Page 19 of A Date with Fate

“You good?”

“Almost,” Scott said, a soft grunting following.

I grinned a little. The poor guy had jeans on. There was no way those were coming off easily. I was obviously right, because moments later, I could hear the muttered curses coming from Scott's mouth. I kept my face away from him, determined to give him the space he might need. Even if I was tempted to see what the man had going on under his trademark jeans and tee, or maybe jeans and a flannel.

He’d basically dressed the same his entire life, and while I much appreciated the thick, powerful lines of Scott’s body now, I could distinctly remember when he was nothing but a string bean. He and his brothers had all filled in considerably since their youth. At least, if their social media was any clue.

“God, that was a workout all its own,” Scott said, making me smile once more and dragging me out of my memories.

“Can I turn, then?”

“You can.” Scott was closer now, so when I turned, I must’ve gasped a little, surprised to find him looking down over me, bright-blue eyes worried. “Are you warm enough?” His hands moved up my arms, stroking the still tingling flesh through my sweatshirt.

“I will be soon.” I smiled at him. It was so easy. “Thanks again for the hoodie.”

Scott’s eyes were burning as they met mine. “It looks good on you.”

My body hummed, sharp awareness of just how big and warm his hands were washing over me. “Thanks.”

I felt Scott stiffen and pull away. Again. Just like he had been doing for the past days, even since we left Chicago and ever since I started feeling this…need to be close to him.

I knew he was waiting for something.

“Scott.”

“What?” He had made it to the door of the camper, which he opened, extending a hand out to test if it was still raining.

“What are you waiting for?”

His head jerked to me. The smiling countenance vanished in an instant. “You, Taylor. I’m waiting on you.”

My heart threatened to beat out of my chest now, my pulse whooshing through my ears as I stared at this man. Not Logan’s friend. My friend. My safe place. My family. He always had been. I had just been so determined to see him as something unwelcome or forbidden.

He wasn’t.

He’d just been waiting for me.

Fuck. I was done waiting too.

Stepping over our wet clothes, I pressed myself against Scott’s torso. Holding his gaze, I lifted my arms and slid them around his neck, letting the movement pull me to my tiptoes. Scott regarded me carefully, solemnly, as his hands landed on my hips, helping to stabilize my form against his.

“I’m scared,” I whispered. For some reason, tears filled my eyes, making his handsome, familiar face blur.

To my surprise, Scott’s mouth immediately curled into a smile. He leaned in, nose bumping mine. “Don’t worry, little Haley. I’ll protect you.”

The noise that left my throat was something between a sob and a laugh as I pushed up on my feet again and closed the distance between us. And just like that, I kissed him, and everything changed.

The scent, the taste, the feel of him invaded every one of my senses. It was comfortable and an aphrodisiac. Not a single part of him was strange or unfamiliar, but the sensations of him against me were completely unknown. And when his hands slowly tightened on my hips, a shudder moved up and down my spine.

He was so much bigger than me, always the gentle giant. But now, wrapped up in him, all I could think about was the power he could exert if he wanted to. How odd that I’d never once considered what he was like in bed until this trip. And now I couldn’t stop.

But I didn’t need to. I could fantasize and dream all I wanted. Because he was there to protect me. I knew he would.

Our kiss was sweet, almost tentative as Scott’s lips moved against mine. I didn’t dare breathe, or even press deeper, too afraid of ruining this bubble of bliss between us. I knew it wouldn’t last forever, but for now, all I wanted to do was sink into him.

And so I did.

It took the slamming of the still open camper door to split us apart, and even then, only one of Scott’s hands moved from my waist to snap the door into place. And then we stood together again, back in the dark, our wet clothes stacked around us.

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