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“We didn’t even hike up to the waterfall,” he grumbles.

I shrug. “We’ll do that next time we come up here.”

“You’re sure?” He peers down at me, his forehead creased.

“I think we’ll make this our anniversary hike.” I’m being brave, like he was when he told me he wasn’t taking the wife comment back. “In a year, you can show me the rest of this trail. Right now, I just want to stay here with you and share gourmet chicken and rice and get to know you better.”

Bowen snorts but squeezes me tighter to his side and kisses the top of my head. My heart swells with the deep-seated knowledge that this is it for us. We found each other at the exact right time, and we’ll return to this place year after year, maybe bringing our future family with us if we’re lucky enough to have kiddos.

As the fire dies down and the sun dips low over the treetops, Bowen produces a small plastic tub with two bananas and a bar of dark chocolate. He cuts the bananas open without peeling them, stuffs pieces of chocolate beneath the peel, then wraps them both in aluminum foil and sticks them in the hot coals. Minutes later, he serves up a delicious dessert.

I dig out the softened banana and melted chocolate and lick my spoon clean. “This is amazing. What a great idea!”

I glance up at Bowen to find him staring at my mouth, his gaze ravenous. Feeling bold, I scoop up another spoonful and eat it slowly, then lick the spoon clean once more.

“Get in the tent, Lainey.”

My eyes widen at the deep rumble of his voice.

“But the bears…” I glance at the darkening shadows in the forest. “You said we need to put all our food away.”

“I’ll do that.” He stands and plucks my empty plate from my fingers. “I’ll be back in five minutes, and we’re not leaving the tent again tonight.”

I grin and jump to my feet. “Yes, Daddy.”

The words slip from my mouth before I can stop them.

From the way Bowen’s gaze heats, I know he loves the title.

“Four minutes and thirty seconds,” he growls. “And don’t make me wait.”

Chapter

Six

Bowen

I barely have enough willpower to turn away from Lainey and stomp over to where the stream flows from the lake to rinse out our dishes and wash them with the biodegradable soap. Then I pack all our remaining food in Ziploc bags and stack them in the bear locker. For good measure, I bang the clean pot and metal plates together a few times, making sure the beasties know we’ve occupied this space for the night. The fire has died out, but I kick some dirt over the cool coals just in case.

I’ve never had any issues camping up here, but I’m sure as hell not risking Lainey’s safety because I’m too horny.

I stop in front of the tent and take a second to breathe, hands on my hips, willing myself to calm down. I had Lainey earlier, so I shouldn’t be this worked up. But the memory of her soft body opening up for mine, of her demanding me to take her faster has my cock straining in my pants.

I don’t want to maul her the moment I crawl inside.

But no amount of backward counting will save me from wanting her. So I crouch, unzip the mosquito layer, and shuffle forward.

And stop.

Because Lainey is lying on my sleeping bag, naked, like a godsdamned offering.

My mouth drops open, and I just stare. The swells and dips of her waist and hips remind me of those sensuous baroque paintings I saw in art class years ago—a modern-day Venus. She’s flushed pink but stares right back at me, then raises one eyebrow, the little vixen.

“I didn’t want to make you wait,” she murmurs, her voice husky. “Is this okay?”

I draw a palm over my face. “Okay? You’re a vision. Let me see your pussy, Lainey. I need to see what’s mine.”

She bites her lip, keeping her thighs closed. “You’re not going to stay dressed, are you?”