A guy’s got to eat, after all.
“What’s our strategy?” Piper asks, the tip of her tongue darting out to lick cinnamon from her fingertip.
The only strategy I’ve got right now is don’t get hard, and that’s probably more of a plan.
But seriously, how can I not get turned-on when she’s using her tongue like that? With a single move, she’s transported me back to her apartment, to the night her tongue was gliding along my own in sweet seduction.
Piper must take my silence for confusion because she elaborates.
“You know, how are we going to find the exit?” Her brow furrows. “Like, some people only make left turns or whatever.”
“Hope for the best.” I pop the last bit of my donut into my mouth and dust off my hands. “Fair warning, my sense of direction is…lacking.”
Piper smirks. “You realize you’re probably the first man in recorded history to admit that, right?”
“I’d rather be directionally challenged than be a toxic creep who can’t admit his own shortcomings.”
“Fair enough.”
It probably sounds like pandering, but it’s the truth.
I’m not such a prick that my self-worth is defined by an innate ability to sense true north.
We approach the maze, and I study the outer wall, though I’m not sure how much good it will do. The corn stretches a couple hundred feet in each direction from the narrow entrance and the stalks are eight feet tall, preventing even the tallest of explorers from peeking over the top.
Piper turns to me, uncertainty flashing in her eyes. “How big did you say this thing is?”
“Five acres.” I hand our tickets to the attendant and turn to my date, gesturing toward the entrance. “Ladies first.”
The sun is slipping lower in the sky, but we probably have another solid hour of daylight.
It should be plenty of time.
Piper hesitates, and I place a hand on her lower back. “We’ve got this.”
“I don’t know why I’m nervous. I—”
A boy with white-blond hair rushes past, bolting into the maze without a backward glance.
She squares her shoulders and straightens her spine, as if waging an internal battle with herself. “If that kid can do it, so can we.”
“That’s the spirit.”
Determination restored, she steps into the maze, with me close on her heels.
We follow the dirt path and though I’ve never been claustrophobic, I can’t help but feel like the walls are closing in as we reach our first decision point.
“Left or right?” Piper turns to me. “And don’t you dare say lady’s choice. Chivalry will only get you so far.”
“There’s that stubborn streak I love so much.” I sling an arm around her waist and pull her close, savoring the warmth of her body against mine. She fits perfectly under my arm, as if the spot were carved for her alone. “Let’s go right.”
We take turns choosing directions and on our fourth turn, we nearly bump into a couple doubling back.
“It’s a dead end,” the guy on the right warns as his boyfriend tugs on his hand, urging him to hurry.
“Thanks.”
We make a U-turn and follow them down the path.
