“You drank it all for your leg. How’s the cut feeling now, by the way?”
I peek down, which is pointless because now I’m covered by my sleeping bag. “It’s a little sore but it’s fine. Should probably see a doctor about it once we’re out of here.”
“You’d probably have a fever by now if it was infected.”
“Yikes. Could you imagine?”
James rolls over again, trying to find a comfortable position. His shoulder wedges up against mine. Then his leg is against my leg, the hairs rubbing on my smooth skin. The sensation has me clenching my core. I bite my lip. I stay on my back, closing my eyes in the dimming light, willing the buzz away.
I need to not fancy this man.
He doesn’t stop moving, however, shifting this way and that. It’s only small movements but it’s enough to get me properly riled up. “Oh my god, James.Please. Please stop moving.”
James laughs awkwardly, breathy. “I’m trying to find a position where I can make you warm but not get turned on by your body being so close.”
I laugh too. “How’s that going?”
“Sobadly.”
“Oh, sod it. Should I just go and sleep in the rain? Should we hike in the dark?”
“If only we had some distress signals.”
“What? Get rescued by helicopters because we’re too horny to be left alone right now?”
James’ head twists so he can scan my face properly. My lips part as our eyes collide. There’s so much hunger there. So much need in both of us. I think it would seriously take hurricane winds to pull us apart and prevent this from happening.
I act first this time, turning onto my side so my hand can loop through the gorgeous dark hair at the back of his head. He makes the most throaty sound I’ve ever heard as he leans down to take my lips with his. His long, heavy leg links between mine as he seems to forget any of the pain and kisses me back with ardour.
Chapter Fifteen
James groans into my mouth as the kiss gets hotter and harder and just as wanton as it was back in the castle. It’s totally inappropriate for me to want to do this withthisman. I scold myself royally whilst carrying on regardless. I’m thankful we both cleaned our teeth before eating our protein bars – his breath is still freshly minted as I take hold of his bottom lip with my teeth again, like before, tugging until he’s cursing with pleasure.
Whilst one hand plays in his hair, my other roams lower, feeling across his chest and the tangle of hairs there. James takes this as a cue to do the same thing, sweeping his long fingers down along my back, tracing my spine, until he’s cupping my bum and sliding his warm palm under my knickers. He leaves it there. A dare. A challenge.
He’s asking –are we really doing this?
And my answer, as I gasp into his mouth, is clearly,yes. Whatever yes means. It feels as if I have a raging fire whipping up through my core that needs to be soothed. There’s a level of panic which tells me it’s impossible. I can’t be soothed. Not here. Not in this tent getting drenched on the outside. The wind is stroking the skin on our faces as it streams through the material, not strong enough to keep it out completely.
And in addition to the setting, there’s a pressure, a disappointment, lingering before we’ve even begun because it’s been so long since a man has really given me his time.
James is attentive now, slowing his kisses and venturing down my neck, touching points where my pulse meets my skin, lingering there until I’m squirming. He takes a pinch with his teeth, making me jump. I play his game, using my nails to scrape up his back. He arches and I know I’ve got him.
“God,Felicity, what’re we going to do?” he whispers into my neck as he spreads more kisses there, nibbling over my collarbone. “What do you wantmeto do?”
“Anything,” I say but there’s an undertone of panic in my voice I can’t even hide. Do I even know what I’m doing? It’s genuinely been that long. I’ve been too busy, too stressed. But maybe this is what I’ve needed all along.
What if I do something wrong?
He must hear my hesitation because he freezes for a few seconds, as if he’s considering his next move, then lifts his head to look at me. “What is it? You not into this now?” he asks gently, removing his hands from my body.
It’s the worst thing he’s ever done to me.
I shake my head violently. “No! God, no. I mean,yes. I’m into this. It’s just…”
James’ eyes bore down on me with concern, realisation slowly flitting over his face. He pushes his hair back from his forehead and that act alone makes me melt further into the ground.God damn him and his sexy, floppy hair. “Oh. Right. What you told me yesterday about scaring men away for two years?”
I scrunch my face. “I don’t think that’s what I said.”
