Chapter 13: The First Sighting
Nathan and Elizabeth had only traveled another thirty minutes from their rock wall, but the terrain had become especially challenging, demanding the skill of both the horses and their riders. Elizabeth felt like she was deep into the adventuring Nathan had promised just from the ride alone—slowly making their way through the dense forest, carefully guiding the horses across a river, and navigating a steep ascent.
The latest challenge—a particularly narrow pass—had forced Nathan to strap some of the luggage to himself in order to squeeze the horses through. Without an obvious trail, Elizabeth raised an eyebrow more than once on this ride, but Nathan reassured her, promising that the effort would be worth the reward.
"Do you see that notch?" Nathan asked, pointing to the narrow gap between the peaks. "We'll just skirt along the base, and our next stop is there, below the ridge."
In response, Elizabeth gave Nathan a questioning look. "Did you happen to tell anyone where we'd be, Nathan?" she asked, noting the remote location. Even after living in Hope Valley for over a decade, she'd never heard of anyone venturing this far beyond Silverstone Ridge. To her knowledge, it had always been deemed impassable; and, at this point, she could certainly attest to that.
"I told Bill the general area…as a precaution," he assured Elizabeth. "But he's sworn to secrecy on the location."
Nathan adjusted the reins, guiding Newton carefully through a rockier stretch of trail, as Sergeant followed close behind. "It's important to me," he continued, his voice softening, "to have places like this—remote and untouched. Up here," he said, gesturing across the rugged scene before them, "it feels like we're the only two people in the world."
"The solitude is quite romantic, Constable." Elizabeth's sweet voice drifted through the still air.
"I think you'll find it even more so when you see where we'll be settling," Nathan replied, a hint of amusement in his voice, knowing what awaited them.
"I hope so," Elizabeth responded, her tone low with longing, "Because I'm starting to feel pretty lonely back here."
A satisfied grin stretched across Nathan's face, his own voice lowering. "You and me both." This was getting better and better, he thought, the anticipation building for what had already promised to be an intimate part of their date.
In the silence that followed, both of the experienced riders felt the quiet irony of their words—heartfelt and stirring—yet at the current moment, separated by the distance of their horses, unable to meet each other's gaze or share even the slightest touch.
Elizabeth hoped they were nearing this special place Nathan had chosen. She was more than ready to be in his arms again, rather than trailing behind him. Still, even from this vantage point, he was distractingly good looking on horseback. She never minded watching Nathan from behind, having the comfort of knowing he was close.
As Sergeant and Newton clopped along, the sound of their hooves echoing against the silent mountainside, Nathan revealed to Elizabeth, "This is actually where I'd planned to take you on our ride together—the one that kept getting rescheduled."
"Well, then," Elizabeth replied, "I'm glad we finally made it here."
Truer words couldn't be said, Nathan thought, sensing the layered meaning.
Away from the sun, in the shade of the towering cliff above them, Elizabeth shivered. Nathan, who noticed all things Elizabeth, smiled to himself, knowing that chill would soon be a distant memory.
Moments later, they were stopped by a short rocky ascent. Nathan suggested they lead Newton and Sergeant up and over, though he kept the reason to himself—not because their Mountie-trained horses couldn't handle it, but for the simple joy of seeing Elizabeth's first reaction to what he already knew lay ahead.
Side by side, Nathan and Elizabeth carefully navigated the small boulderfield, the metallic clink of horseshoes striking the stones behind them. The second their eyes crested the noll, Elizabeth was the first to speak.
"Nathan!" she breathed, instantly reaching for his hand, her eyes wide with awe.
Before them, two emerald pools, separated by a scattered string of boulders, lay nestled within a rocky ring of lofty peaks. The glass-like surface of the water mirrored the sky above, a stunning contrast to the surrounding shades of brown and gray, making the pools seem almost otherworldly in their vibrant beauty.
Even as a lover of words, Elizabeth found it impossible to describe this place. In a sigh to match the majesty, she released all the distractions of her life that seemed to pull her away from what mattered most. To think she could've been here with Nathan a month ago.
