Page 55 of The Rat King
I knew she wanted it, too, that we needed to keep building these moments between us. That was why we were going on an adventure today.
Eclipse strode up to us, and I held out a hand for her. She took it, and I helped her onto him.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise. Did you bring what I asked you to?” I asked, swinging my leg up behind her until I was flush with her back. I looped my arms around her and grabbed the reins.
“I did, but where on earth are we going where we would need towels? Wouldn’t a picnic blanket have made more sense?”
I cleared my throat. “You were supposed to bring both.”
“Oops,” she said. I look down to see a guilty grin on her face.
“It’s fine. We will make do. As long as we have each other,” I said and kissed her cheek as I nudged Eclipse forward.
The grotto was about an hour away and as the blue water came into view, Avery gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. “Oh my god,” she said. “This place is beautiful.”
Large shafts of sunlight danced between the holes in the canopy, causing the rippling blue water to sparkle.
“Okay, now I see what the towels are for, but you didn’t tell me to bring a bathing suit,” she said.
I slid off Eclipse and held my hands up to her to help her down. “It’s just us. Do you need one?”
“I see what you’re up to,” she said, her voice full of humor as she poked my side. “You’re just trying to get me naked.”
“When am I ever not trying to get you naked?” I asked, pulling out a bottle from one of the saddle packs.
“Good point,” she said. “Well, in that case, what would you like to eat first?”
I almost choked on the water I had just taken a sip of. “Avery,” I scolded. “Don’t tempt me.”
“Is it deep?” she said, peering over the rock ledge and ignoring my comment.
“Yes. It’s nearly bottomless all the way up to the edge. There’s a rope ladder over there that is still in good condition. And there’s a wooden one across, leading to that overhang.”
Her hands went to the hem of her fitted midriff exposing shirt, peeling it off. And, of course, as was often the case, she wasn’t wearing a bra and her perked brown nipples hardened as they hit the air. She didn’t hesitate before dropping her loose pants and then slipping out of the lacy panties she called a thong.
In a few strides, she was at the edge. She threw a playful glance over her shoulder before turning toward the water and diving in. I walked over to the edge and looked down at her to see her treading water. Her beautiful golden skin visible through the clear water created the most inviting contrasts.
“It’s warm,” she called.
“I thought you’d like it,” I told her, and went to get the towels to set them at the top of the rope ladder.
“How did you know?” she asked when I came back into view.
I followed her lead and stripped. There was something about standing naked at the top of this rock ledge and staring down at her that made me feel invincible. Like a god.
“You told me about where you were from. About how much you liked the ocean, and while the ocean used to be accessible to us from here when I had my power all the time, this is the best I could do for now.” I jumped in and then swam out to the center. She followed me.
“That was sweet,” she said.
“Would you still think I was sweet if I told you the other reason I figured you’d like it is because you keep looking at the fountain longingly? Like you want to get in it. So really I’m just trying to save you from embarrassing yourself,” I said. Her mouth fell open, and I let my teeth show as I grinned at her.
The edge of her hand smacked the surface of the water, and a wave hit my face. “Rude,” she cried.
Shooting my hand out, I grabbed ahold of her wrist and tugged her toward me. Then, without warning, I put my hand on the top of her head and shoved her under the water. She came up sputtering and laughing. Before she could retaliate, I pulled her toward me, wrapping her legs around my waist, and I kicked backward until I was at the wall so I could hang on to the wooden ladder with one hand.
I guided her onto it, and she crawled up giving me the most enticing view. Then I got an idea. When she was almost at the top, I came up behind her and grabbed her by the hips. I pushed her shoulders down to where her chest pressed against the cool, smooth stones.
