“I have a better idea.” Ethan grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her up in one swift motion.
Priya’s legs instinctively locked around his hips, her arms circling his neck as he carried her back to the freight car through the rain. His warmth sank into her, igniting a slow burn that made her forget the chill of the rain. She gripped him tighter, the storm around them nothing compared to the storm building within her.
When they reached the abandoned carriage, Ethan lowered her inside and Priya instantly missed the heat of his body against hers. She watched as he set their drenched picnic bundle on the floor and climbed in after her, the rain clinging to his clothes, emphasizing every curve and line of muscle. A shiver raced through Priya, but it wasn’t from the cold.
The inside of the boxcar was like a different world altogether. Rain hammered on the roof. A moody, muted light spilled in through the open doors. Priya felt cocooned with Ethan in a space that seemed impossibly small with him in it. He was like a storm of his own, his energy crackling between them. Her skin tingled, her pulse racing as his gaze settled on her.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Ethan said, scanning her face. “Having second thoughts about making that first move?”
“Not a chance.” Priya’s hands were clammy and her stomach a riot of nerves, but there wasn’t a single doubt in her mind. Sitting here with Ethan, in the space that had once been their hideout, felt like a homecoming—like something long overdue was finally happening.
Leaning forward, she slid her hands into his hair, her fingers tangling in the wet strands as she brought his face to hers. Their lips met, and the world tilted on its axis. The rain, the chill, the world outside—all of it fell away.
Ethan responded slowly at first. His hands found the curve of her back, drawing her closer until there was no space left between them. As the kiss deepened, so did the ache low in her belly, setting off a chain reaction she felt everywhere.
Breaking away, Ethan shrugged out of his jacket and spread it beneath her. “Can’t have you lying on cold metal,” he said.
Priya’s laugh came out breathless, cut short as Ethan dipped his head. His kiss was hungrier, the feel of his body making her head spin. She gasped as his lips moved from her mouth to her jawline, then lower, brushing against the hollow of her neck. Every inch of her hummed, every nerve sparking to life under his touch.
“Still with me?” he whispered, the words muffled against her skin.
Priya knew he was giving her an out, a chance to pull back if she wasn’t sure. But she didn’t want out. She wantedhim.
“Yes,” she breathed, her fingers moving to unbutton his shirt.
Her pulse quickened as the fabric parted, revealing his skin inch by inch. Just as she reached the last button, Ethan grabbed the hem and yanked the shirt over his head. His skin gleamed in the dim light, as if he were part of a rain-kissed dream.
Priya’s eyes roamed over him, mapping the breadth of his shoulders, the length of his arms, the contours of his chest. This was Ethan—her first crush, and also the man whose face graced countless magazine covers. And now, here he was, like a masterpiece before her, waiting to be explored.
Priya fumbled with the hem of her top, trying to pull it off. Ethan took hold of the sides as she raised her arms. As the top slid upward, exposing her stomach, a sudden wave of self-consciousness hit her.
What if I don’t measure up?Her mind flashed to Ethan’s star-studded dating history. She couldn’t help but wonder how she compared to the women who belonged in his world. To make matters worse, Priya’s top caught around her neck. The rain had shrunk the fabric, making it cling to her.
“Let’s try this again.” Ethan gave another pull, but instead of slipping loose, the fabric stretched, wrapping more tightly around Priya. Ethan stood, braced one foot in front of the other, and gave a firmer tug.
That’s when he spotted Priya’s face through the opening—eyes wide, arms raised in an almost comical cry for help. Their gazes met and held for a moment. Then the absurdity of the situation hit, and they cracked up.
“Okay, okay.” Ethan dropped down beside Priya, still laughing. “Clearly, this is not how it’s supposed to go. We need to do this properly, somewhere less…rustic.” He gestured around the metal container. “You, me, a proper bed, and zero wardrobe malfunctions.”
Priya chuckled, shaking her head as her pulse settled. The air buzzed with unspoken energy, but slowly the intensity between them started to ease. With a quiet sigh, she tugged her top back into place, her gaze drifting outside.
“Hey, look,” she said. “It stopped raining.”
Ethan turned toward the open doors and the rain-drenched field. The storm clouds had broken apart, leaving streaks of soft light on the horizon. The scent of rain-soaked earth filled the air, tugging at Priya’s memories.
Ethan tilted his head. “You’ve got that faraway look, Pri. What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“Well, if you must know…” Priya leaned forward with a wistful smile. “I was thinking ofyou. Something about this rainy air always takes me back to that motorcycle ride. You know, when you crashed my school trip and practically kidnapped me?”
“Kidnapped?” Ethan scoffed. “Please. That was a textbook rescue mission. You should’ve seen yourself, sitting by the water. Sad as fuck. Looking even droopier than your top right now.”
“Wow, thanks,” Priya shot back, grabbing his jacket and tossing it at him. “I wasn’t miserable. You just happened to catch me while I was…deep in thought.”
But even as she joked, Priya knew the truth. Shehadbeen miserable that day—sitting on the pier, counting down the hours until the trip was over. But then Ethan had arrived. And just like that, the shadows lifted—the roar of his bike and the grin on his face shaking her out of her gloom. The memory swept over her, drawing her back into the past.
Fourteen
Priya sat at the edgeof the pier, her boots grazing the lake’s surface. The storm had passed, and raindrops shimmered on the trees along the shoreline. The setting sun cast a muted glow over the water, but the soft hum of laughter from the camp’s common area only made her chest ache even more.