Drawn to more touch, Nathan lowered Elizabeth's hand and encircled her closely from behind. He whispered in her ear, "Here we are. Our own personal hot springs."
Several seconds passed in silence as they stood together as one unified couple, their breathing falling into the same steady rhythm and their thoughts perfectly aligned with the magnificence of this moment, enfolded in each other's arms.
Suddenly, Elizabeth groaned loudly, a response entirely unexpected by Nathan.
"We aren't going to be swimming, are we?" she asked, momentarily in shock. "I didn't pack a swimsuit!" she explained. On the last word, her voice caught briefly as she illogically considered that Nathan might've planned to skinny dip. But her heart slowed when she soon reasoned that he'd never think to indulge in such a scandalous activity…at least not yet…not before they were married. Still, Elizabeth's lips subconsciously pressed inward at the thought.
Nathan laughed softly, having intuitively read all of her expressions. "I wanted this to be a surprise," he clarified, trying to ease her worry. "So, I asked Rosemary to pack a bathing suit for you. She came over this morning to slip it into your bag."
Nathan felt his sweetheart sigh and lean back against him in relief.
Ah, Elizabeth thought. Now Rosemary's early morning visit made more sense, though she readily acknowledged that her best friend was always quick to show up wherever there might be a hint of romance or excitement independent of any particular assignment.
Returning to the present—Nathan and these hidden hot springs—Elizabeth felt a mix of eagerness and nervousness. She knew this would be their most intimate experience yet. Pulling away only in anticipation of what was to come, she glanced around with a hint of hesitation before asking, "Where will we change?"
As a trained Mountie, Nathan focused on steadying his breath, attempting to calm his racing heart. He suddenly felt the reality of what he knew would be a deeply bonding adventure beginning to take flight.
His voice, though controlled, couldn't entirely mask the slight tremor. He nodded toward a cluster of boulders lining one of the pools.
"How about you use that spot?" he suggested, his eyes lingering on her for a moment too long.
Then, with a tilt of his head toward the far side and a lopsided grin tugging at his lips, Nathan added, "And I'll change behind that big rock…the one over there."
Elizabeth hardly glanced at where he was pointing before their blue eyes locked, their thoughts narrowing solely on each other and what they were soon to share within this isolated place. Eventually, the two quickly nodded in unison, redirecting their thoughts to Nathan's plan and their assigned positions.
But, unable to pull his eyes away from the gaze of the woman he'd loved for four long years, Nathan continued speaking as a way to hold her close, memorizing all that her eyes expressed, before they crossed into this new threshold of their relationship.
"The rock that juts out, with…do you see, like a…well, like a…little seat, I guess."
As Nathan felt himself rambling on, he tried to focus his thoughts, wondering why on earth he felt compelled to explain the details of the rock. But, Elizabeth nodded her head, intently eyeing the rock to keep her mind from drifting to Nathan changing.
The following seconds played out with a sense of familiarity to these two adventurers, who uttered these same responses not long ago—following Elizabeth's serendipitous fall while hiding Easter eggs. In a moment of similar awkwardness, they smiled, exchanged knowing looks, and silently retrieved their bathing suits.
But, in unexpectedly coming face to face before splitting to their separate changing areas, both found it impossible to put a coherent thought into spoken word. Instead, they were naturally preoccupied with what they were soon to experience together.
"Hnh," was all Nathan said when he saw that the swimsuit in Elizabeth's hands was pink, his mind instantly spinning, noting the small amount of fabric in comparison to what she currently wore.
"I should," Elizabeth managed to utter as she pointed over to her assigned changing station, her thoughts jumping to what was soon to happen behind Nathan's designated rock.
"Yeah, yeah," Nathan responded, trying to remember to breathe, as he turned from those beautiful blue eyes and walked toward the rock he now knew well after his unnecessarily lengthy description.
"Okay," Elizabeth said breathlessly, excited, but at the same time nervous for the intimacy of this new connection…particularly, since the swimsuit she held in her hands was entirely unknown to her.
