin. “Lead the way.”

Leaving the fishing rods by the river, Luka grabbed his backpack and began walking into the woods. Spencer followed closely behind, trying to keep up with the guy’s brisk pace. It was clear that he wasn’t used to anyone with him because Luka was walking way too fast.

Finally, Spencer grabbed his arm. “Please slow down. Your legs are a mile long, while mine are only a few feet.”

“Sorry. I’m used to doing this by myself.” Luka grinned. “I’ll try to slow down.”

“My legs thank you.”

As they continued, Spencer’s mind raced, thinking about Luka and his strange allure. He couldn’t understand why he was so drawn to the guy. Was it his mysterious nature? The way he smelled? His kindness? Whatever it was, Spencer couldn’t shake it from his mind.

The day was hot and humid, and as they hiked, the sweat poured down Spencer’s body. He tried to ignore the discomfort, but it was impossible to ignore the dampness of his clothes clinging to his skin.

Fuck. He never wanted to go hiking again. At least not in the heat. Spencer kept slapping bugs that landed on him, wiping his face with the bottom of his T-shirt, and wondering why Luka wasn’t sweating like crazy. What did he have, some kind of internal cooling system? If he did, the guy needed to share it with Spencer before Spencer drowned in his own sweat.

Ten minutes later, Luka led him to a secluded waterfall, hidden away in the woods. It was one of the most beautiful sights Spencer had ever seen, and he couldn’t help but gasp in awe as he stood before it.

Too bad it had taken half a day to get to it.

Luka grinned, watching Spencer’s reaction. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

And then some. Spencer nodded, taking in the sight of the cascading water. “It’s amazing. How did you find this place?”

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