“Over there,” he said, pointing to the right, “is a natural hot spring I thought would be perfect to help ease your tired muscles.”
I turned my head so I could look up into his smoldering blue eyes. “Seriously? We have a hot spring on the mountain?”
His laughter echoed across the land. “Yup. Just like we have a woodshed.”
And with that single word, I felt heat instantly surge through me as memories of the woodshed flashed across my mind in full force. The strapping, the feel of Jay’s fingers between my thighs, his amusement and pleasure at finding me sopping wet. His forbidding me to come and my body betraying me by exploding when he pushed his thumb into my ass… and the indescribable sensation when moments later he’d pushed his cock into a place I’d never even imagined being used for pleasure… and while it had hurt, burned, I couldn’t deny that the pain had morphed into pleasure beyond any I’d ever experienced before. Only to discover that pleasure repeated in Rye’s bed, under his tongue, his lips, his fingers, and his cock. Both men had me begging, pleading, soaring.
“You all right?”
Banks’ question jerked me back to the present. “Oh, yes, I’m fine. A hot spring. That sounds heavenly.”
We entered a grove of trees, and I could see the tendrils of steam seeping from between cracks in a wall of huge boulders. After dismounting, Banks reached up, his hands around my waist, lifting me from the saddle. True, I hadn’t mounted or dismounted by myself, but I felt a ridiculous sense of pride I’d not only ridden a horse, I hadn’t fallen off! I smiled, thinking that I was really becoming quite the mountain woman.
Banks splayed his fingers against my lower back and led me around the boulders. “Wow, this is incredible,” I said.
Behind the shelter of the boulders was a pool. I could hear the water sliding over rocks worn smooth with the passage of time and feel the heat even from feet away. Lush ferns grew along the bank. Barrett’s Mountain was a beautiful part of the country, and this was another slice of indescribable splendor, unspoiled by the hand of man. This was just another hidden paradise on their mountain.
“Hop in. I’ll go set up our picnic.” With a wink, he smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t peek.”
I looked at the hot spring and then back at him with some disappointment lacing my heart. “Don’t you want to get in too?”
“Well, since we don’t have suits, I thought I would give you your privacy and let you have it to yourself.”
Seriously? I’d felt his cock pressing against me during our ride. He was being a gentleman, but I wasn’t interested in chivalry at the moment. I’d asked, but he evidently needed more than a verbal invitation.
He was so different than his brothers who seemed extremely comfortable simply taking what they wanted. Banks took his time, and as much as I liked that part of his personality, I also didn’t know how to handle him. With Jay and Rye I didn’t have to be patient. With Banks… I seemed to always be waiting for what was next. A level of suspense surrounded this man.
He seemed to always be watching. Almost as if he was on a hunt and I was his prey.
Totally nude, I paused before getting into the water. “How hot is this? Are you sure it’s meant for us to get into? I remember reading about a couple and their dog that got burned alive because they jumped into a hot spring.” I wasn’t even willing to dip my toe in to test the water now that I remembered that story.
He managed a smile. “Trust me. I brought you here to relax, not boil you for supper.”
“I don’t know. I seem to recall being threatened and kidnapped. I was told to fear for my life.” I locked my eyes onto his, using the last bit of ammo in my arsenal. “Then again, words are easy to say. Maybe the truth of the matter is I have nothing to fear? Maybe you and your brothers aren’t the vicious bears of the forest.”
“Don’t delude yourself,” he said, giving a pause before he shook his head. “You have surprised me, Goldie. I had no idea how much of an effect you’d have on me.” Banks started removing his clothes, and it was my turn to watch. “I’ll get in first, just to show you.”
18
Goldie
This was the first time I’d seen him in all his glory, and his body did not disappoint. Muscled, lean, and obvious this was a mountain man who worked his land. He wasn’t just a steroid-using meat head who lived at the gym, and yet his body was in just as good of shape if not better. You could bounce a coin off any part of his flesh.
“Goldie?”
“Hmmm?”
I jerked my head up to see him smirking and holding out his hand. “I asked if you wanted me to help you in?”
“Definitely,” I said, knowing I was ready for so much more than stepping into the water. Our fingers entwined, we entered the spring together, and I moaned. “Oh my God, this is amazing,” I moved farther into the pool beside him.
“Aww, this is exactly what my body needed,” he sighed as he released my hand and lowered himself.
I tried to conceal my smile. I couldn’t help but have images of whatmybody really wanted and needed from Banks.
He looked up at me, an eyebrow cocked and a grin on his lips. “What are you doing still standing there, and what are you smiling about?”
My smile grew larger as I shrugged in response, words totally escaping me. I felt a tug and realized he’d taken my hand again, pulling me down to sit beside him. I groaned again as the liquid covered my body.