Between Two Fires

^.^ Chapter 9 ^.^

Hi!! Just so you are aware I will now be posting a couple of chapters every Saturday or Sunday so please have a look for updates!!! :D

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"You know, if you were this desperate for me to go down the zip line with you - all you had to do was ask. You didn't have to go through the trouble of warning me away from Josh..." I knock my shoulder playfully with his to catch his attention and bare my teeth showing him my cheekiest smile. His lips quirk slightly on the sides and I can tell he is holding back a smile. I quicken my pace, "Come on slow-poke!" I poke his arm with my finger and start jogging ahead. "Race you!"

Of course I am no match for him and he ends up passing me, leaving us laughing along the way. When we get to the others we are both breathless and fall to the ground on our knees, snickering like little children.

That's better... I think to myself. I hadn't liked the dark expression on his face and I was relieved that I had managed to lighten the mood. 

"Uhm guys?" Lea is the first to speak up and I realize they are all looking down at us questioningly. Luca speaks up.

"Cyan thought she could beat me. I told her if she lost she had to ride down the zip line with me." He winks at me and I do my best to hold back the giggle i feel bubbling up in my throat. Luca's little white lie seems to satisfy everyone except, probably, Lea. Luca gets up and offers me a helping hand. I take it and follow him towards the same line I'd joined earlier with Josh. We were up next.

Strangely enough, I felt much more nervous this time. I wipe my sweaty hands on my shorts and allow the same guy as before to strap me in. Luca is next and I feel his close presence behind me. I wait patiently until he is safely strapped and then the guy asks us if we are ready. I turn around and look up at Luca, giving him a nervous smile. He gives me a reassuring nod, probably thinking that what I'm nervous about is the zip-line instead of his close proximity. The guy counts down from 3 and just as we are stepping off, Luca wraps his arm around my waist, holding me closer. I let out a nervous squeak, making him laugh. My heart is going a mile a minute and, although I know my main focus should be the scenery as we fly past it, I am much more focused on the contact my back is making with his chest. 

"It's so beautiful!" He says, his lips close to my ear so I can hear him over the screaming of the people on the zip line to our right and the sound of the wind rushing through our ears. I nod and look up at him for a second before relaxing into his hold, taking in the scenery around me. The sun is now up in the sky making everything look a lot brighter. Just as we are approaching the end he leans forward so he can speak to me again.

"Thanks." He pauses and I can feel his smile. He doesn't say what he is thanking me for but he doesn't have to. 

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By the time we get to the cliff we are all starving. We park in a small parking lot, Josh, Marie and the others pulling up into the parking's beside ours Lea, Ethan and Luca get out and I grab my bag from in-between my legs. I put my phone and bottle of water in the bag. I am closing the zipper when my door opens. Luca is holding it open for me, waiting for me to get out. I don't mask my surprise as I step out of the vehicle.

"Impatient?" I question, only half teasing. He raises his eyebrows in disbelief.

"I open the door for you and you accuse me of being impatient?" He pauses, "Where I'm from, its seen as polite or nice gesture." He closes the door and falls into step beside me. 

"So, is it a long walk? I'm hungry." I state. My stomach grumbles in agreement, embarrassing me in the process. He starts laughing at me and I resist the urge to hit him. It isn't hard when he is so cute. I mean why does he have to have a nice personality, body, face and amazing eyes?! Maybe everyone in Australia does but where I'm from its rather rare.