Exposed : My Mountain Man Protector(17)

My eyes couldn’t decide what to focus on, the majestic creatures staring back at me or the stunning landscape behind them—the dip of the mountain with its surge of trees.



“God, we’re lucky,” Blake said quietly.



I didn’t say anything. There was nothing more to say.



We crept forward slowly, carefully, the deer and her fawn watching us, waiting. Once we were close enough to touch them, they galloped off. After all, their work was done; they’d left us with the most beautiful view I’d ever seen in my life.



Blake advanced to the cliff’s edge and sat there, his legs dangling down. I took a step forward and let my gaze fall down the cliff the hundred feet I would if I slipped. Would now have been the wrong time to tell Blake I was deathly afraid of heights?



But it was too late. I was already sitting beside him, twisting my head away but doing it, sitting down there, dangling my legs beside his.



“There’s nothing like it.” Blake’s voice was hushed, and I dared to look.



My gaze swooped down, down the gradual incline of the trees, the rock, the mountain. Down farther, down to the fields and past them, trees as far as the eye could see. The expanse was more than beauty; it was more like a breathless sort of ecstasy. It was something like nature doing a dance for us, singing its own sort of song, this slow sway of the trees, this kiss of the wind on our cheeks.



“We’re lucky,” Blake said. “I’ve never seen deer behave like that, let me get so close.” He pressed his shoulder just the slightest into mine and joked, “She must’ve liked you.”



I smiled. I didn’t feel like talking or even thinking. All I felt like doing was being here, now, enjoying this. And I did. I sat there on the cliff and experienced it. I let the wind play with my hair, let the birds sing me sweet songs. I let the moment swallow me, digest me, make me forget everything—the good, the bad, who I was even.



Until a century or two had passed, and then the only thing I could ask Blake was: “How can you take it?”



It took him a moment to respond, as if he too were reorienting himself, delving back into reality.



“Take what?” he asked.



“All this beauty all around you, all day, all the time.”



Blake turned to me, his eyes full, as if he’d said the words himself. “There’s nothing like it. It’s why I can’t leave.”



I nodded and then smiled, looking away shyly. If I didn’t know better, I would have said that look in Blake’s eyes was… I returned my gaze to the mountain. There was no point in being stupid. Blake was just doing what he felt was right, trying to protect me. That was all.



We sat there until the sun started to set. That was when it hit me, just how much time had passed. Funny how it disappeared when there were no watches and phones and appointments and little to-dos.



When we finally rose, my belly let out a low yowl. I may have forgotten about time, but clearly my belly hadn’t.



Blake shot me a sidelong grin. “Now that you mention it, I’m pretty hungry too.”



We laughed, and then he said, “You hungry enough to run back?”



My belly roared its agreement. We laughed again, and he took off, grabbing my hand. I used my other hand as a shield as we raced through the scratchy branches, burrs, and shrubs, which were all determined to slow me down.



When we reached a clearing with water, Blake slowed, letting go of my hand to wipe his face.



“I know you said you were hungry, but right now I’m boiling and sweaty.”



With that, he strode up to the pond. He pulled off his pants. Then, when his shirt was over his head, he turned to me.



“You coming?”



His chest was incredibly muscled, and his arms looked even more massive without clothing on. I looked down at my ratty Guess T-shirt and equally ratty jeans. I wasn’t wearing a bathing suit, but I was boiling.



There was a splash, Blake now in the water.



“It’s nice!”



“All right, fine,” I said, turning away while I unzipped my pants.



I looked at the black lace underwear beneath with a satisfied smile. At least I was wearing my sort-of-nice Victoria’s Secret bra and panty set.



Once my clothes were off, I hurried into the water without looking at Blake. The shore was pure dirt, and the same went for the part underwater. It was almost like walking on sand. Once the water was up to my chin, I chanced a glance over. Blake’s gaze was fixed on me.



I smiled. “It is pretty warm.”



Uncomfortable under his still intent gaze, I glanced down. The water was a sheet of the night sky above. I spread my limbs and floated along the lukewarm stars, staring up at the originals, at the little army of light, each pinprick clearer than ever before.