“How about a trip to the hot springs?” Cade said, when we woke up late the next morning.

I licked my lips. I couldn’t put it off anymore. The issue weighed heavily on my mind, and all night long, I tossed and turned thinking about it. I had to be honest with him. No matter what the consequences. “But first, we should talk. I need to tell you something.”

He sighed. “Can it wait until tonight? I’ve got stuff to tell you too.”

My eyes widened. “You do?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

I smiled. “In that case, count me in.”

“But there’s something I’ve got to take care of first,” he said, as he whipped the covers off me. I giggled as his rough beard settled between my thighs.

“Is your knee feeling up to a short hike? I can pull the truck up a little closer to the pools,” he offered.

“That would be great, thanks.”

There was a grin on his chiseled, bristly face and I wanted to devour and be devoured by him. He reached his hand across to my knee and pulled me down to his lap. Every little look and touch with him was fun and exciting. My heart started racing at the thought of being in the hot spring pools with Cade in the flesh.

“So, should we undress in the truck and make a run for it, or take our clothes off at the edge of the pool?” I asked with a cheeky grin.

Cade thought for a second.

“While the first idea has merit, I’d have to say that if you started taking off your clothes inside this cab I may not be able to contain myself and we may never get out of here. Probably best, if you really want that dip you should wait and take your clothes off at the bank.”

I giggled. “Ok. Deal. We’ll take our clothes off at the bank.”

He parked the truck about fifty yards away from the pool and we sat in the cab soaking up the last of the warmth from the heater. “You go first.”

Cade laughed, which I loved to hear. “No, we go together!” he said.

“Well, I think you are going to go first. Stand right over there and lay your clothes over that big rock next to it, and I’ll sit here in the warm for another few minutes and admire the gorgeous view of mountains and pines and sun. I mean, this is a view you just have to soak up. The colors and the majesty! And man won’t it look even better with you standing there buck naked in the middle of the vista.”

“What? I’m not standing out there in the cold for you to ogle me!”

“Oh no? I’ve spent plenty of time being ogled by you, so go on now and get out there first. You’ll get your reward of an eye full in return. I just want mine first.”

“Alright then. But you better not be too long.” Cade opened the door and got out. Before he closed it, he leaned back in. “Don’t dare fucking leave me out there long. I’m about to explode for you.” He looked serious too. He really wanted me that much.

“I won’t,” I promised sweetly.

He took off his coat and hung it on the side view mirror. I watched him walk, that panther gait. So sure and confident. For an instant, I tried to imagine him away from these mountains. The life he must have lead before, but then he turned around and waved and the image was gone.

He pulled his sweater over his head, then unbuttoned his flannel shirt and laid them both over the rock I’d told him to. He turned to face me and let a smile light up his face. God, he was so beautiful, he made my chest constrict. He took off his shirt and brushed the skin on his chest and arms against the cold. Cade sat down on the rock and put his boots and socks in neat order next to his stack of shirts. He stood up again and unbuttoned his jeans.

I gripped onto the dashboard to steady myself.

He pulled his jeans off and stood there in his underwear. I guess he was hoping I would start getting out of the truck then, but I made him wait. I wanted to see everything.

Still in his underwear, he rubbed his hand over his erect penis. With his other hand he motioned for me to come on out. I shook my head. He dropped his underwear down to his ankles and I couldn’t hold it any longer. I threw my coat off and started undressing in the truck as fast as I could. So that he would find the items later, I hung my bra over the rearview mirror and my panties over his gearstick. I didn’t anticipate wearing any clothes for the short ride back to the cabin.

When I was completely undressed, I grabbed a condom from my bag. Cade had sunk down out of view in the water. I forced myself to make him wait a moment longer. I was so ready to go for him.

I slowly opened the creaky door to the truck and lowered one bare foot down into the snow. Hell, it was so cold goose pimples scattered over my whole body, but my desire for Cade kept a warm glow in my belly. With more self-assuredness, and more strength than I’d ever felt in my life I walked towards the rock pool.

Cade came up from underneath the water and watched me approach. At the edge I stopped to let the cold brush my skin a moment longer before I slipped into the warmth of the water. I reached up and untied my hair and let it fall around my shoulders.

Cade encircled my legs with his arms and pulled me into the water. I felt myself slide down Cade’s body as we sunk slowly into the sensuous pleasure of the hot spring. He kissed me then, and I wished we could stay there in that magic moment forever.