Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

Thankgoodness I was clutching the bag of food against my chest as I searched for Gage, or I would have dropped the whole thing.

Gage is naked.

He’s wading out of the freezing cold ocean, raindrops sliding down his sculpted torso and tree trunk calves.

Like a freaking Greek god.

Instantly, I’m sweating buckets. I don’t know where to look. No matter where I lay eyes on him, I see something that makes my palm go all sweaty against the umbrella handle. I should probably skulk into the trees and hide away until he gets back to the cabin.

But I think it’ll take me a week to stop blushing whenever I see him.

Too late. Gage is shielding his eyes from the rain, squinting in my direction. My umbrella is about the same colour as my hair, but even brighter. I could use it to flag down a search and rescue helicopter on a moonless night.

He hastily covers himself up with one hand and raises the other, sheepishly waving at me.

I don’t exactly have any spare hands to wave back. I awkwardly jam the umbrella in my armpit, and it starts tilting awkwardly to the side as I flutter my fingers quickly so I can grab hold of it again.

If I can’t run away, I guess I can run toward him. And climb him like a tree.

The guy has nothing to be ashamed of, from what I can tell at this distance. I’m hard as hell just imagining what it would be like to get up close to that huge, hard body. Or underneath it. Or beside him.

Any way he likes, really.

This would be the perfect moment for some flirty, witty pickup line. But all I can think of is something dumb like, I thought you could use something to warm you up, so here I am. Don’t get me wrong… I’m not above cheesy and direct.

Just not right now, when I’m too speechless. I couldn’t even get a whole sentence out of my mouth without stammering and blushing.

Oh my god, ohmygodohhhhmygod, he’s walking toward me…! Gage is wearing only flip-flops. The rest of him is on on show, and the closer he is, the thicker the tension between us.

As thick as his… well, you know.

He walks slowly, gracefully. Like he knows what he’s got, and he’s just being polite by keeping that hand firmly in place. The whole time, his eyes never leave mine, and I can’t help feeling like I’m a sweet little bunny rabbit being stalked by the hunkiest wolf in the forest.

I’m into it.

Gage’s brows draw together in almost a scowl as he steps over the rocks and joins me. “Hello.” I’m detecting a note of grumpiness, like he can’t quite bring himself to be a dick.

“H-Hi.”

Jesus. I’ve never seen anything so hot in my life.

I’ve already gotten enough material to occupy my daydreams for months. It’s almost impossible to tear my gaze away from the water droplets rolling down that six-pack, trickling down the curves of his biceps, along his strong jaw…

My eyes slide down his body before I force them back up to meet his gaze again. “Sorry to interrupt.” I can’t quite stifle my giggle. “I didn’t expect the show.”

Gage snorts. “Come here often?” he asks drily.

“Not as often as I’d like.”

I can’t stop my gaze sneaking down just a little bit so I can study the curves of his pecs, and the abs so plainly on display, and his arms, and his hand…

I bite my lip and glance back up at him. “But now I know what the views are like around here, I’ll be here all night long.”

Gage’s brows shoot up.

He stares, like he can’t quite figure out what to make of me. I’m not just keeping up with him, but pushing right back. He looks kind of proud, but then he glances down at himself and back up at me and snorts again.

“I’ll just—uh, I’ll get dressed,” he finally says.

I bite my lip as I clutch the food bag against my chest, another giggle slipping free. “Mmhmm. I’ll give you a minute to wrap up the naturism.”

“Thank you,” Gage tells me with remarkable dignity.

“Uh huh.”

I bite my lip as I turn around, waiting for his footsteps to slap up the porch stairs. I’m going to need more than a minute myself. I’m wearing my tightest, show-off-my-ass underwear, but it can only go so far to restrain my natural reactions. I’m just trying not to think about how great the view of his ass would be right now.

“I’m not usually a naturist, by the way,” Gage says as the door creaks open. “I thought I was alone.”

Feet planted, Kieran. The sound of his voice almost made me turn around just then, so I bounce on my toes to stay distracted.

“You’re never alone here.”

“Apparently,” Gage laughs, his voice echoing like he’s inside. I didn’t hear the door close, though.

I blush furiously, awkwardly pressing the back of my wrist against my face to try to cool it off without losing hold of my umbrella.

I’ve already seen him being vulnerable with me in a way that seemed to take him by surprise. I don’t think he wears his heart on his sleeve that often. And I definitely don’t think he lets it all hang out like this on a regular basis. What a lucky coincidence for me.

But he didn’t invite me inside.

Huh. I’m kind of surprised, actually. Most guys would have.

By now, I ought to be on my knees and getting to work. But I’m not worried that Gage isn’t interested. He’s not deflecting me—he even keeps encouraging me. He just wants to take things slower than I’m used to.

Fair play. My only speed with guys is breakneck fast, because I know the more time I spend around a guy, the more likely I am to catch feelings. And that’s the last thing I want.

Or is it?

My thumb slides along the bottom of my ring finger as I look down at my hands, remembering the sharp ache in my chest just this morning.

Like the thing I’ve been running from is catching up to me, but I’ve spent too long running and I’m out of breath to keep going now. I’ve never been into a guy the way I am Gage. All I want is to find out what this could become, and I don’t want to stand in my own way.

Come on, Kieran. Don’t screw it up now.

It’s been awfully quiet in the cabin. Has he done a runner out the back window into the woods to escape the crazy Irish stalker boy?

I’m really glad I didn’t text the whole Sunrise Brothers gang to come surprise him. Not just yet, anyway.

For tonight, I want him all to myself.