Chapter Nine

“That really is an incredible view.” Brook stood side by side with Deacon as they looked down on a lush, verdant landscape of valley forest, split only by the course of the river that flowed along the valley’s length. Across the valley, great snow-capped peaks towered, dwarfing the modest hill they were standing on. The hill was crowned by a ring of pine trees and further down from the summit a small lake, half dried out by the summer sun, supplied by a thin mountain stream, was where they had left the horses while they clambered to the top.

“The best.” Deacon was quiet and had been since they got to the top.

“Did you come up here with Annabelle?”

Deacon seemed to hesitate for a while before he answered. “Mm. Sorry, no she had no head for heights or horses. This was just something I did when I needed a place to think, especially when she was ill. I’d get her folks to sit in with her while I came up here.”

Brook had to think about that for a moment, feeling almost as though she was intruding on his grief.

“This place is where I’ve always felt happiest,” Deacon said, “I always said that if I ever had enough money I’d buy this ranch. They had been looking to sell for years now.”

Brook turned away from the view, took a sip of water and started to walk back down the narrow path back to the lake. He held out his arm for Brook to hold onto as they scrambled down the stony path.

They sat in silence for quite a while, listening to the gentle rustle of leaves being lightly rocked by the cool breeze circulating around the beautiful spot they found themselves inhabiting in that special moment in time.

Brook was a lost soul, wandering aimlessly both through life and along the highways of America. But now, just having known Deacon for a few days, she felt so completely at ease, she had told him everything that was stopping her from living her life and what kind of life she wants it to be. Inside her head the fog had cleared and for the first time in a long time she could clearly see her path.

Deacon was a broken soul who, despite putting back together some of the parts, was now ready to find the missing part in his life that would make him whole again just as Annabelle had done for him before. But he was afraid, scared of being hurt again although he desperately wanted to move on. Something was still holding him back because when all the words have been spoken, actions are the only thing left.

He wanted Brook. He had done since the first moment he had seen her. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms, lay her out on the blanket and hug her for all his worth; to make her feel the love he knew she wanted to feel. But he couldn’t—fear held him back—fear that he would fall for her and then she would disappear, never to be seen again.

When he looked up she was watching him, watching the emotion and fear as it washed across his face but still he stayed where he was.

Brook walked around the point taking in the view. Deacon finally got the nerve to get up and walk with her. He took her hand into his as they walked over to the small waterfall.

A feeling came over Brook. A feeling she had never truly experienced before. Her heart was racing, she could feel it beating in her chest and was sure he could hear it too. Her stomach was buzzing, not just butterflies, but like there was a whole hive of bees inside her trying to get out.

He gently lifted her chin, his touch sent a shock of electricity through her right down to the tips of her toes. When he leaned down, and with the gentlest touch, kissed her on the lips she reached out and pulled the life she wanted toward her. After so long searching she had to take this chance. Deacon kissed her more firmly, pressing them together and she parted her lips, inviting him in, their tongues gently exploring, slowly finding each other.

Brook wrapped her arms around Deacon’s broad shoulders and held him closer, feeling his iron clad body working and flexing to support her, their faces an inch apart.

Brook could feel Deacon, hard, through his clothes and had a sudden urge to rip off his T-shirt so she could gorge on the sight of his body.

They slowly pulled apart. Slightly out of breath, they stood looking at the view enjoying the sound of the waterfall next to them. He had his arms around her neck as she stood pressed up against him, taking in the view and feeling his hard body behind her.

“I am. Sorry about . . . you know.” He glanced down his body, just the slightest movement of his soft brown eyes.

“Do you want to swim?”

Deacon nodded his head, glancing over at the lake. “You mean in there?”

“Yep.”

“The water will be freezing.”

“Well, I think we could use a little cooling off.”

Deacon’s lustful eyes watched her for a moment. He could have taken her right then. Every muscle on his body wanted to touch her. He reluctantly stood for a moment and, with the lightest nod of his head, he agreed.

Brook walked over to the edge of the water, kicked off her boots and, with only a couple of slightly embarrassing hops, slid off her socks.

Brook pulled off her jacket and slipped her top over her head. She undid the waist of her jeans and, careful not to pull her panties with them, slid them down her legs. She was trying to work out just how she was going to get them off without even more hopping around.

He stood there just enjoying watching her getting undressed. Her body was firm and thin. Her skin was so beautiful and milky, he wanted nothing more than to touch her at that moment.

Brook was acutely aware of her nipples poking at the flimsy fabric of her bra. So, she started to take it off.

“You know, I’m gonna grab you right now.” So, he turned to face the other way as to not stare at her sexy body, shaking his head grinning cheek to cheek.

Feeling freer than she had ever done before but covering herself up at first before dropping her arms. She looked away from him at the water. “Last one in’s a wuss?” Thinking he was right behind her.

“Come on!” She jumped. “Oh!” She let out a bit of a screech from the cold water.

Deacon said to himself. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

Deacon gripped the bottom of his T-shirt and did the same, making Brook take a deep, pleasurable breath at the sight of what she guessed was in there, well-defined, striated muscle on a broad chest with just a hint of hair on the chest bone, and a six pack and had smaller muscles trickling up the sides of his ribs.

He slipped his shorts to the ground revealing his body in all its glorious detail to Brook, “Woo!” she hollered at him, excited that he would take the plunge with her. He dove right in.

“Oh holly, crap. It’s freezing!” He looked at her as he wiped the water from his face. She swam over to him, wrapped herself around him and they moved in closer, looked down into his light brown eyes and before their lips could touch, they paused, they felt each other take a few deep breaths as they are swimming to stay afloat. Then gently, slowly and softly, their lips touched. Their tongues exploring each other without inhibition, the way they had wanted to the night before, at the diner, in the parking lot and at the picnic. All of those moments came rushing through them in this kiss. It felt so good to let go of what was holding them back, finally.

His hand held her back with his stronger fingers spread out feeling the gentle curve of her backbone. Her breast rubbed against his chest with excitement, as she tilted her head back to get some air. He leaned in to kiss her neck and slowly moved onto her shoulder. They took it nice and slow, enjoying every moment. The grip she had on the back of his shoulder tighten as he pulled her in just a little to let her know how much he wanted her. Her breast pressed up against his chest once more, his face rubbing gently against hers sent shivers to her throbbing clit. She rubbed her moist body against the top of his groin and lowered her head to his massive shoulder as his hard manhood rubbed between her butt cheeks.

The explosion of desire rushed over the both of them, as they moved their heads slowly, they had made their way back to each other and locked eyes. Panting from the swim and their lust for getting closer their tongues met in a blissful locking of sensual breath and desire. The heat they gave off as they swirled their bodies around in the water might not have made the water boil but after a while neither of them felt the cold anymore. They slowly released each other from their grip, staying close, and moving in for one last kiss and smiling at each other. She chuckled and sank under the water and started swimming. “Now, I need to cool off.”

“Okay. You do that.” He said jokingly. As he too needed to cool off. The intensity of that moment had moved them quicker than they had anticipated. They both wanted take their time.