Rosemary Coulter, she thought with exasperation, already worrying about the styling of the suit. In her mind, Elizabeth defended her own bathing suit at home. It was perfectly fine. Why had Rosemary not slipped that one in? She was well aware that her best friend owned a smattering of suits from her romantic cruise to Brazil, but Elizabeth knew with absolute certainty that those swimsuits would feel far too risqué for her more conservative tastes. The mere thought of wearing one of Rosemary's made her stomach twist with unease.
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Nathan walked out first, a degree embarrassed, but confident. They were ready for this, he thought. After their intimate conversation earlier, below the rock wall, he realized they were actually ready to be together. But, since that was out of the question until they were married, this was the perfect way to dip their toes in, so to speak.
The only downside for Nathan, hence the hint of self-consciousness, was his bathing suit. He much preferred the shirt and shorts look of his last swimsuit. Glancing down, he shook his head. I mean, what was this deeply scooped neck thing about, with skinny straps only half the width of his suspenders? He felt like two thirds of his chest was popping out the middle. Just like Allie, he rolled his eyes in reluctant acceptance. The visual indicator of exasperation simply had to be expressed. Really, Nathan was mortified by this look, but he'd had little choice.
Now that a new wave of fashion was sweeping across the country, the men's former style of bathing suit was impossible to find. And believe you me, he'd tried. With how irregularly anyone needed this piece of clothing in Hope Valley, or in any of his previous postings, the swimsuit he'd dragged along when moving, in this box or that, was at least ten years old. Although the fabric definitely looked its age when he found the old suit buried in a drawer, the deciding problem was the size. He'd put on some muscular weight since his early twenties, so there was no hope of fitting into that suit meant for his lankier form. Consequently, Nathan had been forced to buy what was supposedly "all the rage."
But, the suit didn't matter in the end. To him, the frosting on his metaphorical cupcake was the intimate luxury of soaking in these remote hot springs with Elizabeth. For the first time, he was about to see the full figure of his best girl, free of all the billowy fabric women usually wore. Beyond even that anticipation, however, he was most hopeful that she'd like her swimsuit, one newly selected by Rosemary—with thoughtful care, of course—and secretly purchased by him.
Since Nathan had planned this date well ahead of time, he'd fortunately discovered the problem with his swimsuit early on. Although he didn't care much for fashion himself, his instincts told him that how Elizabeth felt walking with him hand in hand into those hot springs would be closely tied to what she was wearing. Granted he blushed a bright rosy red when he brought this idea to Rosemary of a new bathing suit; but, any unease on his part was well worth it for Elizabeth to feel comfortable and confident in this moment.
He knew nothing of women's fashion, but his instructions to Rosemary were clear: pink and modest. While the latter was not his personal preference, he was aware of Rosemary's propensity to dive into the latest and greatest, a risky tendency in this situation. Above all, he wanted Elizabeth to feel at home with him in what he knew would feel like an intimate step for them.
"I'm almost ready," Elizabeth called out from behind her designated changing rock.
She scolded herself for taking so long, suddenly feeling self-conscious. With the absolute stillness of the mountain air, she'd definitely noticed the scuffling of Nathan's feet once he'd finished. Since then, only the rustling of her own motions had filled the silence; so she knew he'd been waiting on her.
But, taking a moment to justify this present circumstance, she assured herself that men simply had no concept of how many layers had to be shed to don a women's bathing suit. Besides, any woman knew there always had to be that brief, but necessary, pause for self-approval before walking out anywhere so scantily clad—comparative to a female's usual daytime attire, that is.
As Elizabeth clasped the thin white accessory belt around her waist, she looked in wonder at this swimsuit she was now wearing. It was stylish, much like anything Rosemary wore, but surprisingly simple at the same time. She sent up a silent prayer in gratitude for her best friend's kindness and intuition.
Elizabeth's own bathing suit, apparently still at home, would've felt quite school marmy in comparison, she now humbly acknowledged. So if ever she were to deep dive into fashion, she reasoned, now would be the time, walking out in view of the man she planned to marry. And she had Rosemary to thank for making this moment special.
With one last approving look, Elizabeth smiled, feeling perfectly alluring.
"Okay, I'm ready," she announced.
Her heart fluttered with excitement as she stepped out from behind the rock, searching for Nathan's eyes.
