I slid an arm around her neck, close enough to feel her breath catch. My teeth grazed the line of her jaw. “Name the time and place, beautiful.”
She laughed and pushed me back a step. But when she looked up, the laughter was gone.
“Eric. This thing with you and me…I don’t know what this is.”
She held my gaze. “I like you. And I really want to fuck you. But this was supposed to be a fake relationship. I don’t know if I’m ready for it to be anything more than that.”
My first instinct was to close the distance and take the choice out of her hands. Not because I didn’t respect her boundary but because I hated that she thought she needed one.
But she didn’t know me. Not really. With the mess we were both standing in and the history she was still carrying, it made sense that she wanted to protect herself.
“You’re afraid it’ll get bigger than you can handle.”
Her chin lifted, defiance flashing. “Of course I’m afraid, Eric. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
“You don’t need to have it figured out.” I stepped back into her space, my hand settling at her waist with quiet authority. “In public, I’m your boyfriend. I’ll play the part.”
I drew her closer until there wasn’t room for doubt. “That doesn’t mean pressure. Or promises. But we agreed—no more pretending. So don’t hide behind the word fake when what you really mean is you’re scared. Okay?”
She leaned in, her arms coming up around my neck. “Okay.”
“I’m not going to lie to you, Jamie. I probably want you a little too fucking much.”
She sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes going wide. Even caught off guard, she was stunning.
Done with negotiating, I leaned in and took her mouth again.
This time, I didn’t hold back. Fuck restraint. Forget being careful. I said no more pretending, and I meant it.
She met my lips with enthusiasm, letting out a soft, needy sound that went straight to my cock. Her mouth would either be my death or my salvation—I hadn’t decided.
She’d joked about the thrill of getting caught, but I doubted public sex was on the table. I tore my mouth from hers with a low groan and forced a sliver of distance between us. My chest heaved, body already tight and aching.
She looked just as wrecked. Good.
I scrubbed a hand through my hair, adjusted myself without apology, and met her eyes again. “I hope you don’t think I’m going to let that other thing you said slide.”
Her brow furrowed. “What thing?”
“The part where you said you want to fuck me.”
Color climbed back into her cheeks. “Oh.”
“Honestly, that’s the only part I really heard. Everything else you said was just blah, blah, blah…so much talking.”
She laughed, breath still uneven. “Who was talking? I only remember kissing.”
Chapter Fourteen
Jamie
Eric didn’t question when I guided him off the trail, deeper into the trees.
Even people who thought they loved adventure didn’t usually stray this far from the path. But Eric followed without hesitation, stepping over roots and rocks like he trusted me to know where I was going.
This forest and I were like old friends. Getting lost here, intentionally or not, was something I’d done often.
This time, I knew exactly where I was going, but I planned for us to get lost together all the same.
