Yours to love

Chapter eighteen: Lillian

*Spicy content ahead*

"Where are we going?" I ask Blake, laughing, as he pulls me out of the car.

His fingers laced with mine, he guides me through the parking lot, leading me towards the tree line. "Are we hiking?" He ignores me. "Blake! I'm in flip flops, I can't hike."

"Good thing, we aren't hiking."

I've never come to this part of town, where the flat landscape ends and the mountains begin. It's beautiful, peaceful even. Though the parking lot is full, there isn't a soul around. We enter the forest and begin walking in between trees. There's no way I'm getting out of here in one piece. There are roots coming out of the ground.

"It wasn't this damaged the last time I came. Come on," he stops in his tracks, "Hop on my back."

"What? No, I'm going to crush you."

"Lily. I'd carry bags twice your weight back in the army. If I get crushed by a lightweight like you, I'd be asking myself questions. Come on, hop on," he bends his knees allowing me to jump on his back. My legs wrapped around his waist, my arms around his neck, my chin in the crook of his neck, I peck his skin lightly as I feel his hands on my thighs.

I take advantage of the situation to observe the scenery. Trees are everywhere and the sun rays are piercing through the branches and leaves. Blake carries me for about ten minutes, putting me down once we reach the other end of the dense forest, revealing a rock ravine offering the most beautiful view I have ever seen in my entire life.

The sun is setting, reflecting on the river down the precipice. I turn around to face Blake and he's standing a few feet away, observing me in awe. We stare into each other's eyes, a smile on both of our faces before I decide to join him, surrounding him with an embrace. He forces me closer, a hand on my back, leaning down to access my lips.

"How did you find this place?" I ask when we part.

"I used to come here when I needed to be alone. The moment I got my permit, I would leave the house every chance I got, and one day, I found this place."

"Why are you showing me your secret spot? Don't you want to keep it a secret?"

"My secrets are yours, everything that is mine is yours, Lily. And I thought... if someday you feel the need to escape, you'll know a place where you're free to go."

I blush at the gesture. "Thank you. But I have somewhere, more like someone, to go to when I want to escape now."

"Yeah, but sometimes, people just like to be alone."

"Not when they have a Blake in their lives. But I love it. It's... indescribable."

"Want to watch the sunset?"

He gets a blanket out of the bag I had been carrying ever since he took me on his back, piggyback style. Blake squats down, placing the blanket on the ground. Laying on it, he leaves a free spot for me to join him. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me to him, kissing the side of my head up to my mouth. Our lips meet, his hand finds its way to my cheek, and I let myself be guided until my back meets the rock-hard ground. Blake half on top of me, we never part, his fingers travel to my side up and down my shirt. I feel his calloused fingertips near my breast, a shiver runs through my whole body, making me realize what we are doing and where. I sit back down in panic, my head colliding with his.

"I'm so sorry!" I exclaim as Blake rubs his forehead in sync with me. "I panicked."

"Don't worry, I'm okay," he laughs. "Is your forehead okay?"

I nod, feeling my cheeks turn pink.

"I wasn't going to fuck you on a damn cliff, though, just so you know. Our first time will be on a bed, and it'll be perfect," he tells me, like a promise, as he kisses the tip of my nose.