Though Elizabeth's entire focus had understandably been on what Nathan might think about her appearance as she strolled out into the open, relatively exposed in a bathing suit, the moment she caught sight of him, she stopped abruptly.
"Heavens!" she gasped.
For Nathan, he felt much the same, but even more so, having thought of what this first sighting might feel like since he'd spoken with Rosemary about purchasing the new suit. It was too late now, but with the dizziness that struck him, he realized he should've sat down for this.
"You look breathtaking, 'Lizabeth."
A few steps apart, they gazed at one another in open admiration and anticipation, no binoculars needed.
Elizabeth never would've imagined Nathan's discomfort with what she'd quickly determined to be his most distracting look. Granted, shirtless was at the top of the list before, even above serge and suspenders. But, this, she thought. She wasn't sure what she'd expected from Nathan's swimsuit, but even her dreams couldn't have conjured up this image. The soft navy fabric hugged every muscular line of his body that wasn't already within full view. The color, perfectly suited to his blue eyes, drew out an even more piercing gaze that grew with intensity by the second.
But, it was the stylish scoop that catapulted Elizabeth into full swoon. She tucked in her lips, unable to hide a smile, as she acknowledged with appreciation that not every man would fill that scoop the way Nathan's chest did. To her, this was beyond even his unbuttoned-by-four look. In contrast to his shirt, no excess fabric veiled his bare skin now. Instead, what was open was fully uncovered and inviting, leaving only small side sections of fabric hiding unexposed terrain. It was the teasing of those very panels, extending down from the narrow straps at his shoulders, that distracted Elizabeth most.
From Nathan's viewpoint, he'd never been so sharply focused on anything in his life, other than the far different experience, he supposed, of recently watching Elizabeth disappear beyond his reach at the top of the saloon stairs. Now, instead of fear spiraling him out of control, it was his love and adoration that sent him into an emotional tailspin. After five long years, here they were.
Nathan knew he was staring, but hoped that was okay. He couldn't have stopped himself if he tried. Rosemary picked the perfect suit, he thought. Pink for starters. It had to be pink. Elizabeth's scooped neck was far more flattering than his, though not nearly as deep, a fact he both appreciated for Elizabeth's sake and bemoaned for his. But Rosemary had chosen well for her friend—a stylish bathing suit, but one that still felt aligned with Elizabeth's preferences. Despite his difference in size, her straps were somehow wider than his, ending at the edges of the shoulders, where loose ruffles hung softly.
But that belt! Though he'd never seen a belt used in a decorative way, he was all in. Fastened around her waist, the straight line accentuated her full curves both above and below. Now that Nathan's eyes lowered, he could hardly believe he'd even noticed the swimsuit. His inspecting eyes scanned from her ankles up, completely taken by the amount of creamy skin exposed on those long legs he'd already been graced to see clothed—earlier in her split skirt and now the riding pants today.
While covering the distance between them, Nathan shook his head unabashedly. "Elizabeth," he said, stunned into using the full length of her name, "You are a dream!"
At the compliment, she blushed a beautiful pink to match her bathing suit. Thank you, Rosemary, she silently thought.
"You, Constable!" she gushed with stars in her eyes, her gaze wandering over his entire physique. "I'm taking notes, so you know, and adding this to my list," she grinned. "You, my darling, look distractingly good looking in a swimsuit!"
Nathan lowered his eyes, but was thoroughly unable to hide his affected smile. Darling wasn't a term of endearment he'd expected. But he rather liked it for their closest moments.
"What? This old thing?" he teased, suggesting his suit wasn't of much concern to him. But, in truth, every single word of praise that passed through Elizabeth's lips mattered to him, and inwardly he was soaking up her admiration, especially wearing this ridiculous suit he'd been forced to purchase.
Elizabeth giggled, and then, in a bashful moment, still standing exposed, she dropped her head down before glancing back up at him from under those long lashes.
Although the natural instinct was to pummel one another in kisses, in silent communication, they agreed to take things slow, savoring every intimate breath of this perfectly planned adventure.
"Ready for a dip?" Nathan asked with a warm, inviting smile, extending his hand toward Elizabeth.
