Page 85 of The Illicit Play

I have to be in front, because if I had to follow that luscious body of hers, I’m not sure I could do this.

I’m hyperaware of her behind me—listening to the sound of her boots, making sure her steps are steady and even. She hasn’t faltered since I slowed the pace, and I can almost feel her relaxing the farther we get into this hike.

She seems to love it out here, and I can’t even describe the effect that is having on me.

Showing people my favorite place is almost like a sacred affair, and when they don’t get it, it’s such a blow.

Teah never got it.

I think back to the one and only time I brought her out here. I’d planned for a weekend getaway, packed all the necessary supplies.

We lasted less than a day. We made it to the lake about an hour north of this position, and she was in the foulest, grumpiest mood I’d ever seen. Sweat was glistening on her skin—she was one sexy thing—but she wouldn’t let me near her. She spent our lunch break complaining about the insects, perched on a rock and muttering about how much her feet hurt. I knew within a few minutes that there was no way she could cope with a night out here.

So, I suggested we go for a swim, then head back.

She was so relieved, she stripped off quickly andjumped into the water, only to complain about how freezing it was, then grumbled her way back to the car, quickly giving up her pack before her shoulders hurt too much.

Needless to say, we drove back to Nolan in aggravated silence, and she didn’t relax until I’d pulled up outside her sorority house.

“Sorry I didn’t love it, Grady,” she’d mumbled. “I guess hiking’s just not my thing.”

I gave her an understanding smile even though I didn’t get it at all.

How I hadn’t seen that as a big red flag is beyond me. I was too loved-up to do anything but forgive her.

We made amends the next morning, and I accepted the fact that I was with a woman who wouldn’t share my passion for the outdoors. I could deal. We just wouldn’t do that one thing together. I still had my bros and my dad to share that with, and it was enough.

But watching Blake get into this with me…

Yeah, there’s something special about it.

Unhooking my water bottle, I slug back a drink, then dig out my trail mix.

“Want some?” I hand her the bag, and she takes it, greedily scarfing down a couple of handfuls before passing it back.

“Delicious,” she murmurs around her mouthful. “What’s in that?”

I glance down at the bag and list off the things I always put in there. “Cashews, almonds, peanut butter chips, raisins, dark chocolate chips, cranberries.”

“So good. You make it yourself?”

“Uh-huh.” I pop another handful in my mouth beforesealing the packet and zipping it back into the side pocket of my pack. “You still feeling all right?”

“Yeah.” She hitches her pack on her shoulder, blowing a wayward curl off her cheek before grinning at me.

“We’ve got about two hours, maybe two and a half at the pace we’re currently going, until we get to a place I thought we could camp tonight.”

“Okay.”

“You gonna be good? How’s your body feeling?”

Resting her hands on either side of her slender waist, she nods. “Good. Yeah, I can keep going.”

“You’ll tell me if it gets too much, right? Because there’s another spot we can go if?—”

“Grady, I’m fine,” she assures me. “I promise I’ll tell you if I feel like my feet are about to fall off.”

“Is your body hurting yet?”