Cecily climbed out of the four-wheel drive Jeep and looked around at the pristine mountains. The view was breathtaking, and the tiny cabin behind her was dwarfed in comparison. The log structure was very private, but down the slope she saw a few other sites with cars dotted on the landscape, plus the road wasn’t as bad as she expected. When Chase said they needed to go off-roading to get here, she imagined the worst.

From the cabin’s perch on the side of the mountain, she spotted a gorgeous lake not far. Or at least from that vantage point it didn’t seem far. She shielded her eyes against the bright sun and watched the sparkles on the water and the mirrored reflection of the mountain’s peaks.

“Pretty, huh?” Chase said, carrying their bags from the back of the Jeep onto the porch.

She nodded. “Pretty doesn’t go far enough. It’s gorgeous. Is this a year-round place or just a summer community?”

He shrugged. “The location is pretty secluded, so in terms of winter storms I doubt it’s a year-round gig. I would bet the roads to Cross Creek are impassable in winter, and that’s the closest town. We passed through on the way up.”

“That was a town?”

Chase nodded with a laugh. “Yup. If you blink, you miss it. The realtor said there were only a few rentals left for the summer, as the rest were privately owned, but we can always ask the neighbors if this is a year-round gig.”

“Neighbors?” she smirked.

“Well, we are going to be here for the month.”

She smiled. “That’s true.”

He leaned over and gave her cheek a peck. “C’mon, Wilderness Wendy, let’s get the bags settled and then go exploring.”

Chase unlocked the front door and propped it opened, letting Cecily walk in first as he got the bags. The décor was rustic to say the least, but cozy and welcoming. Just two rooms, like he said, with a bedroom and kitchen/great room set up.

He carried the bags through the door and then gestured with his chin toward the bedroom. “I’m going to drop these first and then grab the groceries from the car.”

Cecily followed behind. “Should I unpack or wait and do the kitchen first?”

He looked over his shoulder. “It looks clean enough, but you might want to check around for varmints.”

“Varmints?” Grinning, she cocked and eyebrow. “We’re here thirty seconds and you turn into Yosemite Sam?”

He laughed with a shrug. “It’s the mountains. I can’t help it.” Chase put the bags on the bed and then brushed past her with a quick kiss. “Not much room to maneuver in here. I’m glad I took out the extra insurance in case we break the bed.”

Heat coursed through her as his fingers trailed over her stomach. The cabin was small, and that meant no escape if things went south. At least there was plenty of space outside.

She moved into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, inspecting its interior before checking the cabinets on either side of the sink. Except for a few dead spiders, it was clean.

“So, any creepy crawlies or rodent remnants?” Chase asked, putting the first of two large boxes of groceries on the kitchen table.

She shook her head. “Nothing a quick wipe can’t handle.”

Gesturing to the box on the table, he gave her a chin pop. “Everything we need is in there. Just point me in the right direction, Sarge.”

“Sarge?” She smirked. “I can handle a broom and a mop, you know. I’m not quite a spoiled little rich girl, and besides, we’re a team, right?”

He took her hand and turned it over, kissing the tender flesh on the inside of her wrist. “Yup, and I plan for us to learn every position in the game playbook.”

The feel of his lips on her skin sent heat skittering into her lower belly and her panties dampened. “Well, they say practice makes perfect.”

His mouth spread into a teasing grin and he nipped her wrist. “Here comes the bride…as many times as I can make her.” Pulling her into his arms, his lips took hers and he walked her backwards toward the bedroom door. “I think we should start in here,” he said between kisses. “We can work our way onto the kitchen counter, and then the table—”

The back of her legs bumped the bare mattress. “Shouldn’t we put a blanket down first?” she whispered against his mouth.

“I’m way ahead of you, KitKat.” Chase released her just long enough to reach for the tartan-style blanket on top of a large tote. With a quick flick, the blue plaid floated onto the mattress surface.

Cecily giggled at the cute nickname. “I feel like we’re breaking into someone’s place just to—to—” Heat bloomed in her cheeks.

“Fuck?” he said, finishing her sentence. Anticipation spread hot and wet between her thighs as he sat her on the end of the bed. “Being bad may feel pretty good, but this is completely legit.” His grin widened. “And I’ve got the marriage license to prove it.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but he kissed her silent, scrambling her brains for any further coherent thought.

“You okay?” Chase asked, putting the last of the cleaning supplies in the cabinet under the kitchen sink.

Two hours had passed since they roused themselves from their blue tartan burrito in the bedroom. The cabin was tidy, and everything put away. They hadn’t had the chance to talk much, and another awkward silence fell between them.

Cecily nodded. “I’m fine.”

Tell him.

No. Not yet.

“You sure?” He raised an eyebrow. “You’re not exactly the quiet, pensive type, yet you haven’t said twelve words since we left the bedroom.”

She coughed, turning five shades of red.

“Cecy, you only chew on your lip when you’ve got something to tell me, but don’t know how to say it.”

Now’s the perfect time tell him.

She shook her head. “It’s nothing. Thanks to you and your magic hands, I can’t put two coherent thoughts together.”

“Fine.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ll stop with the twenty questions. Eventually you’ll tell me what’s bothering you. You always do. In the meantime, are you hungry? I could make us a couple of sandwiches while you spar with yourself. Maybe take them to the lake and have a picnic. Go for a swim.”

A wash of self-conscious fear washed over her, temporarily stifling her inner argument. Chase had seen her naked and spread wide, but he’d never seen her in a swimsuit. Why it made a difference, she didn’t know. But somehow it did.

“Uhm, is swimming even allowed?” She didn’t need to see the look on Chase’s face. She heard how lame her question sounded the moment it left her mouth.

He nodded, moving toward her as if he knew why she hedged. “Swimsuits optional,” he replied, slipping his hands around her waist.

The idea of skinny dipping with Chase and all the things they could do beneath the water sent a wave of heat across her cheeks. Her pussy was still tender and damp from their rustic bedroom exploits, but that didn’t matter. The thought of Chase’s hands and hard body made her breasts ache and her clit jump, ready and willing all over again. On top of that, sex put off having to talk. It was hard to have a conversation with your brains scrambled from nasty underwater monkey sex.

“I’m going to take your gorgeous blush as a yes.” He unwound his arms from her waist and turned her around, smacking her butt. “Let’s pack lunch.”