Page 13 of Diverge

Looking around, I notice we are quite deep into the forest. I don’t know how long we’ve been walking for since I turned my phone off, not that I would even get any service out here anyway. We come across a large hedge. Nate parts the hedge and nods for me to go through.

“We’re here.” He laughs when I hesitate. “I’m right here. You’re safe, I promise.”

I step through the hedge hesitantly, the branches scratching me from every direction. I can see the other side but only partially. Reaching my arms out, I part the branches and step through. My lips part as I’m about to berate Nate for making me go through the hedge just as I look up at the most breathtaking view.

I stand in front of a secluded waterfall surrounded by large rocks and plants. The sound of the water crashing into the small pool beneath fills my ears. Walking closer, I notice Nate is now beside me.

“Wow,” is all I can say. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a waterfall. I look over to Nate as he begins to take his backpack off, followed by his shirt. He turns to me and looks me up and down.

“Don’t tell me you worked that hard to get up those hills and you’re not going to jump into that pool.” He smirks at me with his devilish good looks.

I watch him take his pants off, revealing his black boxer briefs underneath. My mouth goes dry as I take a second to marvel at his exquisite physique. His legs are strong and toned, his back muscles flex as he reaches up and removes his cap, letting his dark curls free. I can now see he also has tattoos on his back, too, covering most of his skin. He didn’t tell me to pack swimmers, so I guess underwear it is. I place my backpack on a large rock next to me and proceed to strip down to my sports bra and G-string. Watching Nate, I walk over to the edge of the pool where he is standing. His eyes graze over my body, sending tingles through my spine as he reaches out for my hand. Taking his hand, I step beside him. The rock feels slippery and cold beneath my feet.

“It’s deep, so we have to jump.” He doesn’t give me time to prepare when he grabs the bottom of my thighs, lifting me up to straddle him. I squeal as he pushes off the rocks, and we land in the pool, the cold water immersing us.

Coming up for air, I run my fingers through my hair. After a beat, Nate comes up and tosses his head from side to side, water droplets flying from the short strands of his hair.

Treading water, I laugh nervously when Nate swims closer to me. His arms wrap around my waist as he pulls me closer to his body. I wrap my arms around his neck as we both look into each other’s eyes. His strong jaw flexes as his eyes move down and linger on my lips. My heart rate rises as his lips move closer to mine. Closing my eyes, I move my fingers through the base of his hair as his lips meet mine. They’re surprisingly soft for such a masculine guy. His hand moves down to grab my ass as he deepens the kiss, slipping his tongue into my mouth. I relax into him as my hand moves down to rest on his shoulder, my heart thumping beneath my chest. Breaking the kiss, his lips trail from the side of my jaw to my neck. I feel his warm breath create goose bumps on my neck as he whispers into my ear.

“I wanted to kiss you so badly last night,” he admits, and it has my heart doing a summersault because I so badly wanted the same thing. Holding his face with both hands, I kiss him again. He grabs my ass harder when I bite his bottom lip.

“I’m certainly not disappointed after all,” I say, resting my forehead against his.

Chapter Five

Nathan

My hand throbs withpain, still clenched into a fist. I’m covered in someone else’s blood as I stand over a man I’ve never met before, his face bloody and bruised, pools of blood dripping from his mouth.

“I swear I never said anything to anyone! No more, please!” he begs as he cowers behind both his hands.

My fist comes flying into his jaw again as he yells out in pain. I look at my purple knuckles and step away, wiping them clean against my shirt.

“Stop running your mouth,” I say as I hear him sob on the floor behind me.

“Is he going to kill me?” he gulps, and I hear his body shuffle on the floor. I turn to face him,

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