Page 44 of Untamed

“River Larson!” I gasp in mock outrage. “Did you betray my trust?”

“Only a little.” She makes a little gesture with her fingers. “I just peeked. At your butt.”

“Unforgivable.”

“As if you never took a little look when I was swimming or walking back to the beach.” She rolls her eyes. “Please.”

“Never.” Lies. “Not once.”

I could see her body when she’d swim too close, her breasts bobbing under the water when she’d laugh. Back then, I was just a horny teenager, excited that I had a girl around me that was naked. I was too stupid to realize that maybe the happiness I always felt around her, that levity you get when you’re truly comfortable with someone, was maybe there because I had love for her that extended past friendship.

Pops said sometimes mistakes have to be made to learn certain lessons, but this was a hard one to live with. It took too long, stole too much time. That mistake robbed us of over ten years together. And as I hold her now, I’m desperate to keep her close, to not fuck up all over again and lose her.

“You’re a bad liar, Hayes Black.” Her laughter fills the rooms. “But I like you anyway.”

I kiss her temple. “I think we should do it again.”

“Already? Don’t you need a little more…” She gestures to my dick. “Time?”

“Not that.” I roll my eyes and laugh, sitting up on the bed. “Skinny-dipping. Although, I’m not opposed to round two if you’d prefer.”

I wag my eyebrows at her, and she gives me a playful shove before rolling off her side of the bed.

“Last one there owes the other an orgasm!” She takes off out of the bedroom, and I give her a head start. Because honestly? There is nothing I’d like more than to owe that woman an orgasm…or five.

I realize once I’m downstairs that he is deliberately not chasing me. Cheeky fucker is fine owing me an orgasm, but whatever. Not anything I’m going to get upset about. The ground is still warm from the sun, but the air is cool, and it feels amazing on my sweaty skin.

Taking a second to soak up the beautiful evening, I lean my head back and breathe deep. Living out in the middle of nowhere has its perks, including being able to walk out your front door naked and not worry about anyone catching a glimpse. At least, I hope none of his family decides to make a little visit.

Hayes has built a gorgeous home, with a big front porch and hanging plants that have grown to skim the railing. He’s even got a daybed-type bench with a thick cushion and pillows. I could see myself sitting there, sipping on Katherine’s sweet tea while Hayes walked home from working on the ranch, a smile on his face when he sees me.

I wonder what it would be like to be here with him, happy and loved.

“I gave you a very large head start.” He’s standing naked in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed around a couple of towels. That huge cock of his is getting hard again, hanging heavy between his thighs. His entire body is hard, muscles formed from years of working on the ranch every day.

Fuck, he’s a beautiful sight.

“Got distracted.” I shrug.

“Stream’s that way.” He nods to his left, my right. But I already knew. I know this ranch like the back of my hand, and it doesn’t escape me that he chose to build on land so close to the same stream we used to spend so much time in. Pretty sure, if I’m not all turned around, that this is the area where we used to escape to practice our dancing.

I take off running again, and I can hear him this time, trying to catch up with me. His breathing is heavy, and twigs break under our feet as we race to the water. I can hear it running, and my heartbeat pounds in my ears. I glance over my shoulder, and he’s close, so close that he could easily reach out and grab me. I squeal and laugh, picking up my pace to get out of his grasp.

Finally, the water comes into view, and I run into it without thinking. And holy shit, it is cold. I forgot how frigid the water coming from the mountains can be, and it steals my breath as I trip and stumble until I fall in with a splash. And then Hayes is there, grabbing my body out of the water, laughing in my face about how I just fell face-first into the stream.

“You really wanted that orgasm, didn’t you, darlin’?”

I give him a shove and wrap my legs around his to push him under. But he’s too tall and catches himself as he falls backward, saving his head from going under. He laughs, and I straddle his waist, desperate to dunk him below the surface. But goddamn, this man is strong and relentless.

“It’s only fair!” I shout between my laughter. “Dunk yourself, you butthole!”

“That is uncalled for!” He can barely breathe he’s laughing so hard, and I use it to my advantage, tripping him up until his head finally goes under the water.

“Okay, okay!” He spurts, coming up for air. “We’re even.”

He grins at me, his smile making the sides of his eyes crinkle and the ghost of one dimple appear. My heart stutters at how handsome he is. I spent the last decade thinking I would never be here again, that I would never get to be close to him like I used to be. And now this? I am freaking giddy with it.

“You’re too handsome for your own good. You know that?” I ask him as he leans back to wet his hair, slicking it out of his face.

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