It wasn’t just the physical side though, the feeling of being wanted, desired, looked at in that way. It was ecstasy. I’d never felt anything like that in my life. Didn’t even realize the way other guys had looked at me had been so devoid of the devotion that was already so apparent with Carter.
Even the way Cade had looked at me, it was all lust and desire. When Carter looked at me, there was hunger and desire there for sure, and thank God for that, but there was something soft, and protective too. Like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to handle me like a precious, fragile artifact, or ruin me entirely. The juxtaposition of it was utterly thrilling if I was being honest.
A quiet laugh bubbled up as the warmth of beingwantedfilled me, making me feel woozy and lightheaded. It was like floating away into thin air and being crushed with the most powerful force all at once. Sure, it had taken us a lifetime to finally get over the hump, but now, everything just felt so—being with Carter just feltdifferent. In every way. Exciting yes, but also calm, steady,right?—
I screamed as something smashed into my face at mock speeds, followed by the disgusting sound of buzzing. I sputtered and spit, frantically trying to get the feeling off my mouth as I exploded into a windmill of flailing arms. The thing skittered over my face before finally flying away.
Grumbling, I smoothed out my hair, a little paranoid that the bug was still on me, and adjusted myself. Stupid, fucking confusing corn maze. Why Sloane had been dying to do this, I had no idea. The only thing worse than being alone in the dark was being alone and half-naked in the dark with gross bugs. The worst cherry on top you could possibly ask for.
I turned the next corner, feeling more and more anxious by the minute. Was I anywhere close to getting out of here? I had tobe. How many turns could there possibly be… in the city’s most notoriously complicated corn maze?
Shit.
I’d started this whole damned thing with Jules and Douglass, and when they’d started bickering, I’d tried to give them some privacy. Which led to me making a turn too quickly, and before I’d even realized it, they were long gone. I grimaced, knowing something had been going on between the two of them for a while now, and I honestly just wished that she’d cut him loo?—
Suddenly, I realized everything had gone eerily quiet… that it hadbeenunnaturally quiet for some time.
My hair raised as I turned in all directions, shining my phone flashlight into the dense corn, as if I’d find something orsomeonelurking between the stalks.
I knew I was being ridiculous because—something rustled behind me. I whirled, the light revealing nothing as I twisted in all directions, breath shaking, heart pounding wildly in my ears. “Carter, is that you?” I swallowed hard as my voice came out alarmingly timid and quiet.
No response.
The corn rustled. “This isn’t funny.” I complained, unnerved by the panic lacing my voice as I tried to steady it. “Liam?”
No response.
I started to feel dizzy as adrenaline crashed through me, and I abandoned my plan, taking the first turn away from the noise.
I turned my phone light off and hurried down the long muddy path, looking over my shoulder before I rounded the next corner, slightly out of breath.
Forcing silent breaths in and out, I listened quietly, but everything was still eerily silent.
Quietly as I could, I continued onward, all the while feeling like the shadows in the corn were following me. Which was delusional. I knew that.
Finally, with bile rising in my throat, I stopped and stared into the dark row of corn, wondering if I was imagining things as adark shadow seemed to stare right back. I lost my nerve, frantically fumbling for my flashlight again, but when I finally got it on—there was nothing there.
And then I heard the footstepsbehind me.
My throat closed up as I turned in wild panic, horrified to find a terrifying face looming over me—I wished I were one of those girls who threw a punch, or did something to defend myself, but the only thing I could do was scream. Even that took the longest second of my life to produce. The mud gave way beneath me, and I was already falling backwards as the scream seemed to stick in my throat before finally cracking out of me with a thin screech.
“Boo.” Someone grabbed me by the waist, catching me before I fell into the mud.
“Carter.” I gasped after another long second, relief washing over me. “That’s not funny.” I complained shakily.
“Did I scare you?” He chuckled.
“No.” I gritted, all the while relishing in the protective warmth of his touch as he steadied me.
He blinked against the bright light in his eyes. “You mind aiming that thing somewhere else, scaredy cat?”
“I’m not sure I’m done blinding you yet,” I huffed before shakily tapping the light off, my stomach swirling with adrenaline and nausea. Stupid fucking corn maze.
It was hard to see as my eyes adjusted back to the dim light of the moon, but the darkness didn’t seem to matter as much anymore.
“Geez, you’re freezing, sweetheart.” Carter pulled me tighter against his hard body and rubbed my arms, trying to warm me up.
“Oh, you have no idea.” I wormed my arms up his chest with a sly grin and slid my icy hands against his bare neck.
