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A little while later, we got to the top, and I realized the hike really had been worth it. It was extraordinary. A cool breeze blew up from the river below, and everything was quiet and peaceful. Miles led me off to the side where we could watch the waterfall better. Several people came up the same trail to get pictures of and with the scenery. I could have stayed there all day, but my legs were like Jell-O from the hike.
Miles kept me close, wrapping an arm around me. It was both the most comforting thing and sexiest thing I’d ever experienced. Until he touched me, I hadn’t realized how starved I was for human contact. It was the most relaxed and at ease I’d ever felt in my life.
When I looked up to thank Miles for bringing me along, I found he was already staring at me. The air between us crackled like live electricity. It seemed like if either of us touched the other, there might be a crack of sparks or an explosion of lightning. Butterflies swarmed in my stomach.
The electricity ramped up even higher when Miles whispered, “Can I kiss you?”
I nodded, unable to form words. He leaned forward, and I followed suit. The moment our lips touched, I lost all sense of time. It was sweet, gentle, and lingering. His tongue was only barely sliding against my lips. I moaned softly as he brushed a strand of hair from my face while we kissed. When he finally pulled away, I was just as breathless as I had been when I saw the mountains.
He pressed his forehead to mine and ran a hand down my back. “Are you hungry?”
I nodded. The mention of food caused my stomach to growl. Miles smiled as if he could hear it, took my hand and led me back down the four hundred steps. I’d hoped the way down would be easier than going up. I was wrong. Going down meant I had to slowly lower myself on each and every step to keep from falling. My thighs were on fire.
“I’m gonna kill you if I can’t walk tomorrow,” I said when we reached the halfway point.
Miles chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll massage your legs tonight, if you want.”
I glared at his back, but before I could come up with a funny retort, he surprised me. Miles turned and swept me into his arms, carrying me like a groom would carry his bride over the threshold.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, clinging to him for dear life. “You’re gonna drop me.”
“Never.”
“Well, you’ll break your back. We still have to go the rest of the way down.”
He laughed. “I’m stronger than I look.”
He really seemed to be. He carried me effortlessly, like I only weighed twenty pounds. The muscles of his shoulders and back flexed as he walked. It didn’t seem to strain him to carry me, and
he wasn’t even breathing hard. I wanted to hate him for it, but it was the hottest thing in the world.
Miles only set me on my feet when we reached the truck. He opened my door and nodded toward the road. “We’ll take that road. It goes down to a little picnic area.”
“We’re having a picnic?”
He grinned at me. “What do you think I did for the thirty minutes you were getting ready? I hope you aren’t a picky eater, though.”
FOURTEEN
MILES
Taking Celina to the mountains had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. I’d woken up that morning with a desperate need to go into the wilderness and connect with nature. To unwind and be away from the world for a little while. It was what I needed, but it also felt hollow, like something would be missing if I went alone.
My wolf, and I, wanted to be around Celina all the time. We were drawn to her. I was already beginning to feel some of the physical pain Steff and Tate had when they’d been waiting to claim their mates. Thankfully, Celina had agreed to join me.
Once we’d started driving up into the mountains, the stress of the previous day seemed to melt away. The trees, rivers, and mountains helped settle my nerves and brought my mind back under control. Having Celina with me made it all the better. I’d even found her to be more relaxed as she got to talking. In my opinion, the only reason people thought she was odd was the fact that she didn’t have a lot of experience talking to people. Once she got going, she was charming, funny, and bright.
Surprisingly, she’d been very curious about me, which probably stemmed from her being a writer. How could one write about people’s stories if you didn’t know stories about people? I had to keep the truth about my childhood secret, and I didn’t
go into my banishment. I didn’t want to lie to her, so instead of diving deep into my past, I tried to steer the conversation to the last ten or so years of my life.
The kiss had also been a last-second decision. Totally unplanned, spur of the moment, and probably the most exciting thing that had happened to me in my life. Celina looked so beautiful and peaceful with her cheeks red from the cold, her breath puffing out in small clouds. It had been too much for me. I wanted to take it all in and deepen our connection. My wolf and I had wanted to howl in elation when she didn’t pull away. All the way down to the picnic area, I did my best to keep the goofy smile off my face.
I was happy to see that the picnic tables were all vacant. We’d have the place to ourselves—for a little while at least. I helped Celina out of the truck before grabbing the big cooler I’d prepped. We walked to the tables in silence, but it was a companionable, comfortable silence. Once there, I unpacked the food.
“Do you want a mimosa? I’ve got everything to make it.” I shot her a teasing smile. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be in the mood after your little party last night.”
Celina made an embarrassed face and looked away, but I caught the hint of a smile quirking up her lips. “I think I can handle a mimosa.”
“All right then,” I said, pulling out the small jug of orange juice and a half bottle of champagne.
After I poured the drinks, I set out the plate of sliced fruit, a charcuterie board, and some crackers and nuts. I handed her a napkin and her drink, then sat down next to her.
She looked at the spread, then turned to me, one eyebrow raised. “You did all this? This morning?”
I felt my own face trying to go red the way hers usually did. “Well, yeah. I had a lot of it made already. I’m usually working
a ton, so I’ve got a bunch of these snack-type foods ready to go.” I rolled my eyes at myself. “I did, maybe, go out this morning to get the champagne, though.”