Beauty Blooming [Bonding Camp 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (10 page)

They set out on the walking path that led through the woods, Joe carrying the picnic basket while Rachel had a plaid blanket thrown over her arm for them to sit on when they found the perfect spot.

Rachel breathed in deep, the scent of pine filling her lungs. She really did love this place, the woods and the outdoors ready for her to explore any time she wanted. It sort of reminded her of home. It was almost one in the afternoon, and the sun was streaming through the trees in gleaming shafts of light. Birds sang brightly, and squirrels chattered as they did their acrobatic tricks in the upper branches of the trees.

Joe took her hand in his, squeezing it. “Beautiful day with a lovely girl by my side. Now I really don’t want to leave.”

Rachel laughed. “You’ve got until later today. You’ve got to go back to work tomorrow.”

“I know. I really like my job, but I like being here with you more.” Their shoes crunched on the stones and fallen leaves on the path. “I’m going to be lonesome when I go back to the city.”

“You can always come back to visit. It doesn’t have to be for a bonding camp.” The path curved, and they came upon a small clearing. “This looks like a nice place.” She walked a few feet off the path and shook out the blanket, placing it on the ground. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s just fine.” He set the picnic basket down on one corner of the blanket then slid his arms around her waist. “I really do love you. You know that, right?”

Rachel looked up into his bright, green eyes, and her heart swelled with emotion. “I love you, too.” There was something about this man that had instilled itself in her heart so fast she didn’t know what hit her. Maybe it was his down-home sort of ways or his quick smile, but it didn’t matter. She loved him, and it wasn’t like any love she had experienced before. This time it felt like it would last forever. Not some schoolgirl crush.

“Sit down, Rachel. I want to talk to you about something.” Joe guided her to the center of the blanket and helped her to sit. Then he joined her, sitting beside her.

Rachel tucked her legs beneath her. “This sounds serious. Is everything okay? Have I done something wrong?” Her stomach jittered, a nervousness beginning inside. What could possibly be wrong? Hadn’t they just declared their love for each other?

“Everything is fine. It’s just that I want to get a few things straight, that’s all.” He took her hand in his again, rubbing his thumb over the back of it. “Bonding camp is something very new to me. I’d never heard of it until I came to work for Cane, Moss, and White. And I like it. I think it does make for a better work environment if everyone is bonded together in the most intimate way. What I want to get straight in my head is how it affects our relationship.”

“What about it concerns you?”

His brow furrowed, seriousness cloaking his face. “I know Justice and Lauren are married and both of them continue to participate in bonding camp. Then there’s Morgan and Grace, too. They don’t seem to be affected by the fact they share intimacies with other people outside their marriage.”

Rachel shook her head. “No, it doesn’t. They’re perfectly fine with it. Sharing intimacies with others doesn’t diminish what they feel toward each other.”

“That’s what I want to discuss with you. Do you want to continue to participate in bonding camp?” His eyebrows rose, his gaze intense.

Rachel tilted her head. She wondered exactly where this conversation was going. “Now that I’ve finally lost my inhibitions, yes, I’d like to continue exploring my sexuality. I don’t want to backslide into what I was before. I’ve just found that I can let myself go and enjoy myself during sex. Is that going to be a problem for us?”

“It’s not if you don’t mind me continuing to join in on bonding camp once in a while.” He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

She smiled at him. “I don’t think anything will affect our relationship as long as we’re honest with each other.”

A smile broke over his face like a sunrise. “I’m so glad to hear that. You know, I love watching you come, whether it’s for me or with someone else. The look on your face, that pure ecstasy, is so beautiful.” He cupped her cheek in his hand. “Your beauty has come to full bloom in front of my eyes. There will never be anything so special to me. Unless…you’ll agree to marry me.”

Rachel’s heart skipped a beat. “Are you serious?”

Joe barked out a laugh. “Yes, I’m serious.”

She burst up from her sitting position and threw her arms around him, knocking him backward. Landing on top of him, she rained kisses down on his face. “Yes, yes, yes!” she said in between kisses.

Their laughter rang through the woods, bouncing off the trees. When they finished laughing and rolling around on the blanket, celebrating their new commitment, Joe pulled her back up to a sitting position. “Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s eat.”

Rachel slapped his chest playfully. “Ruled by your stomach, are you?” She opened the picnic basket, happier than she’d ever been in her life. She handed him a chicken sandwich. “Where are we going to live? When should we tell the partners?”

Joe took the sandwich from her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “We’ll work it out, don’t you worry. You and I together can do anything.”

Rachel looked into the beautiful green eyes of the man sitting next to her, and her heart bloomed with love. “You’re right. Let’s just enjoy the moment and worry about the rest later.”

Christelle Mirin loves a good story. Her love of reading led to her writing career. She writes every chance she gets, including carrying a notebook along with her to her regular job just so she can jot down notes and plotlines. Christelle lives in Ohio with her husband, son, two dogs, and once in a while, her grand-dog. She has two daughters who live in nearby states and one granddaughter who she loves dearly. Living along a river, Christelle’s family enjoys the water, whether boating, Jet Skiing or just sitting on the bank and relaxing.

To learn more about Christelle and her works in progress, visit her website at www.christellemirin.webs.com and find out more. There you’ll see some personal photos, learn what she’s working on, and while there, be sure to visit her blog.

Ménage and More: Bonding Camp 1:
Bonding Camp

Ménage and More: Bonding Camp 2:
Morgan’s Protégé

Ménage Amour:
Transference

Siren Classic:
Finding Home

Ménage and More:
Selling Secret Weapons

Ménage Amour:
Answering Her Desire

Ménage Amour:
Emma’s Heart

Available at

BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com