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Chapter 17

SHYLOH

I didn’t get a lot of rain growing up in southern California, but moving to New Orleans, rain became a way of life. The streets could flood instantly with just a sprinkle, but here?

Here it was different.

I’m not the mushy gushy guy that wants to sing songs and talk about my deepest feelings, but this rain could almost make me cry. I hadn’t forgotten that I was a walking miracle in many ways. I shouldn’t be able to walk, yet here I was.

I was given another chance in my life, and I’d been so sad about my loss of football that I’d forgotten just how lucky I was.

Joy gasped beside me. “What is she doing? ”

There she was. The Becca that I thought was under all those layers. She had taken off the poncho, taken off the backpack, and was walking through to the clearing in the direct path of the rain.

I took a few steps towards her direction and watched. We all did, wondering what she was up to.

The thunder shook and the rain started to fall harder and harder. It was nearly impossible to see into the canyon, but then she stopped.

Leaning her head back and stretching her arms out, Becca started to laugh.

I glanced around the group and spotted a hint of curiosity on everyone’s faces. All except Donna. She was watching in complete admiration.

Thunder and lightning struck again yet no one moved towards her. Becca stayed firmly where she was. Her blonde hair became completely soaked, sticking to the back of her head. Her clothes and shoes were ruined beyond reasonable doubt. That was the risk taker that I had been waiting for. She’d finally emerged and now… now it was time.

I slipped off my poncho and backpack, placing them on the boulder behind me. “What are you doing?” Joy asked me.

“What’s it look like I'm doing?”

A giggle came out of her husband’s mouth, “Looks like you are about to get struck by lightning.”

I looked back a final time and smirked. “I hope so. ”

The steps to Becca were a lot more than just the walk. Every breath I had was a gift. Every breath she had was a gift. We were one in the same, and soon enough she would find that out.

Halting my steps beside her, I glanced down at her with her eyes closed and a bright white smile spread across her face.

“What are you doing out here?” I asked with a chuckle.

Her eyes popped open to look at me and she barely turned her head to acknowledge me standing next to her. “If you must know, I am enjoying the rain.”

Another bolt of lightning struck nearby, and we both jumped. “Should we maybe go back?” she asked me softly, but I grabbed her hand.

“Absolutely not.”

I grabbed the other hand and started to move her in a circle. She shouted, “What are you doing?”

“If you must know… I am enjoying this rain with you .”

Pulling her in, I grasped her waist and started to dance with her. We spun around and around and finally a giggle escaped her. It was infectious and I couldn’t help but laugh alongside her. I hadn’t realized it, but our entire group was now standing in the rain, splashing in the puddles, arms stretched wide. We were all enjoying this moment.

A moment for anyone else would be a disaster, but not for us. Nothing would be a disaster for us anymore.

I spun Becca out and pulled her back into my chest. The rain pellets slid down her cheeks, exposing the freckles and laugh lines. Becca was stunning like this. It felt honest, and my own heart started to beat faster the longer we stood together.

But it didn’t last long. She pulled back, straightening her wet hair. “We should, um, we should probably try to head back to camp.”

Still looking at one another, I knew she was running away from me because she felt it too. This draw we have to one another.

I nodded. “Whatever you say boss.”

Halfway back to camp, the rain finally stopped, and the mud was at an all-time high. We all looked like drowned rats, but at least we had a great time.

Catching sight of our tents was such a relief. Becca explained that we had time slots at the showers, and she would go at the end in order to prepare food for everyone. Reasonable and strategically planned, as always.

A voice startled me. “You know, I’d love to take a shower earlier. What time slot do you have?” Donna asked.

I looked at my planning sheet. “Looks like I have the seven o’clock slot. What do you have?”

She sighed. “Mine is at 8:30. But I know you probably wouldn’t want to switch with me—”

“Nonsense. That’s perfectly fine. You can take my slot, and I’ll take yours.”

Donna smirked. “Thank you, my sweet boy. You are a saint.”

** *

My alarm beeped at 8:25 to remind me about my shower. I had stripped out of my muddy shoes and washed them under the hose nearby, before swapping to gym shorts rather than my muddied joggers.

I hiked my way up to the brick building that housed the showers. It was a two-stall bath house, but it was nice. Stone layered the floor and walls, with curtains separating the showers from the rest of the bathroom.

Stepping in further, I noticed the shower was running next to the one I was soon to occupy.

I didn’t know who was in the bathroom with me. I assumed it was probably someone in our group, but I stayed quiet and set up my things regardless. I stripped out of my shirt and shorts when I glanced over to the chair outside of my neighbor’s shower. Immediately I stopped. It was Becca. Her shoes were under the chair along with—

The shower turned off and I stood there. Without any movement. I couldn’t move. I didn’t know why I wasn’t hurrying into the shower, but there must be a reason I—Shit.

