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Nash
How the hell could she look as if she’d slept like a baby all night? No, not a baby. She didn’t look at all like a baby.
She damn sure didn’t have the kind of night I had, though. Yeah, the mattress was great. All soft and everything. Kind of like what falling into her would feel like, and that’s what I’d dreamed about. All...damned...night. Makenna’s naked body pressed against mine. Sinking deep inside her hot, little body...
No, I didn’t sleep worth a damn.
It didn’t help that everyone commented on how great they’d slept. They raved about her mattress and asked where they could order more of Makenna’s outfitting supplies. She promised to hook them up with all the information once we returned to civilization. I tried to tune them out. I didn’t have much luck. Her soft, sultry voice kept pulling my gaze to her.
I didn’t start to feel human again until after I’d drank three cups of coffee, then I focused on getting my tent down and packing away my camping gear. Don and Ethan would be in one boat with supplies, while Jess and I would be in the other boat with the rest of the group.
All the backpacks were waterproof, so no one would have to worry about their things getting wet, and they would be strapped down, so they wouldn’t go over the side. When the tents came down, they were returned to waterproof bags, except for Makenna’s, of course. Hers went into the small package it came from, and then she would return it to her backpack. That had been a brilliant idea on her part. Quite frankly, I was jealous, and would probably order one as soon as I could.
I couldn’t stop myself from glancing her way as she bundled everything. Each movement she made was deliberate, nothing wasted. I could immediately tell this wasn’t her first time outdoors. At least she knew what she was doing while tent camping.
She’d been right about saying she’d come prepared. Before she took her tent down, she’d changed into a wetsuit. This might be her first time, but she’d done her research.
I returned my attention to what I was doing and began helping Don and Ethan load the supply raft. We called it a raft, but it was actually an inflatable boat that could slice through the rapids and race around anything that might block our path.
The guides would take the brunt of the work load, but the endurance level of the other rafters would be tested to the limits. I only hoped Makenna could handle it. We’d be hitting some class four rapids this afternoon, so everyone needed to be prepared.
On a class four, the rapids were more powerful, and the direction could change without warning. This morning would be a class two, maybe some threes. That would tell me if she was going to make it through the stronger rapids.
I’d been on some class fives before. They were extremely difficult and more violent. The rafter had to be prepared for anything to happen.
And class six? Never again. That was a suicide mission. In a class six there were death traps, waterfalls, unexpected hazards. The rapids would twist and turn violent, like venomous snakes ready to strike, trying to claim another victim. Only an idiot would go there.
Don and Ethan climbed into the first raft. The rest moved to the second one. I took the front, and Jess the back. I made sure Makenna was right behind me, and Chris next to her. He was a strong rafter. I put Rachel on the opposite side of Makenna and toward the back, even though she was damned good in the boat. She was still a female, and although strong, the men were stronger. I wasn’t discriminating, just making sure no one would get hurt. Everyone, including the other guides, were my responsibility when it came right down to it. I didn’t foresee any problems, but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any. Mother Nature could be fickle.
Before we got into the boat, I told everyone what they could expect so they would be a little more prepared. If they wanted to back out, now was the time. Of course, that last bit was for Makenna’s benefit. When I asked if they were ready, not one of them hesitated to let me know they were definitely ready, including Makenna.
We pushed off with the paddles. The excitement running through everyone was almost palpable. I had to admit, I felt the same way. I grinned, remembering the time I’d taken my brother out. We had a hell of a lot of fun—even when he’d fallen over the side. Well, fallen wasn’t exactly the right word. More like flown.
The rapids were rough that day. I’d say between a class four, maybe a five. A little more than I planned to take him on. We hit a violent dip, then rose almost straight up in the air. I was laughing from the adrenaline rush, until I turned around and Jaxson wasn’t behind me anymore.
I still remembered my moment of panic, then I spotted him bobbing on the waves. It took me a couple of tries before I could get him pulled back into the raft. He hadn’t been amused when I laughed at him, but I knew he’d enjoyed himself.
For a brief moment, I wondered how he and Katie were getting along. She’d certainly given him hell. I had to make sure to get them some chocolate and whipped cream for Christmas. I chuckled.
When the water began to get a little rougher, I refocused my attention back to what I was doing. My own excitement began to build as we guided the raft around the larger boulders. We were in class two rapids, so a little bit more than an amusement park ride. Makenna laughed behind me. I could relate to what she was feeling. Don had actually taken me on my first rafting experience, and yes, I’d fallen over the side as well. He’d laughed just as hard as I’d laughed at my brother, but I’d been addicted to white water rafting ever since.
There was more laughter behind me. I laughed as well from the pure enjoyment of doing something I loved. This was what life was all about. Living in the moment and enjoying every second. It didn’t get any better than this.
The morning stretched to noon. I knew rafting would be more difficult this afternoon. I’d already talked with the other guides about when to take a break. Don and Ethan knew to turn into Horseshoe Bend. It was an easy place to disembark, eat some lunch, then hit the class threes and fours.
As we were pulling the rafts up to the shore, I glanced at Makenna’s face. She practically glowed. Her gaze met mine, and she grinned from ear to ear. It was all I could do not to take her in my arms and kiss her senseless.
“The next part is going to get a lot rougher,” I told her. “What you experienced this morning was child’s play. Don’t forget to hang on, because now it’s too late to turn back.” My words were gruff. Yeah, I was being an asshole, but pissing off Makenna was the only way I knew how to keep her at arm’s length.