Page 65 of Triumphant Kings

“I’d never.” He narrows his eyes at me, then he smiles. “But that was some pretty epic sex.”

He’s got me there. “Still.” I straighten back up and groan, stretching out my body. “Give a girl a break.”

“Fine.” He chuckles. “Let’s sit for a bit, then we can go slow the rest of the way up.”

“Thank you,” I say dramatically as I sit down on a nearby rock. “I’d like to enjoy the scenery without feeling like I’m going to pass out.”

He gives me a sheepish look. “Sorry, I got a little too excited. I kind of had this all planned out, and we were supposed to have time to do the hike and enjoy it. But then you looked so sexy and I couldn’t keep my hands off you. Listen, you're the one who’s really at fault here.” He grins.

“Oh yeah, how?” I raise a brow.

“You turn me into this caveman that only has you on his mind.” He shrugs.

“My bad. Sorry, I’m just out here, being me.” I laugh.

“Good, I’m glad you accept your hand in this.”

“Shut up.” I laugh, tossing the water bottle. He laughs, catching it.

When we start walking again, this time it is slower, and I’m in awe of everything around me. It’s so peaceful out here, no one else around for miles. Just us and nature.

By the time we get to where we’re going, it’s so worth the aches in my body.

“Wow,” I breathe out, eyes widening at the absolutely breathtaking view.

“Beautiful, right?” Collin asks, grabbing the backpack he brought with him, and pulls out a blanket, laying it out on the grass. “I used to hike this all the time as a kid, spent hours up here just me and my thoughts, even sometimes sleeping here.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?” I ask, looking around. “Aren’t there wild animals here?”

“There is.” He sits on the blanket and pats the spot next to him. Smiling, I join him. “But I’ve always held my own.”

“You’ve had to?” I ask, surprised.

He nods his head. “Fought off a cougar once. Almost didn’t make it out alive.”

“You didn’t.”

“I did,” he laughs, lifting his shirt to show the scar under his left armpit. “I was sleeping and woke up to him sniffing me. I didn’t think, just acted. I caught him by surprise, stabbed him with the switchblade I kept within reach. He did get a swipe in, but I came out on top.” He winks.

It takes a moment to wonder if he’s joking or not, but when I realise he’s being serious, an odd sense of arousal hits me. “Okay, why is that so hot, though?” I bite my lip, and he tosses his head back laughing.

“No,w who’s the horny little freak?”

“Always you, babe. Always you.”

“Mhhm.” He grins. “No sex, though. Eat. Then sex.”

Rolling my eyes, I smile and look into the basket. “I can’t believe you made me a picnic.”

“Believe it, Sunshine. Now eat. You're going to need your strength to get back down the mountain.”

“Don’t remind me.” I groan, shifting through the various foods he’s packed, settling on the crackers and brie cheese. “You could be the best husband a girl could ask for, and give me a piggyback down?”

“How about we make a deal. On the parts that I can, I will.” He winks.

“Deal.”

He pulls me into his lap, feeding me as we watch the sun go down, the sky changing colors as it does.