We stand frozen in place, listening with bated breath to the sounds of our pursuers crashing through the bushes, getting closer by the second.
thirty-five
After a couple of minutes,the shouts and crashing begin to fade away, and we both let out a relieved puff of breath.
We look at each other and grin before breaking into nervous laughter.
“Holy shit, that was close,” Rowan huffs, rubbing the back of his neck. “You, okay?”
As he speaks, he shifts closer, and it suddenly feels ten times smaller in here than it did a second ago. So I quickly move to the other side of the shed, peering curiously through one of the tiny cracks in the wall.
The moon, partially covered by a cloud, is a glowing sliver of a grin in the dark sky.
“Do you think they’re gone?”
“Who?”
His question, which breathes close to my ear, startles me. I hadn’t even heard him come up behind me. When Rowan’s hand grazes my arm, I quickly turn away, walking around him to the other side of the shed facing the tree line. “The paparazzi, you ass.”
I’m torn between wanting him to touch me and running likea scared rabbit being hunted by a hungry wolf. If he does, I don’t think I’ll be able to tell him to stop.
The sound of a branch snapping outside makes us both freeze.
When I suck in a startled breath, Rowan grabs me and spins me around. Clamping a hand over my mouth with one hand, he backs me up against the table that’s sitting in the corner, lifting a finger to his lips.
Molten lava floods my veins as my eyes flare wide. His eyes dance with laughter until he sees my lids flutter. Instantly, they switch to a look so dark and intense it makes my pussy pulse.
The heat of his touch sends electricity zipping through my veins. We stand perfectly still, his body nearly flush with mine as we listen close.
Outside, there’s another snap, even closer this time.
All I can feel is the heat of Rowan’s hard body pressed up against mine. Something else is hard, too. The smell of his cologne, woodsy and expensive, is making my head swim.
Patches of moonlight cut across his face, highlighting the sharp angle of his jaw and the slight cleft in his chin.
Damn it. Why does he have to be so freaking hot?
Body betraying me, a little moan escapes my throat.
Rowan’s eyebrows jack up in surprise as he tilts his head, flashing me a dark, sideways grin before leaning in to murmur in my ear. “Whatcha thinkin’ about, Sunshine? Does being chased get you hot?”
He leans away, pupils dilating as he smirks down at me, his voice a low rumble only I can hear. “Or is it the getting caught that’s got you all worked up?”
With his hand still covering my mouth, all I can do is glare.
I’d try backing up, but there is nowhere else to go.
Rowan crowds me further, thick thighs pressing againstmine. “Your expression gives you away every time, Iz,” he whispers. “Always has.”
His breath is hot on my skin as my heart hammers against my ribs. I should be furious at his cocky attitude, but instead, I’m fighting the urge not to squirm against him.
The hand not covering my mouth slides down my side, his touch burning through the thin fabric of my shirt.
When his fingers slip beneath the waistband of my jeans and into the back of my pants, I suck in a breath against his palm. He squeezes my ass, large hand kneading my flesh before he drags his nails lightly across my sensitive skin as he withdraws.
My body betrays me as a shiver runs down my spine, and I hate how much I want this—want him.
His fingers dance across my skin as they shift to pop open the button of my jeans. The sound echoes in the small space, and my breath hitches.
