Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
“I’m going to make fish,” he says, and it’s just what I need to pull me out of my wicked thoughts.
“Sounds delicious.” I laugh before looking toward the mouth of the cave. “Is it still raining?”
Please say no. Please say no, I chant over and over. Maybe that will make it come true.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have good news.”
I suck my lips into my mouth. That means we are stuck in here longer.
“I kind of need …”
“To go to the bathroom?”
“Yeah.” I grimace.
“Right outside the cave, it leads to the lake. If you keep close to the rock, you can go in the lake or on the ground beside it. You won’t get that wet because of the overhang of rocks. Plus, the trees give a big canopy.”
“Is it safe?”
“For lengthy periods of time, no. But there isn’t any lightning right now. It should be safe. The winds are powerful. Also, you can go farther in the cave if that makes you feel better. We have a little toilet paper left, and you can use some water we collected if you want to rinse.”
“Can we risk the supplies?”
“We still have the lake. If worse comes to worst, I can collect more and purify it.”
“I’ll use the cave,” I decide. No part of me has any desire to trudge through a storm right now. Maybe after, I’ll wash off really quickly.
I grab the large jug of purified water and the flashlight and set off to walk deeper into the cave.
It feels kind of awkward, so I turn around and walk straight back to where he was.
“If this is our home for the next few days, I can’t make it smell like pee,” I admit. “That’s gross.”
“I feel that. Here, I’ll walk you to the grass and then turn around. That way, you aren’t by yourself.”
“You’d do that … for me?”
Cue smile.
Cue butterflies.
This is not good.
The way he makes me feel can’t possibly be good for my health.
It doesn’t stop the enormous grin from spreading across my face or the way my insides warm as he takes my hand and leads me out of the cave.
It’s still raining, but he’s right. The rocks from the cave opening block most of the rain. Beside the opening to the left, there are rocks and grass. The lake is on the other side, a few feet away.
“You sure it won’t get worse? No lightning?”
“I’m not sure of anything. But right now, the biggest issue is the wind. No lightning.”
“Okay, ground it is. I’ll be back.”
Dropping his hand, I walk over to the grass. No longer under the rocks, the rain beats down on me. I had thrown on my tank and panties before walking out here, but that was stupid. Now, both are drenched, and I’ll be spending the rest of the day naked again.
I guess I can think of worse things to do.
I take care of my business, and once I’m done, I head back to Alaric.
“If I have time, I want to jump in really quickly. Do I have time?”
Alaric looks up at the sky.
Dark gray storm clouds hover low in the sky, and the air smells sweet as remnants of the rain linger on the surface of the rocks.
My gaze skims over the distance. The rain seems to be slowing down, but the trees are still fiercely whipping around. But as long as I don’t hear thunder, and I don’t see lightning, it should be safe.
“You have a few. If we see anything suspicious, we’ll get out. If the wind gets too strong …”
“We’ll get out.”
“If we stay behind the waterfall, it will be okay. The rocks will cover most of everything.”
“Sounds like a plan, but I would like to brush my teeth and get soap.”
“Stay here.” He walks away and comes back a minute later. “Hand.”
I oblige.
He places a slight drop of toothpaste on my finger. Although it’s not a lot, I’m happy for this luxury. I rub it on my tongue and teeth before spitting it out. After that, he throws the toothpaste back into the cave and then hands me the soap.
“Strip here. Soap up and then go into the waterfall.”
“Here?” My eyes go wide. “You want me to get naked.”
“Dove … I have already seen you naked.” He steps closer, his body touching mine. His hand reaches out and brackets around me, pulling me flush against him, and I feel the evidence of a now growing erection. “I have seen you, tasted you, and been inside you. I couldn’t be more familiar with your body if I tried, and trust me—I intend to try many, many times. Bathing together hardly seems a problem.”
He’s right, and I’m acting like an idiot.
I lift the tank up and then pull my underwear off. Once I’m fully naked, I rub the soap all over my body before I go to hand it to Alaric, who is now also naked and sporting a very impressive length.