here.”
When I was a kid, these hills, and the forest lands, were my second home. I loved hiking, often alone, but mostly when Brody joined me. Nobody knew about our hikes. We didn’t hang out together at school; me the lowly freshman and him lord of the school. I never attended any of the infamous parties he and his brothers put on at their home. We didn’t keep our friendship a secret, but as our friendship turned into something deeper, we kept that bit all to ourselves.
Not too far up this trail, Brody took my virginity, with exquisite tenderness, but he also introduced me to the thrill which came from handing over power and submitting to his will. I knelt before him for the first time up here. And I said yes. My breath catches with the memories.
Good and bad, it all happened here.
Twenty
Brody
It’s official. I’ve found heaven and hell. Not too bad for an afternoon’s work.
Heaven in Grace’s arms and hell upon Spirit’s back. My rigid arousal doesn’t abate after that kiss and gives me fits the first mile of our ride as I shift back and forth in the saddle.
Kissing Grace is different from kissing other women. With other women, I kiss as a necessary step toward fucking them. With Grace, I want to kiss her more than I want to fuck her. What the hell does that mean?
I take off my hat and run my fingers through my hair. Her lips tasted so damn good, and it took all my will to release them—to let go of her.
Instead of removing her clothes—which would have been the next logical step—all I could think about was kissing her again. As if taking off her clothes would’ve been a crime because it deprived me of her mouth. I slip my tongue between my lips and hold back a groan as the lingering essence of her teases my taste buds. The way our tongues tangled together was nothing short of magnificent.
Hot, wet, and welcoming, three words I usually reserve for pussy, describe how it feels to kiss Grace. That kiss should’ve ended in a bed with me buried balls deep inside of her hot body. Instead, I mustered enough restraint to end the kiss and let her go.
I believe that qualifies me for sainthood.
I suffer the aftereffects now because my body reels from the heady sensation of holding her in my arms. I need more of that.
Grace.
In my arms.
Only she’s not in my arms. Grace is frustratingly behind me, riding Cage’s horse. Don’t know why I didn’t have us ride double on Spirit, except I thought it would make things easier on my horse not to carry the extra burden. I regret that decision now.
I turn my attention back to the trail. This place holds special memories for me—for both of us. When I came here with Grace, I wasn’t one of the infamous La Rouge triplets, but rather just me, Brody. I found it easier to breathe when she was around. Easier to find my true self. I relaxed and enjoyed hanging out with my best girl.
Then I fucked that up.
“We’re almost there,” I call out, although I’m sure she remembers.
“I forgot how beautiful this trail is.” Her breathy voice reaches out to me, wraps around me, and takes my breath away. This feels like a dream, having her with me, and I don’t for the life of me know why I ever thought I could walk away and leave her behind. I’d been such a goddamn fool.
Soon, our ride will end. Our special spot isn’t that far ahead. I pull Spirit to a halt and dismount. Grace watches; her shimmering gaze follows my every move. I hitch Spirit’s reins to a low-lying branch and pretend I don’t notice the way she looks at me.
We’re in sync with each other because she waits for me to help her down. Grace is more than capable of getting out of the saddle on her own, but she senses my tension spiking. She knows I need to help her down. When we first started coming up here, it was just to sneak away. Later, as friends turned into something else, things shifted between us. Power flowed differently.
We aren’t those same kids, but that itching returns; that need to take control rises within me.
I say nothing as I come to Chesty and take the reins from Grace. The look we exchange changes things. She bites her lower lip, and I hold back a groan.
“Come.”