Holding Nathan's gaze, she nodded and slipped her hand into his. "More than ready," she answered, shivering from both the chill and anticipation, hiding the secret that in this moment she actually felt ready for the entire plunge.
At the water's edge, Nathan steadied Elizabeth as she gingerly lowered herself in. Then, following closely behind, he submerged one lengthy leg at a time, eager to be at her side.
"This is perfect, Nathan," Elizabeth murmured, entranced by the welcoming heat.
Without hesitation, he was quick to agree, overcome by the hushed ambiance gradually enveloping them. "It really is, isn't it?" he whispered.
Within seconds, they were immersed in steam, each breath filling their lungs with a soothing mineral-based moisture. Now, settled up to their shoulders in the clear, emerald water, Nathan lightly moaned, turning his neck this way and that.
Guessing what brought about that barely audible complaint, Elizabeth offered to help in a voice low and lilting. "I'll bet I can fix that."
Instantly, Nathan's eyes found Elizabeth's as the memory of their first dance washed over them. They exchanged knowing smiles, moved by how these first few moments in the hot springs were already proving to be a connecting experience.
Silently, Elizabeth turned toward Nathan, shifting onto her knees for added height, and placed her hands at the base of his neck. She slowly pressed her thumbs deep into his knotted muscles, easily sliding her hands as needed across his wet skin.
Nathan sighed, completely content, as he repositioned to give Elizabeth a better angle. "Now this is something I'll never turn down," he grinned.
"Well, it's only fair," she mused, holding firm pressure over a particularly angry spot, "since I'm pretty sure I'm the one to blame for these knots."
"You're worth every single one, my love," Nathan assured her, resting his hand affectionately on Elizabeth's, giving it a tender squeeze.
"How are you feeling?" he asked. "Any sore muscles?"
Elizabeth laughed in response, throwing back a question of her own. "Where am I not sore?"
Nathan chuckled, slipping his hand back beneath the inviting warmth of the water.
Now, with both hands free, Elizabeth returned to work, lovingly easing Nathan's sacrificial knots.
As he closed his eyes, lost in this luxurious delight, he offered both sympathy and admiration to the woman whose hands also held his heart.
"I'm sorry, 'Lizbeth," Nathan said sincerely, apologizing for bringing the unusual companion of pain along on their date. "I suppose adventuring comes at a cost, doesn't it?" he added with a tone of reflection. A soft smile fell on his lips, his voice deepening with genuine respect. "But, what you've done today, sweetheart…" Nathan paused, trying to put into words how moved he was by her strength and support. "Well…it's inspiring, really. You should be proud of yourself."
Elizabeth was quick to respond, knowing well she was no longer a singular "I" or "you," but instead a plural pair. "I'm proud of us, Nathan," she insisted, glowing at the thought of their growth in only a few hours' time.
Leaning in from behind, she slid her arms lovingly around his neck and lowered them across his open chest. The warmth of the hot springs seemed to wrap around them both, the steam rising like a protective veil, creating a world where only two people mattered. Elizabeth gently rested her head against Nathan's, her hair brushing against his cheek, and whispered, "You bring out the best in me, you know."
Nathan smiled, his heart fuller than full. "I could say the same thing to you," he said softly, appreciating that only through Elizabeth was he truly becoming whole. From his first moments in Hope Valley, she'd pushed him to open up. And here he was, in just one morning, trusting Elizabeth with all of who he was—the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, unbuttoned, uncovered, and completely open, scooped neck and all.
"I love you, Nathan," Elizabeth whispered, the words tumbling from her lips. Skin to skin, she felt newly bound in their love, intertwined in a way that went well beyond those simple, though heartfelt words—into something timeless and irreplaceable. She only hoped that Nathan could sense the depth of what was unspoken.
Nathan smiled, his heart full to the point of breaking, and gently squeezed her hands. "I love you, 'Lizabeth," he said, his voice catching with emotion, each word expressing a year's worth of longing for her. "So much."
Resting on her knees, Elizabeth leaned in against Nathan's back, her body molded to his as she pressed her love into him, holding him even tighter, as if she could somehow imprint him onto her heart. The two relaxed into this new embrace with a unified sigh, the stillness of the mountain air wrapping around them like a soft cocoon, while the steam from the hot springs rose gently, mingling with their quiet breaths.
