Beat of the Heart (Runaway Train #2)(51)
“Like it?” AJ questioned, as I remained staring open-mouthed.
“Are you kidding me?”
He chuckled as he slid off the four-wheeler. As he helped ease me onto the ground, I replied, “I can’t believe anything so beautiful is right here in the middle of Jake’s property.”
AJ reached out his hand for mine. “Come on, let’s go explore.”
Nodding my head, I slipped my palm into his. Conversation seemed to fail us as we strolled along the river bank. Our clothes rippled in a gentle breeze, while wildlife hummed and buzzed all around us. Squirrels scurried across treetops while birds cried out as they soared over our heads. I squealed and jerked AJ’s hand at the sight of a doe and her fawn along the bank. But at the sight of us, they darted away back into the woods. “Did you see that? The baby was just like Bambi with spots.”
AJ grinned at my enthusiasm. As I took in all the beauty surrounding me, I sighed with contentment. “I can see now why Jake loves this place so much.”
“I don’t know if I would call it ‘love’ or an obsession. It’s getting harder and harder in between our breaks to get him back on the road.”
“Well, it does make sense he wouldn’t want to leave here. I mean, it’s part of his blood. Being on the road has to be such a rootless existence that I’m guessing he’s super thankful to have such a wonderful home to come back to.”
He nudged me playfully. “Listen to you sounding all wise like Yoda or some shit.”
I elbowed him back. Hard. “Please tell me you didn’t just liken me to some old and wrinkly, green dude?”
“Hey, you are older than me.”
“Keep it up, Resendiz, and I see a weekend of just you and your hand getting off.”
Throwing his head back, AJ laughed heartily. “Come on now, don’t get so riled up.” He dropped my hand, so he could slide his arm around my waist. Drawing me to him, his warm lips nuzzled against my neck. “You know you’re the sexiest cougar in the entire f*cking world.”
I wiggled out of his grasp and thrust a finger in front of his face. “You sir, are not redeeming yourself. I’m a measly three and half years older than you. I’d hardly call that a cougar.”
“But thinking I’m your cougar cub gets me hard.”
Rolling my eyes with exasperation, I huffed, “Just the wind blowing gets you hard.”
AJ eyed me for a moment before roaring with laughter. His dark eyes danced with amusement as he playfully cuffed the back of my neck. “Damn, Mia, what am I going to do with you?”
“Take me down to the water,” I commanded.
“With pleasure.” He held out his hand again, and I slipped mine into his. We high stepped our way through the almost knee level grass towards the riverbank. When we reached it, I bent over, peering down at the gently flowing stream. In my mind, I had pictured harsh rapids flowing from the waterfalls, but this was so smooth. “Look how crystal clear that water is. You can see straight through to the bottom.”
“If you think it looks amazing, you should feel it.”
In a flash, I stepped out of my flip-flops and started tentatively wading into the water. As I dodged branches and other debris on the bottom, my toes squished through the silky sand. The refreshing coolness lapped against my ankles, and I sighed in renewed contentment. “It’s warmer than I’d thought it would be.”
“Wanna go swimming?” AJ asked from behind me.
As I glanced over my shoulder, I could see the wicked gleam burning in his eyes at the suggestion. “Hmm, we seem to have forgotten our bathing suits.”
“Who says we need them?”
I shot him a coy smile. “Are you suggesting we go skinny dipping?”
“Now why would you automatically think I was insinuating a nude swim?”
“Because you’re a complete and total horndog?”
AJ laughed. “Now Mia, my mind wasn’t being so devious. I simply meant for us to swim in our underwear.”
“Of course you did.”
Playing with the hem of his shirt, AJ questioned, “So are you game?”
The heat blazing all around me, singeing my exposed skin, made the water feel even more heavenly against my ankles. I wanted nothing more than my entire body to be enveloped in the coolness. “Are you sure no one can see us out here?”
“Nope. We’re too far off the beaten path.”
“Okay then, I’m game.”
“Fuck yeah!” he exclaimed, jerking his shirt over his head so fast I thought he’d rip the fabric.
I had barely gotten my shirt over my head when I noticed AJ was already stripped to his boxers and stood watching me intently. “This isn’t a peep show, Mr. Resendiz.”
“You can’t fault a man for enjoying the view.”
My fingers hesitated on the button of my shorts. I hated AJ seeing me naked with the lights on. With the sun beating against us and illuminating even the shady parts of the woods, he was going to see way more than I wanted.
When I continued to stall, AJ sloshed into the water, bridging the gap between us. He walked me back to the shore before his fingers replaced mine on my shorts. As he unbuttoned them, he stared intently at me. “I know what you’re thinking, so I guess I need to repeat it once again. I love every square inch of your body, including these fabulous round hips…” He trailed off as he pushed my shorts over my butt and down to my feet. On his knees, he glanced up at me. “And it bears repeating once again how much I adore and worship this ass,” he said before sending a stinging smack against one of my cheeks.