Page 79 of Fighting With Light

She hums and turns around from her suitcase. “What?”

I look down at those pretty long nails that I love dragging across my skin.

“You’ll have to cut your nails,” I tell her.

She sighs. “Oh, well.”

I jerk back because I was expecting some level of whining because she likes having her nails done.

“What?”

“I’m somewhat surprised you’re just okay with it,” I say.

She shrugs and fishes around in her luggage. “It’s not that big of a deal. I can just get acrylics done. I’m sure the resort has a nail salon.”

Hugging her from behind, I smile into her neck. “I like that you don’t get bent out of shape like that.”

She huffs a laugh. “Liam, of all things to get mad about or get irritated with, my nails are not one of them. There are much bigger things that are worth that sort of angry energy.”

My gut twists and I hug her harder for a minute. She leans back into me and puts her hand on my cheek, angling her head to look at me. “Are you okay?” sheasks. “We will figure this out. I just think we both need a little fun right now.”

I nod in her hand and twist my head to kiss her palm. She spins around in my arms and rests her hands on my shoulders, grazing those long nails across my skin, making me shudder. I drop my arms below her and lift her up. She giggles and grabs my face, laying one on me.

“I love having fun.” I grin.

She kisses me one more time before I put her back on her feet.

I get changed into climbing pants and a t-shirt. Aelia puts on the same pants she grabbed when we were in Portugal and then one of those cropped sports bras she seems to like. She gets her gear out and I check all of it. After I’m done with hers, I check mine.

Always check your gear before you leave. The last thing you want is to check it when you get there and something isn’t safe to use, like a fraying rope, or a broken carabiner, or you fall and figure it out then.

With the backpack full of climbing gear, snacks, and water, I set it next to the motorcycle, wondering if Aelia would be able to hold it on her back. It’s heavy, but I can’t have it on while also driving the motorcycle.

I glance at her over my shoulder and back at the bike. “Are you going to be able to hold this backpack?” I ask her.

She looks at it and before going back to the mirror, pulling her hair up out of her face. “I’m stronger than I look,” she says and loops the hair tie around her hair.

“Alright, then, She-Hulk, let’s do this.” She smiles and grabs a long-sleeve shirt I gave her so the backpack doesn’t chafe and it will protect her skin from the sun.

I’m sure the resort won’t appreciate me driving through the resort on a motorcycle, so I put the backpack on my back and roll the motorcycle towards the parking lot. Aelia follows quietly behind and when we hit the pavement, I flip the kickstand and pull the backpack off, helping Aelia put it on. She leans back, a little surprised by the weight. I help her adjust it on her shoulders and clip it at her waist, which should help her balance the weight.

“Good?” I ask her.

“Yeah,” she grunts. I smile down at her and she fidgets with the bag a little more.

Three words I’ve never said to a woman almost bubble from my lips and then I choke them back down. I can’t say that. I have no right to say that to her and I have to keep reminding myself that we have an expiration date.

“What?” she asks, looking up.

“Je pense que je tombe amoureux de toi,” I mutter,I think I’m falling in love with you,and kiss her hard and fast. She stumbles into my chest and I hold her tight.

“What does that mean?” she asks.

“Nothing.” I wink before getting on the bike and then hold my hand out for Aelia.

She’s frowning at me, likely trying to figure out what I just said. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut, so I said it in a way she wouldn’t understand, and that’s as close as I’ll get to saying those words to her and meaning every single one of them.

“Your chariot awaits.” The bike sits lower to the ground, so she doesn’t have to hoist herself up. She rolls her eyes and puts her hand in mine before throwing her leg over the seat. I give her a moment to adjust herself and then her arms come around my middle, squeezing my waist, and inevitably my heart.