His Territory

Chapter 8

Cole's POV

"It's fucking freezing!"

I can't stop myself from doubling over in laughter at the sight of Levi. He's stood in his boxer shorts at the edge of the river, shivering like a baby.

Enzo came running past, shoving him out the way before diving in.

"Shit!" He yelled.

"You lot are such wimps."

I smiled at Sierra, who was standing in a blue bikini with her hands on her hips. Enzo's eyes were glued to her body like he'd never seen a half-naked woman before.

I heard footsteps approaching from behind, and I didn't need to look to know that it was Aspen. My senses electrified when she was near. For the first time, I felt self-conscious. I knew I looked good standing here shirtless, I spent enough time working out, but Aspen didn't seem to care.

"You scared of water?" She teased.

Holy shit. She looked incredible.

She was in a dark red bikini, with her long hair tumbling over her shoulders and down her back.

Fuck.

She shook her head at me in amusement and ran in after Sierra. I couldn't help watching her for a few seconds before joining them.

Shit. This is fucking cold. I can feel myself visibly shrinking.

I dived down, getting the cold shock over and down with. Fuck that for a laugh. I'll stick to my shower thanks.

When I came up Aspen was directly in front of me. I was close enough to see the golden flecks in her eyes. As if she could read my mind, she quickly turned, her hair spraying water all over my face.

That girl.

It was such a relief to get dried off and warm up around the fire. Mugs of hot coffee were being passed round, and there was something so peaceful about it. Sierra and Aspen went off to sort out guard duty for the day, which just left me, Levi and Enzo.

"Well," I said, turning to my cousin, "I think you've got some explaining to do."

Enzo looked sheepish and wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Well?" I waited.

He sighed, looking somewhere between content and troubled.

"I don't know, man," he began, "She's just insane, you know, I've never met anyone like her."

Levi made eye contact with me, remembering our conversation from yesterday.

"You know nothing can ever happen though?" I approached.

His features hardened.

"Yeah, whatever."

"Enzo," I cried, "you need to take this seriously."

"I am," he said, raising his voice. "And you know what, it's fucking hard."

Levi placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's just the way things are, mate." He said.

"Yeah," he muttered, looking into the distance. Levi and I exchanged concerned glances.

"Anyway," Enzo said, shaking off his mood, "how awful was that river this morning."

We both laughed, glad for the change of tone.