Page 122 of River & Rue

“I don’t care.”

Dan coughs. “What if they’re…”

“I. Don’t. Care. I need to see her, Dan. I just need to.”

The waver in Maya’s voice hauls me to my feet. I throw on loose shorts and a T-shirt and run to the front door, unlocking it so fast I chip a nail. I yank it open and Maya throws herself at me, hugging me so tightly I wheeze.

“You bitch, I thought a bear ate you.”

Her voice is thick with tears. I hold her to me, briefly meeting Dan’s concerned gaze.

“Hey, I’m here. I’m okay.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t let you take the saucepan or the crochet needles.”

I snort. “Trust me, they wouldn’t have helped.”

The floor creaks behind me.

Maya’s head lifts an inch, then lowers fast. She whispers, “Um, hello? How have you not hit that?”

I glance over my shoulder. River stands in the middle of the room, a towel held tightly around his waist. He looks embarrassed and awkward as hell, but there’s no denying his physical appeal. After a month of regular meals and a more relaxed workout routine, I think he looks even better. More like the River I’ve known for a decade.

Dan peers past us. “What the hell, man? Put the muscles away.”

River gives me a wince of apology. “I didn’t have clean clothes.” His eyes flicker to Maya. “You guys should spend the afternoon together. Book some massages, do some ecstatic dance or whatever. Bonding shit.”

Maya laughs and releases me.

I smile at her. “What do you think?”

She glances at Dan. He gives her an encouraging smile, but when she looks back at me, her eyes are teary again.

I reach out and squeeze her hand. “What do you need?”

“Would it be weird if we all hung out together? Just chill by the pool or something?”

“Not weird at all.”

Dan wraps an arm around Maya’s waist. “You know I’ll take every second with you I can get.”

An electric pulse down my spine warns me an instant before River’s chin lands lightly on my head.

“I’m in.”

Maya sweeps her fingers under her eyes. “Thanks, guys. I think it’s hitting me that we only have twelve more days, and I’ll be locked in my studio for most of it. The camping trip felt like our last chance to relax and have fun together.”

Dan kisses her temple. “Afternoon of relaxation coming up.”

River presses closer, snuggling his cock into my ass, and the contact sets off a chain reaction in my body that reminds me I’m tragically—once again—sans underwear. By the amusement lacing his voice, he knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

“How about we skip dinner at the Lodge and use one of the grills by the pool instead?”

Dan nods eagerly. “And when it gets dark, we can do s’mores at the fire pit.”

Maya grins. “And play Never Have I Ever?”

The men groan.