Eventually, Elizabeth withdrew slightly, brushing a tender kiss across Nathan's cheek before continuing to work her thumbs into the last few knots along his upper back. Even as her hands grew tired, the weight of her empathy for all Nathan carried gave her the strength to keep going, offering what comfort she could. Still, it wasn't long before she reached her limit.
"I'm sorry, Nathan," Elizabeth apologized, wishing she could give more. "That's all I can do for now. My thumbs apparently aren't all that strong." She carefully rose from her knees and nestled herself beside him.
Nathan started to respond, "Those thumbs—" but his words faltered as he caught sight of her. He froze, eyes wide in surprise. "'Lizbeth!" he exclaimed in a hushed tone. "Your hair!"
Elizabeth's hands flew to her head instinctively, wondering what might be amiss, but then she realized with a helpless sigh: Nathan was seeing her curly hair for the first time. Her ringlet curls, wild and free in the humid air.
"This is me," she shrugged with a hint of self-consciousness and a weak smile, unable to fix what time within the steamy mist had done to the waves she'd carefully coiffed that morning for her date. "I wore it like this when I first came to Hope Valley," she explained with a touch of nostalgia. "But, I don't know…my curls are a little unruly."
"I love it both ways," Nathan replied softly, his heart stirring at this side of her he hadn't yet seen. He gently fingered one of the curls framing Elizabeth's face, his touch lingering with a tenderness that spoke of all the love he felt but could never quite express with words.
Reading the affection so openly expressed in Nathan's eyes, Elizabeth sighed in wonder, a quiet, yet familiar thought circling through her heart and mind—how incredibly blessed she was to be loved by such a remarkable man.
Eventually, Nathan carefully released Elizabeth's curl, mindful not to disturb its delicate shape. With the same loving attention he always gave her, he demonstrated how endeared he was by this natural version of herself. His hand gently caressed her cheek before pressing a soft, smitten kiss to her lips.
Elizabeth let out a contented sigh, an affected smile tugging at her lips, feeling both deeply seen and wholly cherished.
Slipping an arm around her, drawing her closer, Nathan raised a questioning eyebrow, remembering where they'd left off with her tired thumbs. "Don't forget those hands got you up a forty-foot cliff today," he said, his voice full of warmth and reverenced admiration. "And, really, it was more like sixty with the first climb you made."
"True," she replied, beaming at his praise.
The irresistible sparkle of Elizabeth's blue eyes held Nathan's gaze as he murmured gratefully, "Thank you for the back rub. I'm guessing if even your thumbs are sore, you could use one as well?" Though he ached for her to say yes, he still proposed the option more as a question, aware that his hands caressing her back might suggest an even deeper intimacy than her touch had.
"I'd love that, Constable," she answered, her tone low and inviting.
Elizabeth's flirty use of his professional title in the context of something as alluring as a massage was nearly his undoing. With his lopsided grin, his broad hands reached out and circled easily around her waist. With the buoyancy of the water, he lifted her with ease and placed her gently at the end of his knees, facing away from him.
"Is sitting here comfortable for you?" he asked softly, his hands lingering at her shoulders.
"Nathan, it's perfect," she replied, her voice calm and content.
And it was perfect, Elizabeth thought. Every single aspect of this day, this date, had been perfect—at least, once she'd stepped outside of herself and truly seen Nathan. Not just for the impeccable man he already was, but for the man he was becoming: one who was ready to love fully, and to be loved in return, as a true marriage partner.
The warmth of Nathan's touch on her cool shoulders immediately spread through her. The pressure he applied was firm, yet gentle, as his fingers moved with intent, easing the tension that had built up from the day's adventures. Elizabeth felt a subtle shift within herself—something between relaxation and anticipation—as his hands worked their way methodically along her muscles.
Where her legs had once dangled loosely in the water from her seated position on Nathan's lap, she now curled her feet back, gently resting them against his calves. The familiar feeling reminded her of the hay wagon, how their bodies connected in a way that filled her with an everlasting sense of home.
