Chapter 9 - Lyla

"Are you just going to gawk all day, or are you coming in?" I can't resist taunting him further.

The memory of glimpsing Russell's muscular, dripping body the night before is seared into my brain. I try not to dwell on it, but the curious part of me aches to get another eyeful now that the opportunity presents itself.

He arches one eyebrow, "You're not going to give me a moment's peace until I join you, are you?"

I flash him a shameless grin.

"What can I say? I don't like being all alone out here."

Russell huffs out a breath, but to my delight, he finally starts peeling off his flannel overshirt, exposing the hard planes of his tanned chest and ridiculously defined abs. My gaze instantly zeroes in, hungrily drinking in every grooved crevice and valley highlighted by the dappled sunlight.

Feeling a rush of warmth between my thighs, I'm suddenly extremely grateful for the cool lake water preserving some sense of modesty. I squirm a little to try and relieve the building ache as Russell tosses his shirt onto the grassy bank.

"Alright, your turn," he rumbles, hooking his thumbs into his waistband. "We're not doing some kind of peeping Tom situation here."

I quickly avert my eyes with an impish giggle, swiveling in the water until my back faces the shore where he stands. The sound of him shedding the rest of his clothing filters through, each rustle of fabric and clink of his belt hitting the ground making my heart skip faster.

I hear Russell's heavy footsteps rapidly approaching from behind before a huge splash signals his entry into the lake.

"Okay, you can look now," his gruff voice permits.

Turning back around, I openly drink in the sight before me - water sluicing down his broad shoulders and chiseled chest as Russell emerges from beneath the surface.

He bends over, ducking his head under to thoroughly douse his long hair. When he resurfaces, rivulets stream down his whiskered face as he smooths his hair back with both hands.

"Geez, it looks like you needed this dip as badly as I did," I can't resist teasing lightly.

Russell shakes his head, sending droplets flying in an arc around us both.

"Never said I didn't," he rumbles. “I just didn't think it was the best idea for a man and a woman to be doing it together."

The words are out of my mouth before I can think better of it.

"Have you ever even kissed a woman before?"

His brow furrows deeply at the sudden, invasive query.

"What kind of question is that?"

I shrug, backpedaling slightly. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I'm just curious, I guess."

Russell's jaw tightens mulishly for a long beat. Finally, he huffs out a sigh that seems to emanate from deep within.

"Yes, I have. Not that it's any of your business." He fixes me with a pointed stare. "Now, how about you focus on getting yourself cleaned up so we can move on with the rest of the day's lessons?"

"I thought you were going to try and be nicer," I shoot back, unable to hide my irritation at his gruff dismissal. "But clearly, you're not even attempting it."

Russell's nose scrunches up slightly, "You're right, my apologies, but it was a stupid question... Of course I've kissed a woman before."

"Well, I couldn't have known that for sure. And it would have been okay if you hadn't."

Part of me wonders if he'd look down on me for my own lack of experience if he knew the truth. But something tells me Russell isn't the type to judge about that kind of thing. Hopefully.

We lapse into relative quiet as we both set about scrubbing away the grime and sweat from earlier. Eventually, Russell breaks the stillness.

"So, why'd you really move out to Sweetheart Falls?"

I frown at the seemingly random question. "I told you - I was offered a job here."

He shakes his head. "Sure, but you said things didn’t work out in Pine Valley, right? What made you uproot to move so far for that particular gig?"

My shoulders tense despite his tone remaining neutral and conversational.

"Does it really matter? It wasn’t that big of a deal."

Russell levels me with a Look that says he's not buying my deflection.

"If you don't want to share, just say so. But don't insult me by lying about it either."

I huff out an annoyed breath, "Okay, fine. I'll tell you the real reason since I'm not like some people who hide behind their secrets all the time."

Rather than rise to my baited remark, Russell simply waits with an expectant arched brow.

"My dad passed away about a month before I took that job," I admit reluctantly. "He was the only reason I was still in Pine Valley. After he was gone, I just...I couldn't stay there anymore with all those memories, you know?"

Russell's expression softens minutely. "I'm sorry for prying. That must have been tough."

I give a halfhearted shrug.

"It's alright. And honestly, even though the job itself was a letdown, I don't regret taking the chance to start over somewhere new."

He nods slowly in understanding before his brow furrows slightly.

"You didn't have a boyfriend or anything holding you back there?"

Despite myself, I bark out a surprised laugh at his nosy query.

"My, my, aren't we just full of questions today?"

Russell's jaw ticks, but he doesn't back down, "I'm just trying to be polite and get to know you better."

"Well, to answer your question - no, I haven't seriously dated anyone in years, so definitely no boyfriend waiting for me back home. What about you?"

"Same as you. I didn't leave anyone behind when I came out here."

I nod, not even trying to hide the way my gaze trails over the ridges of his back muscles as he ducks beneath the water's surface again. He emerges moments later, and I seize the opportunity to ask my next question.

"So, what made you decide to leave the military life behind?"

His jaw tightens perceptibly. "I realized it just...wasn't for me anymore. It didn't really live up to being as honorable as they advertised it."

I tilt my head inquisitively. "What do you mean by that?"

But Russell is already shutting down, shoulders tensing. "We're verging into territory I'm not comfortable discussing."

Stubborn guy. I huff out an exasperated breath, refusing to be so easily deterred this time.

"You know, keeping everything all bottled up inside like that isn't healthy. Someday, it'll have to come out, whether you want it to or not."

His eyes narrow warningly. "Lyla..."

"I'm just saying," I press on, undaunted, "maybe now is as good a time as any to let some of it go. You've got a willing audience right here."