“Fuck,” I murmur, stretching carefully so I don’t wake them and extricating myself from Bowen’s grip. I’m groggy from all the sleep I got, and my bladder is screaming at me, but before I slip out of the tent, I take a second to look at the two of them, Aldis’s body blanketing Bowen the same way his was mine, their breathing slow and even. It’s strangely peaceful watching the two of them sleep all wrapped up in each other. Sex is sex, but sleeping next to someone is intimate. It’s vulnerable. Maybe that’s why I turned them down when they invited me to stay in bed the other night. It will make the sex mean something more. Scratch that. It will make the sex mean something more to me. I don’t know if it means the same to them.
As if he can feel my gaze on him, Aldis’s eyes flutter open.
“Morning,” he whispers in a raspy voice.
“Morning.”
Bowen stirs just a little but doesn’t wake up.
“How did you sleep?” Aldis asks.
“Great, actually. I’m ready to kick your ass up the side of the mountain this morning,” I taunt with a smirk, which he returns in a challenge.
“You are so fucking on.”
“Good. I’ll be right back, then maybe we can find a fun way to wake Bow.” I’m surprised by my own suggestion, but Aldis’s wicked grin in return makes me heat all over.
“Wait,” he says before I can slip out of the tent. He carefully extricates himself from around Bowen and sits up, crooking a finger at me.
I lean a little closer, my heart going berserk when he leans in too. Is he going to kiss me? Do I want him to? I swallow hard, my eyes dropping to his lips, butterflies erupting in my stomach. I think I want him to, almost as much as I want Bowen to kiss me.
At the last second, he detours a few inches, his lips landing against my cheek. A surprising amount of disappointment swamps me.
“What was that for?” I ask when he slowly pulls back.
Aldis shrugs. “I wanted to.”
Fuck, that’s endearing. I could use a little more of that philosophy in my life. I eye my best friend’s sleeping form again. Maybe I should stop waiting for him to kiss me and take what I want when I get the chance.
I climb out of the tent and go take care of business. Sadly, Bowen is already awake and getting dressed when I get back. Aldis gives me a look that lets me know he’s disappointed by the turn of events too, but at least we know there’s always later. We have the whole night to fool around again…we have longer than that. We have as long as we want. At least, I think we do.
“I was thinking of climbing with you guys today,” Bowen says.
“You what?”
Chapter Thirteen
Bowen
“I said, I want to try climbing with you.”
“But you’re terrified of heights,” Hawthorne says, still looking at me like I’ve turned green.
“I know. I’m not planning to scale the damn thing like you two adrenaline junkies, but maybe I could try some of the easier stuff. The stuff closer to the ground.”
Hawthorne’s face lights up the way I always imagined it would. “Do you mean it, Bow? You want to try?”
I nod, even though the fear is already gripping my stomach. “I trust you both not to let me fall to my death.”
Aldis slides his arms around my waist from behind me. “Never.” His lips brush over my neck, and when my eyes meet Thorne’s again, I swear there’s desire in his eyes. Could we ever be affectionate like this?
“Can I come?”
“Hell yes,” Thorne says. “Aldis and I will take care of you.”
“We sure will,” Aldis whispers in my ear, sending jolts of lust through me.
“I don’t have gear through.”
Hawthorne chuckles. “I have some for you. Maybe I keep it just in case you ever wanted to. Maybe.”
Grinning, I slip away from Aldis and walk straight into Thorne, tugging him close with my arm around his waist. His breath hitches as his eyes heat. “That’s very sweet.”
His eyes search mine for a second before he brushes his calloused thumb across my chin. “I have my moments.”
“That you do.”
“Let’s go,” Aldis says, smacking my ass as he comes up behind us.
We head out, carrying our gear and hiking to the spot these two have their eye on. The closer we get, the more my nerves kick up. What was I thinking? The relentless desire to be near these two has clearly made me insane. I can’t climb a mountain!
“This is the perfect spot,” Aldis announces, dropping his backpack and gazing out at the magnificent view before us. “You like it, Thorne?”
“Perfect.”
The three of us simply stand for a few minutes, taking in the scenery, before Aldis gets to work unpacking his gear. The two of them exchange climbing terminology like it’s another language while I stand there wishing I’d stayed with my podcast and fishing idea.
“Okay, babe, step into this harness,” Thorne says, the endearment so natural on his lips I almost don’t catch it.
I smile, following his instructions. He and Aldis strap me up, checking my bindings and still discussing techniques before leading me to a reasonably small peak.
“This will help you get your feet,” Aldis explains, pointing at the craggy rock. “It’s got a lot of natural footholds, which will make it easier to climb.”
I nod as my stomach churns.
“And you’re tethered to me,” Thorne says. “I won’t let you fall.”
“Just go slow,” Aldis adds. “There’s no rush.”
“Got it.”
“Come on, Bow.” Thorne puts his foot in the first crevice and hoists himself up.
I clamor after him, focusing all my thoughts on the rock in front of me and not how high we must be. Pulling myself up, I manage a step, my chest filling with pride.
“Perfect,” Aldis says below me as he starts up the rock. “I can stare at your delicious ass in the process.”
“Focus,” Thorne scolds.
“But Bowen’s ass,” Aldis complains.
“You can have all you want later,” Thorne promises. “I assume.”
I don’t even bother to reply. I’m too focused on not losing my grip. We slowly make our way up, but when I stop and actually look to my left, the vast valley below us comes into view, and I freeze up.
“Go on, babe,” Aldis says below me.
“I-I can’t. Oh fuck. I gotta go down. Now.”
“We’re almost to the top,” Aldis says. “You’re fine, Bow.”
“Nope. I can’t. Fuck.” I squeeze my eyes shut, clenching the rock with every ounce of strength. If I fall, there’s no way I’ll survive. What the actual fuck was I thinking coming out here and doing this?
The next thing I know, I’m being hoisted up with a grunt from Thorne. I land on top of him, and as he wraps his arms around me, he whispers in my ears. “I got you, babe. You’re safe, Bow.”
My eyes flutter open to see Thorne beneath me, holding on tight. Aldis flops down next to us.
“You okay, Bowen?” He rubs my back. “Deep breaths, babe.”