Secret Gifts (Steamy Version) by Elena Aitken

honestly. I’m just not used to struggling with something.”
    She laughed. “Oh, you’re not struggling. You should see some of the people who come up here. You actually look like a pro.” She winked at him, and leaned in for a kiss but at the last minute, Gage bent down.
    “Maybe that’s why I keep tripping,” he said. “My lace is untied.” He heard her sigh while he took his time double knotting his laces. When he stood up, he dusted off his hands and said, “Let’s go. I can’t wait to see what the surprise is.”
    She gave him a look, but didn’t say anything.
    Gage followed behind, taking in the scenery and it wasn’t long before Lisa started chatting again. “This is the most beautiful place on earth, don’t you think?”
    “I honestly don’t know,” Gage said. “I haven’t been many places.”
    “What?” She flipped her blond hair around and looked at him for a second, but didn’t quit walking. “I can’t believe that a big movie star like you hasn’t traveled. Isn’t that one of the perks of being rich and famous?”
    Gage laughed but it came out bitter. “I guess it should be a perk,” he said. Truthfully, he hadn’t stopped to consider the perks of fame, at least, not past the money he’d be able to earn. That was his only focus, and the real reason he accepted the role in Extinction . The fact that there might be drawbacks definitely hadn’t been a consideration. Although, in hindsight, it probably should have been. “But there hasn’t been any time to travel. This is my first vacation since Extinction started filming. It’s been pretty wild. I didn’t even go to the UK premiere because Tumbleweed started filming that week.”
    “That’s crazy. But at least you find some time to have a little fun in the middle of all that working, right?” She tossed the words back over her shoulder, and added an extra sway to her hips that Gage certainly didn’t miss.
    He knew exactly the fun she was referring to—hell, the whole world knew. It’d been well chronicled, that was for sure. Gage hadn’t been totally naive; he knew there’d be media attention and reporters. But what he hadn’t counted on was the paparazzi following his every move, reporting on who he was with and what they were doing. Even going so far as to report on what he was eating and drinking. And he certainly gave them a lot to report on. The familiar wave of shame rose up in him, but he pushed it down, unwilling to mar his day with regret.
    “I’m not complaining,” he said after awhile, no longer sure what he was responding to. But it was true; he wouldn’t complain. Fame had given him exactly what he’d needed; money to pay for his mom’s treatments. Fame had saved her life, and wrecked his.
    “Of course you’re not,” Lisa said, totally oblivious of his internal turmoil. “Except I’m sure there are drawbacks, like that woman who follows you around. That would totally suck.”
    He thought of Megan and the fun they’d had the day before, the feel of her hand in his. The taste of her kiss. “It doesn’t totally suck,” he said.
    “Whatever.” Lisa snorted. “I can’t see how it wouldn’t, but I guess you get used to things, right?”
    Gage was saved from answering, because right then they stepped out of the forest and into a clearing. The smell of rotten eggs was overpowering and he pulled the hem of his t-shirt up and over his face.
    Lisa laughed. “You get used to the smell,” she said. “But you feel free to take that shirt all the way off.” She winked and gazed openly at his exposed abs.
    He smiled and dropped his shirt.
    “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “You’ll take it off in a minute. Come here.” Lisa grabbed his hand and tugged him up a small grassy hill. They stopped in front of a pond. And by the amount of steam in the air, it was a very hot pond.
    “What is this place?”
    “We call them King’s Springs.” Lisa knelt down and trailed her fingers through the