Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
I propped my head on my hand and shamelessly watched her sleep, her body curled toward mine even though we were in separate sleeping bags, and noted the dark circles her long lashes rested against. We’d come to bed early when I’d realized she’d fallen asleep against my shoulder next to the campfire, but even a good ten hours of sleep wasn’t going to help the exhaustion she’d driven herself into. It had nothing to do with yesterday’s hike, or the late-afternoon swim either.
“I don’t want to wake you,” I whispered. “But I know you love bacon, and if we wait any longer, there won’t be any left.” Not with my nieces and nephews running amok.
She rustled with a deep breath, then sank farther into the pillow.
“Allie,” I said softly.
Her eyes fluttered open, and my heart lurched as she smiled at me. “Hudson,” she murmured, then fell right back asleep.
Yeah, I could get used to waking up like this every single day for the rest of my life.
You can’t even get her to agree to a summer. But I would.
If it wasn’t for our mission to humanize Caroline, I would have let Allie sleep and brought back breakfast, but unfortunately, my sister would see that as Allie being spoiled instead of me being thoughtful.
“Hey, love,” I tried again. “You’d better wake up or you’ll have to catch the only protein you’ll get for breakfast with a pole and a lure.”
“I don’t know how to fish,” she muttered as her eyes opened again.
I grinned. “Well aware. We need to get moving.”
She nodded with a groan of protest, and we both unzipped our bags. “Look at us, making it through the night without falling prey to the one-bed trope.” Her feet hit the floor.
“The what?” We both rummaged through our packs on separate sides of the queen-size bed, pulling out clothes.
“You know, like in a book or a movie where the couple can’t stand each other, but there’s only one bed left at the inn, and they end up sleeping together.” She turned her back, and I did the same, repeating the same awkward dance we’d done last night to get ready for bed. One-room cabins didn’t exactly leave room for privacy, and neither of us was willing to risk being caught out on the porch while the other changed if any of my family happened to walk by.
“Don’t worry.” I yanked my shirt over my head. “We still have tonight.”
“Shit,” she muttered as I pulled on my shorts.
“Problem?” I focused on my socks and shoes to keep from turning around.
“I got marshmallow all over the front of my sweatshirt trying to help Juniper with s’mores last night, and now everything in the forest is stuck to it.”
I reached into my bag and pulled out my black hoodie, then threw it backward over my head to her. “Take mine.”
“I’m dressed. You can turn around,” she said, a hint of—dare I think—happiness in her voice. “And thank you.”
I tucked my phone into my pocket, just so I could snag some pictures, then turned and stared as Allie walked around the end of the bed.
Holy fucking hell was she perfect.
“Should we get going?” She pulled the wavy mass of her hair into some kind of topknot.
My hoodie swallowed her, shorts and all, leaving the impression that she was naked underneath, and drawing all my focus to those long flawless legs. Perfect, toned, silk-smooth legs I’d had over my shoulders, her thighs locking so beautifully tight around my head as I licked—
“Hudson?”
I swallowed. “Yeah, we should go.”
“You all right?” She pushed the sleeves up her arms.
“Yep.” I followed her out the door and into the crisp morning air. “Just remembering the way you taste.” Honesty was the best policy . . . when possible.
She startled. “Well, good morning.”
“Would have been a way better morning if I’d woken you up with an orgasm.” We started down the worn path toward the other cabins. “I do enjoy breakfast in bed.”
“You can’t say things like that.” Her cheeks flushed, and birds chirped in the trees.
“You like it when I say things like that.” We passed cabin eight. “You also like it when I call you love, when I kiss the side of your neck, and you definitely like it when I use both my fingers and my tongue—”
She covered my mouth with her hand, bringing us to a standstill.
I leaned into it and kissed the center of her palm.
Her eyes flared and her hand fell away. “Someone could hear.”
“Is that your only protest?” I grinned.
She glanced at my mouth once. Twice. Then she sighed and whipped her head forward, pulling the sleeves of my hoodie down over her hands. “That’s not happening again.”
I caught up as she walked down the trail, picking up the pace as we passed seven. “So you said the first time.”