As She Fades(41)

“You’re welcome.”

We drove in silence the next few miles, then pulled into the parking lot by the path that was marked for hikers. “The whole loop is only about five miles. It’s a rough path, though. Might want to unpack that really cute basket and put it in my backpack instead. It’ll be easier for us to carry.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” I agreed, and moved our lunch.

“You’ve got good hiking boots,” he noted as he looked down at my feet.

“My family is big into hiking” was the only reason I gave him. I didn’t want to explain that this was something I once did with Crawford. I wanted today to be about us.

“Uncle D and I hiked a good bit, too. Especially when I was younger.”

“Did you hike this trail with him?” I asked as he slipped his backpack on.

“Yep. About ten times probably.”

That was good to know. At least he knew where we were going.

“Let’s do this,” I said as he locked up his Jeep and slipped the keys into the side pocket of his bag.

There was only one other car parked out here, so we weren’t going to be passing many people along the way. I was happy about that.

We talked about past hikes and told funny stories, and stopped to see different spots of pure, natural beauty. Once Slate stopped to pull me against him and kiss me, saying he just couldn’t look at me any longer and not at least get a taste. When he did things like that, it made me feel silly and giddy inside.

By the time we had worked up an appetite, we were at a landing with a few scattered tables and a beautiful view of a stream with fish swimming between the rocks.

“This is our spot,” he said, putting the backpack on a table.

“I’m starving,” I admitted, and began unpacking the chicken salad sandwiches, fruit, potato chips, and brownies. I was glad I’d ordered several sandwiches because I could eat two at this point, and I was sure Slate could eat that or more.

“How many of these do I get?” he asked, reaching for a sandwich.

“I’m taking two. So the other three are yours.”

He leaned over the table and kissed me one more time before we sat down to eat.





CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

THE DAY WAS perfect. The more time I spent with Slate, the more I admired about him. The love he had for his uncle was obvious, even though his life there hadn’t been easy. He’d been taught hard work. Something I really hadn’t experienced in my life. Neither had Crawford.

We were almost to the curve that I knew was going to lead back to the parking lot when Slate’s hand slipped around my upper arm. Stopping, I looked at him, confused.

“You hear that?” he whispered.

I went very still and listened, but I didn’t hear anything. So I shook my head.

He tugged me closer to his chest, then bent his head down close to my ear. “Listen. You sure?”

I was beginning to get a little nervous. I knew there were bears out here and I didn’t want to meet one up close and personal. But as hard as I listened, I didn’t hear anything other than the water from the stream and a few birds.

“I don’t hear anything unusual,” I finally said as quietly as I could.

He nodded. “Good. Me, either.” Then he settled his hands onto my hips and pulled me tightly to him before covering my mouth with his.

The smile that tugged at my lips was reciprocated by his own smile. He’d tricked me, but I liked this kind of trick. Kissing Slate was something I thought about often. Today it had crossed my mind at least every thirty seconds. He had the kind of mouth that made you think about kissing.

When he pulled back, his heated gaze was locked on mine. “You trust me?”

I did. Completely. So I nodded.

Then he reached for the hem of my shirt and pulled it up and over my head, leaving me standing there in my sports bra. “I want to see all of you.”

The way his voice went all deep and thick when he said it made it impossible for me to think that getting naked in a public place was a bad idea. Again, I followed his lead. Because I wanted it, too.

I slipped the sports bra off and tossed it to the leaves at our feet. I couldn’t meet his gaze again, though. I felt my chest flush as my hands went to my leggings. He didn’t let me get that far, though, before his hands were cradling my face and he was kissing me again.

I leaned into him and my breasts brushed his chest, causing me to shiver from the contact. The only thing that could have been better was if he was also shirtless. I reached for his shirt, and grabbing handfuls, I began to pull it up until he stepped back just enough to let me take it completely off him.

This time, when I pressed against him the warmth of his skin sent delicious tingles through me. His groan of pleasure made me try to get even closer. This was so much more than I had ever imagined. Being with Slate was exhilarating. It felt right. Like nothing else could ever be this perfect.

His hands went to my pants and began tugging them slowly down my hips, until we had to break the kiss for me to slip off my boots, let the leggings fall to my ankles, and step out of them. I was only in my panties now, and Slate stood back. His nostrils flared as he took me in.

“You’re too good for me. I’ve known it since the moment I laid eyes on you. Too perfect, too beautiful, too untouchable.”