As expected, Nathan's touch was steady in this moment, just as it had been then, soothing her as much emotionally as physically. With each motion of those loving thumbs, the space between them seemed to shrink, sending a gentle flutter through her heart at the thought of their eventually becoming one.
"That's nice," Elizabeth murmured, her head dropping forward as Nathan's hand gently cupped her neck. Between the two of them, whatever wasn't submerged in water was covered in tiny water droplets from condensation against the cool autumn air. As a result Nathan's fingers easily glided across the bare skin of her tightened muscles, coaxing them to relax.
Something about the way Elizabeth lowered her head brought her back into Nathan's focus, making the connection between them feel even more intimate. Her swimsuit, scooped in style much like the front of his own, left most of her back exposed. Nathan had to fight the impulse to pull her close, to wrap himself around her completely. Instead, he channeled his intensity into tenderness, his hands moving smoothly over the tension in her bare shoulders.
While his hands continued to lovingly work at her knots, Nathan distracted himself by reflecting on all they'd shared that day. There'd been the clearing of the air over the infamous Union City date and its fallout, their disagreements about Elizabeth's failed climbing attempt, and the heart-to-heart conversations that followed. They'd worked through their hurt, found resolution, and shared the weight of both his flashbacks and the trusting anticipation of what they were both looking forward to after marriage. They'd conquered the physical challenges together, belaying and climbing, as well as the emotional ones, and now, here they were.
It couldn't be helped that each conversation, every step of the journey, had fueled his desire for a deeper intimacy that seemed more within reach in this quiet, secluded space—just the two of them. After everything they'd shared, Nathan knew he needed her close—closer than words could convey. His hands, pressed against Elizabeth's skin, became the vessel for everything he felt. He needed her to feel it, to know that what words couldn't express, his touch could.
Expanding his range of connection, but seeking permission first, Nathan lowered his hands into the warm water of the hot springs. He rested his thumbs on the cotton fabric of Elizabeth's swimsuit beside her lower spine, where he knew the hip flexor muscles attached. From experience, he was well aware of how sore this deeply-set muscle group could get from rock climbing.
"May I?" Nathan whispered.
Subconsciously holding her breath, Elizabeth nodded in agreement, anticipating his further touch. As Nathan's thumbs rubbed the muscular knots beneath the snug material of her suit, his fingers naturally brushed across the curvy crest of her hips.
Focusing his thoughts, Nathan justified the reasoning behind massaging her lower back, as if the choice was based on logic alone. "These muscles—the psoas majors—get pretty tight from climbing. They're what give you the strength to step up and push off."
Endeared by the purity of Nathan's explanation in such an intimate moment, Elizabeth couldn't help but tease him a little, considering his hands were wrapped loosely around her waist from behind as his thumbs worked meticulously through the knots.
"I hope your expertise in this area, Constable, doesn't come from too much practice," she said with a playful smile.
Nathan chuckled softly, the warmth of his breath tickling her neck.
"Not practiced at all, 'Lizbeth. I've only ever placed these massaging thumbs on you."
Though Elizabeth was deeply mesmerized by his touch, his words filled her with a more urgent need for his lips. She gently held his hands in place as she easily shifted on his lap, aided by the buoyancy of the water.
"Glad to hear it," she whispered once face to face, her lips brushing lightly against his as she spoke. "Because I need you to know something."
"What?" Nathan asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously, trying to read the mischief in her eyes.
Elizabeth's gaze flickered down to his lips, a teasing smile curving at the corners of her mouth. "I want you all to myself."
Nathan's heart skipped a beat, the weight of her words settling over him like a wave, both thrilling and reassuring. "I know the feeling."
Though his expression was simple, the sentiment was deep. For five drawn-out years, Nathan had longed for Elizabeth to be his, burying his desire in the quiet corners of his heart—forced to suppress it while their friendship remained his only option.
But now, as Elizabeth fell into his arms with such loving intensity, it became poignantly clear to Nathan: to her, he'd never been just a friend, either.
The instant their lips met, they were swept into a new interpretation of steamy. Their mouths, moistened by condensation, slid easily into position. The heat drove their passion, as Nathan and Elizabeth descended quickly into deepening kisses.
