He moved past her, his bare arm brushing against hers, and a jolt of awareness swept through her entire body. Pressing a hand to her chest, she told herself to turn around and give him some privacy. And she would… just as soon as the water became too shallow.
Oops. Too late.His bare ass surfaced and he strode toward the riverbank looking more powerful than King Neptune. All he needed was a crown and trident.Close your mouth, Essie,she scolded herself.And, for God’s sakes, turn around before—
He glanced over his shoulder, caught her looking, and smirked the smirk of all smirks. So smug and satisfied, she wanted to kick herself. Whipping her head away from all that masculine deliciousness, she latched onto her cross and sent up a quick prayer. Lust was definitely one of her sins now, thanks to Xander freaking Hawke.
A minute later, he called out, “I’m dressed,” and moved behind the nearest tree, giving her a modicum of privacy.
Essie waded to the shoreline, quickly donned her clothes and boots, and sighed. Hopefully her bra and panties would dry fast in the heat. Otherwise, the chafing wouldn’t be pleasant. Speaking of pleasant…
She’d never forget the sight of Xander naked, and how the water sluiced down his smooth skin. It was permanently embedded in her mind and would be the star of all her fantasies from this day forward.
She joined him on the other side of the tree, and thankfully he didn’t tease her about her modesty as they made their way over to the ramshackle structure. She would’ve died of embarrassment. Maybe he did possess a shred of gentlemanliness in his soul. Somewhere. Deep down.
They reached the building and Xander pushed the old, splintered door open. Above them, birds flapped, flying out of the hole in the roof. Sunlight speared through several openings, but it was mostly shaded and a bit cooler than outside.
Essie supposed it was better than nothing and, now that her sexy feelings had worn off, she was exhausted. Weary to her very bones. She followed Xander over to some hay scattered on the hard-packed dirt. He dropped down and opened the backpack,pulling out the last bottle of water. Sitting down beside him, she watched him twist the cap off and take a long swallow, downing half of it. When he handed her the bottle, their fingers brushed, sending a charge straight up her arm.
“That’s the end of the water. We’ll rest here for a little while then find a town. It has to be close.”
Nodding, Essie wrapped her lips around the bottle where Xander’s lips just drank. Imagined what his kiss would feel like. How he tasted. The swallow of water went down the wrong pipe and she choked.
“Are you okay?” He touched her elbow, and she felt the sizzle sear down to her marrow.
Nodding through the continuing coughing fit, she gasped for air, feeling her face turn bright red with exertion and humiliation. “Fine,” she insisted, patting her chest. Her heated thoughts had returned tenfold. They were getting out of control, and the undeniable attraction she felt toward him grew faster than the jungle vines surrounding them.
He stared at her, and she picked up on his concern, but also something else. Something hot and curious. Did he feel it, too?
A restless yearning churned through her. “What?” she whispered, staring into his glittering royal blue eyes.
He cleared his throat. “Nothing.”
Her attention drifted down his chest, admiring the way the black T-shirt pulled against his firm pecs and tight abs. When her focus reached the button on his cargo pants, she quickly averted her eyes, quashing the temptation to look lower.Act like a lady, Essie,she scolded herself. Not like a sex-starved, hot-blooded woman who was too curious about all the things she’d never experienced.
Laying down on the hay, he tucked a hand behind his head. “You should rest.”
“You think we’re safe here?”
“For a short time.”
Without a word, she lay down beside him. Not too close. The temptation to curl up under his arm was strong, but she ignored it. Looking up through holes in the roof at the brilliant blue sky beyond, she told herself to somehow try to ignore the sexy man beside her, close her eyes and go to sleep.
It didn’t take long for her eyes to slide shut as exhaustion overwhelmed her.
Xander was having the best dream. Essie was naked and writhing in his arms. Kissing him. Touching him. Making him so crazy, he was barely hanging on to the last shred of his control. Positioning himself between her lovely thighs, he spread her legs further and…
His eyes snapped open. The scents of hay and cinnamon filled his nose, and a soft, warm body pressed against him. Looking down, he saw Essie curled up under his arm, her hand on his chest, one of her legs hooked around his thigh.
Releasing a low breath, he took a moment to enjoy how well they fit. How right she felt wrapped around him. It would be so easy to turn, cover her with his body and kiss the hell out of her.
So, do it,that voice told him. The same little asshole who helped him make all his bad decisions.
He should roll away from her and get up. They should get back on the road again. Er, back on the path again, to the nearest town. Then he could boost a car and they’d continue on tothe coast. The idea that their time together was dwindling fast left him feeling strangely bereft. Like he was being robbed of something, but he didn’t know what exactly.
She let out a soft sigh and cuddled closer. Xander wasn’t a cuddler, finding the thought of being wrapped up in or around someone to be constricting, smothering. But he found himself liking it.Strange.It wasn’t his style at all to linger with a woman. To create intimate moments that would make her want more than a hard, rough, fast fuck.
Not that he’d fuck Essie.
Not yet,that little asshole in his head whispered.