I’m flustered.

She is completely naked behind that curtain and here I am, standing like a fool who is just hoping for a chance to talk to her.

Movement happened, and everything spiraled so quickly I couldn’t even react. Becca stood in front of me with a towel wrapped around her, and when her eyes raised up to meet mine, she jolted back slightly with an irritated expression.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she shrieked .

It was a valid question and one that I should be kind in replying to. But she frustrated me in more than one way, so I couldn’t help but aggravate her… just a little.

“This is my time slot. What are you doing here?” I raised my hands with innocence, and when I did, I couldn’t help but watch her eyes travel over my body.

I pulled my shower curtain back and turned on the water. Shutting the curtain again to let the water heat up, I turned back to find that she was still standing there, like a deer in headlights. When I gripped the waistband of my boxers and pushed them down, Becca about came out of her skin.

“Whoa! What are you doing, Shyloh?”

I smirked and gestured to the shower with brows arched. “I’m showering. Is that okay with you?”

She opened her mouth slightly, trying to keep her focus on my face rather than my now-exposed dick which was full on saluting her because… well, because it was Becca.

“You could have at least warned me before pulling your dick out.”

I laughed. “How else am I supposed to shower, Becks? With my clothes on?”

The sound of metal on the shower rod screeched when I yanked it back and turned to step into the shower. I couldn’t help but look behind me and notice that Becca was completely staring at my ass.

I cleared my throat and closed the curtain back just as quickly as I opened it. “If you wanted to, you could jump in for an extra cleanse. I heard that two showers a day is sort of healthy. ”

Becca huffed in response. “You’re full of shit, Shyloh. You just stay in there until I’m done getting dressed.”

I started to wash my hair, letting her squirm alone for a little while. “But what if I’m finished before you’re done?”

“Then stay in there.”

“Wow! So, you would let me get hypothermia in the cold shower? That is no way to treat a camper of yours.”

The audible sigh that radiated through the bathroom was comical.

I wanted to get under her skin and in more ways than one. My dick was still throbbing, and it wouldn’t stop until she was out of the bathroom. Actually, maybe it never would.

I showered quickly and shut off the water.

“I’m not done!” she yelled.

I wrapped the towel around my waist and pulled the curtain back. “Too bad. I’m coming out.”

My eyes trailed over her shoulders and the towel that tightly clung to her body. Becca had blow-dried her hair and was just about to brush her teeth when I saddled up next to her in the mirror.

I aggressively placed the toothpaste on my brush and turned on the water faucet. She immediately followed doing the same thing. We brushed our teeth while staring directly into each other’s souls in some weird psychotic rage.

She was one hundred percent pissed off that I had invaded her space, and I couldn’t wait to thank Donna later for letting me swap time slots with her. I secretly thought she wanted Becca and I to be together and I fully supported that notion.

We finished brushing our teeth and I grabbed my clothes out of the bag, laying them on the counter. I dropped my towel and pulled on my boxer briefs without trying to look at her, but I felt her eyes on me.

“You couldn’t go get dressed in the corner?” she asked me while walking to the chair to retrieve her clothes and shoes.

“Mmmm nope. I’ll get dressed right here,” I replied.

I heard her grunt and slap of her clothes on the counter.

“Fine. Two can play this game.”

I grinned. “Oh, goody. I love games,” I joked, turning to face Becca and holding her gaze.

She rolled her eyes and gripped the top of her towel.

My heart stopped for a split second, and it was almost like she could sense it. Becca was torturing me.

Her eyes glanced at mine in the mirror as she pulled the towel away and dropped it to the ground.

I tried to keep my eyes on hers, but I wanted to see her . Without breaking eye contact with me, she grabbed her cheeky underwear and pulled them up and around her beautifully round hips. It was so quiet that I almost thought I could hear both of our hearts racing.

The shirt slipped on next, and I couldn't take it anymore.

I gripped her waist, pushing her against the wall beside the mirror and pressing my hips into hers. She gasped .

I searched her eyes for something. A hint that she felt the same insatiable urge for me that I had for her. Without a second thought, I leaned down and captured her lips tenderly. The warmth of her hands pressed onto my chest, coasting over my shoulders and my back as our kiss deepened.

Just as I felt her body relax into mine, she pulled back.

“I— I can’t do this Shyloh.”

Becca threw on her sweatpants and shoes and walked out of the bathroom. Leaving me and my dick extremely confused and hurting.