Despite being immersed in the warmth of the hot springs, Nathan felt himself trembling, finding that wherever he placed his hands he was met with Elizabeth's soft skin—a reality that was unbelievably intoxicating, but increasingly dangerous.
He could feel that Elizabeth was equally enticed, her hands roaming over every square inch of his bare torso, even sliding at times just barely beneath the slender side panels of his swimsuit. Soon, discovering new territory, she was slowly sweeping her arms across his back, savoring the expanse of exposed skin.
"Nathan," she breathed, between kisses that began extending down his neck.
This was going too far too fast, he thought, all too aware of where his instincts were leading him next. He didn't know whether it was the heat or Elizabeth's soft figure on his lap, or both, but he was growing lightheaded.
"'Lizbeth," he uttered, trying to focus as her fingers threaded into his hair. "'Lizbeth," he repeated, finding his breath. "I need to stop, love."
Though Nathan had half a dozen terms of endearment swirling in his mind, the shortest one slipped from his lips by necessity, halting their momentum. Reluctantly, he gathered both her hands from his hair, holding them to his lips in a lingering kiss as he grinned at her like the gobsmacked fool he knew he was.
"You are a siren," he laughed softly, ever surprised by the passion that erupted from Hope Valley's teacher. Perhaps it was that hint of red in her chestnut curls.
"Then you're Eros," she claimed breathlessly, referencing the Greek god of love. "I see know your mythology, Constable," she added, clearly impressed.
Nathan responded with his characteristic head tilt and heart melting grin.
Within their locked gaze, both attempted to steady their intensity while looking into the fire of each other's eyes. As that was only worsening the problem, Nathan luckily remembered their assigned homework with the mention of the Greeks.
Silently, he applauded himself for his keen intuition. Somehow, he had known he'd need a distraction—not if, but when—things started to get too heated in the hot springs.
So at this time, he turned to the questions he'd referred to in Elizabeth's letter.
"Speaking of history," Nathan began taking on a lighter tone to break their trance. "Did you, Mrs. Thornton, do the assigned homework I outlined in your letter?"
"I did, Mr. Grant."
"In that case, what would you think about an intermission?" he asked playfully, his eyebrow raised.
Slipping from Nathan's lap to his side as an indication of her acceptance, Elizabeth whispered with a cheeky grin, "So what I hear you saying, Constable, is that there's more to this show?" referring to their steamy kisses.
Nathan shook his head while laughing softly to himself, mesmerized by his sweetheart's flirty banter. But two could play this game, he thought. So, with an alluring grin, he delivered his own dose of spice.
"That's just it, my love. There are as many scenes as you'd like." Gesturing between the expanse of rock and sky and then back to himself for added emphasis, he added a final fitting response, "For my date, it's choose your own adventure!"
Once again, when their eyes met, they were battling a fire. Fortunately, besides the steam, these two loved their time spent talking as well.
So, having looked forward to these conversations, in and of themselves, Nathan cleared his throat all the while giving Elizabeth a knowing look. "So, those questions…"
"Right," Elizabeth said, moving a hand down in front of her face, to eventually reveal a look of innocence and readiness. "Class is in session," she said in her seasoned teacher voice as she scooted to a more conversational distance.
Only for a moment did Nathan contemplate which of the two categories to cover first—consequential or inconsequential. Definitely the latter was his gut instinct, in an attempt to let the flames recede.
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Author's Notes:
Let's give a round of applause to IG's whencallsthemusic who remembered Elizabeth's curly hair and suggested I add in a moment of Nathan experiencing one of those curls as the humidity from the hot springs set in. Related to that scene, I love this extended time Nathan and Elizabeth have together on their dates, away from distractions and interruptions, because it allows for them to naturally come to know all sides of each other.
I want to give a shout out to heartiemusings as well for her encouragement when I get stuck in a hyperthinking mode. It's not a fun place to be when muddling through 10,000 words at a time. So, thank you for your wisdom and empathy! :-)
Read on to Chapter 14: Inconsequential Questions as a part of this multi-chapter release.