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“Ah, no.” She wrinkles her nose. “Just tempering expectations. Duh.”

“Consider me tempered.” I laugh because I love our playful push and pull.

One hour too late and soaked to the bone, we arrive at the parking lot.

Sophia stares at the state park signage with gold letters and reads the hours aloud. “Sunrise to six p.m.”

Then her gaze follows the long fenced wall enclosing the parking lot and ends at the ten-foot-high locked exit gate. I can see the moment she realizes the Jeep is stuck inside.

Freaking out, she whirls on me. “You didn’t want to mention we might get stuck in the jungle overnight?”

44/

sophia

Minty Orgasms

“The Jeep will have to stay, but we can leave on foot,” Gio says.

He hasn’t been able to call out for a ride. If I could barely get service at the airport, or on a mountaintop, I don’t know why I thought it would be different here. When the rain begins again, I tip my head back and release a strangled cry. I’m dirty, sore, hungry, and so darn tired.

“Do you think you could walk another mile?” Gio hugs me and wipes a smudge from my cheek.

I shake my head and squeeze my eyes, on the verge of tears. I overdid it.

“Let’s try this again. Do you think you could walk another mile for a hot shower and a meal?”

I slowly nod at this new motivation. “Yes?”

“That’s my hell kitten.” He taps the bill of my cap, grabs my hand, and leads me forward one slow step at a time.

A mile later, I slide off Gio’s back. I made it halfway before he forced me into a piggyback position. The crazy thing is, he’s not even breathing hard or affected by a million hours of hiking. Meanwhile, my legs feel like jelly.

Gio steps onto a fern-covered path, and I follow with feet dragging, even though I sense we’re finally here, wherever here is. Beyond the plants, a tiny A-frame cottage appears. Nestled within the trees and mist, it’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.

Gio searches for a hidden key on windowsills and under potted plants. When he tips a large volcanic rock in the front garden, he finds it.

“Whose place is this?” I ask as he slips the key into the door.

“A friend’s rental.”

“We’re just going to use it without telling them?” I ask.

“When did you start caring about staying in houses that weren’t yours?” He smirks and nudges open the door.

“Hey—” I start to protest, but I’m too tired to argue.

He kicks off his mud-covered boots and leaves them on the porch before stepping inside and flipping on the lights. I do the same and follow.

In the main space, a king-size bed faces a wall of windows, leading to a terrace overlooking the jungle. There’s a loft, galley kitchen, laundry closet, and bath. Rain pelts the skylights overhead in a soothing rhythm.

Gio tosses his backpack aside, flips on a gas fireplace, and blue flames roar to life. He turns to me, his hair dripping and soaked clothes stuck to his skin, revealing the lines of his strong torso and thighs.

I swallow when the full weight of what this means finally hits. I’m going to be sharing this tiny space with Gio tonight. Alone. Alone. No interruptions from Matt, Amelia, Casey, or anyone. No fans, no phones, no distractions.

Finally.

I inhale a fluttery breath.