Chapter 20

Ruby

It’s completely dark by the time we finally start to row deep into the lake. I am comforted by Wyatt’s burly silhouette; but still, the deep darkness of nature is a little eerie.

I get my phone out of my pocket to use the light and check if we’re still close enough to camp to call comfortable. Much to my dismay, there are six texts and four missed calls from Mr. Fentress.

Just checking you’re all safe and set up? Still waiting on those photos…

Don’t have too much fun on holiday! The office needs you here and so do I ;)

Bad.

Meeting today was no fun at all without that strawberry blonde hair of yours to distract me. Maybe it is a good thing you’re gone for a few days!

I was just kidding, come back to boss-daddy!

Ruby, I’m beginning to worry. As your boss, I order you to answer me!

Oh my God, this guy. I shake my head, and when I’ve got my bearings in the dark again, I look up to see where Wyatt has us in this cool, still water. He’s across from me, his strong arms doing all the rowing.

I’m both fascinated and shaken by his incredible strength and endurance…how did he get to be so tough?

I always remember him being the stronger between him and Jake, but the gap between them now is so stark.

“Doing alright, Ruby?” he asks, sincerely. I like it when my name comes out of his mouth, especially with his arms flexed like that as he says it. Like I said, his bulk is comforting in the dark of the night.

He sees my discomfort for the whole experience and smiles warmly, reaching his big hand down and placing it over the one holding my phone.

“Rule number one: enemy snipers can see your phone light. Reach into your pocket to check Facebook? Boom! You’re dead!”

I laugh and raise an eyebrow.

“Relax, Ruby. I’m making fun. But you’ll scare the fish off if the light shines too long. Phone goes away.”

I smile up at him before locking the screen to “off” and placing the phone in my front pocket. I can just make out his shadow over the moonlight hitting the water.

I can smell him, too: his sweaty, leathery delicious man-smell. And I can feel the heat pouring off him as the evening cools. How is this man always so goddamn hot?

In more ways than one, too…

I’m in a bit of a daydream about the heat and the sweat and the man smell when suddenly, I’m startled again.

Are…are Wyatt’s hands on my knees?!

I have definitely imagined this before, but it feels even better in real life. Tingles run through my body. I fight myself to hold in a moan.

Finally, after years, we’re alone again, but now I don’t know what I want to say or how to say it.

How was the navy? See lots of people get blown up? It must have been horrible being grievously injured? Do you remember the time we almost kissed?

Come on Ruby! I scold myself. Get it together! Make normal small talk like a normal person! Talk about something that happened today!

“Thank you for letting me win earlier, Wyatt.”

“None of that shit. You were great. You won fair and square.”

“You let me win. It was nice.”

“Okay, you caught me. I did. But only ‘cause…you have a nice smile when you’re happy like that. Honestly, Ruby, it’s a breath of fresh air to see that smile again.”

Did he just say it was a breath of fresh air to see my smile again? Maybe he’s flirting with me…

My heart is pounding. And my body is heating up, too.

I can feel his hands, still casual and gentle on my knees, and I want to tell him…tell him how much I fucking want him. Jump him right here on the canoe.

Enough with the fantasies. Back to the present.

“Well, you’re…you’re good at making me smile.”

Nice one, Ruby. Smooth. I look at him, waiting for his answer. Actually, right now, you’re good at making me blush, too.

“… and helping me in general,” I add before he speaks. “Thank you so, so much for how you helped with my hand. I would have been completely fucked. I would have had to go to hospital or something…”

“Of course. I would do anything for you, Ruby.”

What? Is this really happening? I stop. Have I gone mad and stepped into a fantasy universe or something?

“What do you mean, Wyatt?”

His breathing is definitely heavier now. I’m not imagining things. And his hand is a little tighter around my elbow.

“I mean, I’d do anything for you, Ruby. Honest. I know I haven’t been forthcoming with this, so please forgive me if I’m out of place here, but I’ve always had feelings for you. Like, since we were kids. And this trip made me realize they never went away.”

The moment is long and hot and lusty and perfect. And then we magnetize.

I lean forward to kiss him, and he reciprocates enthusiastically. He runs his hands up my thighs and wraps them around my hips, admiring my physique as our lips push hard against each other.

My pussy is throbbing with desire. I’m aching, anticipating those hands to move all over me and caress me even more.

I can feel his stubble against my face. The roughness of his hands against my hips. He kisses me deeply.

Just our lips at first, our two mouths pressed up against each other, the way I’ve imagined it thousands of times. Then he pulls away, biting my lip gently, before coming back in to slide his tongue over mine. I hear myself let out a little moan, and he lets one out, too, low and sexy.

All the images from all my fantasies are flashing through my head. I had even imagined him pushing me up against a tree in the still forest, but this is even better than I imagined.

His body is pulsating warmth. Warmth and hardness.

His shoulders are so big and strong as I slide my hands against them. He lets out a sigh and presses himself against me, making me lie me on the boat.

I can feel all of him now. His washboard abs. His taut legs.

And his hard cock. It’s just as warm and stiff as I imagined. But even through his jeans, I can tell it’s even bigger than I thought it would be. I sigh and push myself against him.

“I’ve imagined this so many times,” he whispers, hot breath in my ear.

Oh, Wyatt, you have no idea, believe me.

He runs his hands along the back of my t-shirt, pulling it up. His hands find my lower back, and their roughness is extra sexy against my skin. I’m feeling his stiff cock press into me and imagining those rough hands inside me—and I almost cum there and then.

Am I about to finally lose my virginity to Wyatt? In a canoe?

But a noise startles us both, he jolts.

And, in the perfect way to ruin the moment, we lose our balance and the canoe tips over.

I panic, flailing my arms about, bobbing in and out of the water. I only see splashes, no sight of Wyatt around me.

My heart is racing, my feet are kicking, and I feel like I’m about to hyperventilate.

I really should have taken up those swimming lessons. Especially after that last camping trip. Fuck, Wyatt had to drag me to shore then.

As I flail about in the water, making grabbing motions towards the canoe, Wyatt’s arm wraps tightly around my waist and starts moving us towards the shore.

Thank fucking God.

I try to control my breathing and calm down. It’s easier now that I know I’ll be safe. Wyatt won’t let anything happen to me here; I trust that with my life.

As we reach the shore, I sit, slumped over before him, defeated. He takes my hand in his.

“Ruby—”

“Wyatt, I am so sorry,” I start. “If I hadn’t come, you’d have gotten fish for everyone, and I wouldn’t have lost you your poles…”

“Stop,” he says, cutting me off. “Ruby, you did nothing wrong here. Not a damn thing. So, don’t you apologize for anything.”

I let go of his hand for a second, wringing out my sopping wet hair. He watches me, smiling. The events are catching up on me, and slowly, I become giddy with happiness, remembering our amazing moment out there—although a little embarrassed still, despite his attempts to soften it.

“Let’s head back to camp,” he suggests.

“But, Wyatt, we didn’t catch anything!”

“Not true at all. I caught something I’ve been chasing for years…”