Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Just as I was about to go into full panic mode, Jake tossed a banana at me and grunted. “Eat something. You’re obviously hungry.”
I nodded, tearing into the banana like a caveman as we returned to the trail.
We hiked in silence for a good mile or so. I cranked up Led Zeppelin, Rage Against the Machine, and any other angsty song on my rotation with heavy drumbeats and screaming guitars. I didn’t want to think or talk. I wanted to get to camp and get away from Milligan, stat.
I wasn’t needed here anymore. I’d get a ride into town, book a flight to LA, and spend my summer at the beach and with Eddie. And I’d get laid…like immediately.
Sex…with a woman. Chandra would probably love to hear from me. It had been a while. She was a fan of mindless, meaningless screwing with no strings, no big conversations, no—
I plowed into Jake’s back and tripped over a root, dislodging one of my earpods. I was too distracted by the sudden deafening quiet to register that we were inches apart. The hair on his forearm brushed mine, sending that same fucking tingle along my spine.
“Why’d you stop?”
Jake put a finger to his lips, lowering his backpack as he pointed skyward to the canopy of greenery. “See that woodpecker? He and his friends are the architects of the hollowed trees in this part of the forest. This is where Wood Hollow gets its name.”
I shrugged my burden from my shoulders too, and squinted, but I didn’t see the bird until Jake got into my space and gave me coordinates. And now we were standing closer than ever. Yeah, it was innocent this time, but tell that to my racing pulse.
Shit, it was happening again. A haze of desire clouded my mind, and I was a millisecond from freaking the fuck out. Hold it together, Mason. Hold it—
Too late.
I pushed Jake and growled. “Give me some fucking space.”
I expected a burst of anger, a “Fuck off,” and a continued stroll through the enchanted forest. What I got was…not that.
Jake shoved me hard against the nearest tree, a hand on my throat, one leg between my knees. “You started this, asshole. You did it…not me.”
“Did what?” I bluffed, gaze drifting to his plush lips.
“You kissed me.” Jake’s eyes flashed and burned.
He was gonna punch me. I knew it, and I deserved it.
“I didn’t—”
He slammed his mouth over mine.
Shock gave way to an inferno of lust so intense, I was sure I was on fire. Our lips were mashed together…zero finesse. This wasn’t a kiss; it was a power play. This was him, pinning me to the boards, fighting me for the puck. And he wasn’t going to win, damn it. No way.
I reached out, fingers crooked on his neck. Jake swatted my hand and caught both wrists, roughly lifting them above my head.
“We’re even now. Don’t fuck with me, I won’t fuck with you, got it?”
Holy crap. I’d never been harder in my life. My cock was knocking against my zipper like a sledgehammer, begging for release. All logical response deserted me. Fight, laugh, tell a joke, make a snide remark. Nope, I had nothing.
Jake let go, nostrils flaring as he stepped aside.
And I pounced. You didn’t think I’d let him win, did you?
I covered him like a blanket so we were chest to chest, nose to nose, breathing each other’s air. I couldn’t say who made the first move this time…maybe it was a mutual thing. One second we were in the middle of a staring match and the next, we were doing battle with our mouths.
There was nothing sweet about it. We were fucking velociraptors, sucking, biting, and clawing. Jake’s lips parted and I pushed inside, tangling our tongues in a frenzy. He met me thrust for thrust, angling his chin to deepen the connection. And damn, it was hot.
I liked the way he tasted—fruity and minty…and masculine. I sucked his tongue, breaking for air to lick his neck. I didn’t want to lose contact. I needed this. I wasn’t going to ask tricky questions…not yet, anyway. I was content to feast on his lips for as long as he’d let me, and take care of my cock later.
That was the idea till Jake tugged free, hooked his fingers in my belt loop, and pulled me close enough that there was no mistaking that we were both mightily turned on. The glide of his erection against mine was a game changer.
I mean, making out was innocent and harmless. No, I’d never done it with a dude and even now, I wasn’t convinced I wanted to kiss Jake. I’d wanted to hurt him, make him feel rough and unhinged. But my dick was getting involved, and that was a terrible idea.
“Oh, fuck,” I groaned as he tilted his hips again.