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  “Why do you stare at my lips?”

  I cleared my throat and forced my gaze up to meet hers. “Sorry. I know it makes you uncomfortable, but I can’t seem to help myself.”

  “Does it bother you?”

  “The scar?” I asked.

  Eve nodded.

  “Not at all. It doesn’t distract from your beauty one bit.”

  Her focus turned on the glass in her hands, a light flush tinging her cheeks pink.

  Eve

  I wanted to latch onto Bastian’s side like a leech and satisfy my hunger for his sweet spirit. And hard body.

  One last gulp emptied my wineglass, and I stood.

  While I’d noticed his body’s attraction on more than one occasion, I wasn’t yet sure I trusted his intentions. Ever since I’d met him, I reminded myself of the dangers of becoming involved. But I felt a strange connection to him, like a missing piece of something clicked in place. Giving in would be so easy. Effortless.

  And then you’d have your heart broken.

  Torn between elation and depression, I cleared our empty plates. My nerve endings tingled like he watched my every move, and my body instinctively knew even though I kept my back to him while readying dessert.

  Rain pinged on the kitchen window. “I’d thought about taking our dessert out on the back porch, but it’s raining. Want to go in the living room instead?”

  “Sounds good.” His chair shifted across tile. “Want more wine?”

  “Sure.”

  His footsteps brought him close behind me, and my breath caught, his nearness causing my skin to burn.

  The carpet of the living room muted his foot falls, and I let out a rush of air. If I didn’t get a hold of myself, there’d be trouble. No amount of focusing on gathering dessert plates and forks simmered down my desire or the arousal brewing between my thighs.

  I placed the apple crisp I’d made on the coffee table and eyed the lone chair.

  Bastian patted the cushion beside him, and my feet obeyed. Curling one leg beneath me, I finally turned my focus on his face.

  He stared at my mouth. Again.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” I asked, unable to help myself.

  Bastian lifted his gaze. The desire swimming in his eyes sucked the moisture from my mouth and sent it racing to my panties. “I’m wondering what you taste like,” he murmured.

  Mind emptying of everything but thoughts of giving in, I wet my lip with the tip of my tongue.

  “May I kiss you, Eve?”

  Danger be damned. I nodded, needing to know if my deformed upper lip would disgust him as it had a few others who’d kissed me.

  Bastian’s smooth palm cradled my cheek, and his thumb swept across my lower lip. As though giving me time to change my mind, he took his time leaning toward me.

  Every cell in my body wanted him. His kiss. His touch.

  Please.

  My eyelids fluttered shut, and he brushed his lips across mine. Heart thumping in my ears, I reveled in the moment, grasping onto the feelings coursing through me. Another sweep of his mouth, and Bastian backed off, resting his forehead against mine.

  I breathed in the sweetness of his exhale, waiting for him to release me and tell me he had to go.

  Bastian’s free hand cupped the other side of my face. “Are you all right?” His strained voice sent a shot of pure lust straight to my clit.

  Grabbing onto his shirt, I angled my head and pressed forward, needing more. So much more.

  He groaned against my mouth, and at the touch of his tongue, I parted my lips. Unhurried, he swept in, twining. Caressing. Taking what I willingly offered.

  A storm billowed inside me as Bastian continued his leisurely exploration. Like a cat, I wanted to curl up on his legs and bask in the attention he lavished.

  One of his hands moved over my shoulder and tugged me forward.

  Without breaking our sealed lips, I untangled my legs to scoot closer. He pulled me sideways onto his lap and, hand lingering on my calf, slid his lips along my jaw.

  I sucked in air and clutched at his shoulders, the muscles quivering beneath my touch. A gasp escaped me as his teeth grazed my collarbone.

  Good God above.

  My core molten and weeping for gratification, I wanted to shred our clothes. Impale myself on the hard length pressing against my thigh. Take him in, again and again in frenzied passion until stars exploded behind my eyelids.

  Bastian’s slow journey continued from one side of my neck to the other. He returned his kiss to the hollow of my throat, and I rolled my head to the side in offering.

  “You smell so good, Eve.” Warm lips pressed against my chin. “And you taste…” His fingers threaded into my ponytail while the others dug into my calf. A tremor wracked through his body.

  Heaving for breath, he tipped my head back down. Darkened eyes bore into mine.

  I ran my hand up the side of his neck, his pulse jumping beneath my thumb as we shared the same air.

  A true gentleman, I realized as his grasp on my leg loosened and he soothed back my hair, tucking wayward tresses behind my ears. He had no intentions of taking things any further.

  Although relief—and reason—nudged its way back into my greedy mind, I wanted to growl in frustration.

  Now what?

  Anxiety crept in, scattering my thoughts. “I-I’m going hiking tomorrow.” My voice sounded breathless, my impediment intensified, but I rushed on. “I don’t even know if you like camping, but I’ve got a four-man tent. It’s plenty big enough for two sleeping bags. Do you want to come with me? Unless you have to go to the office, or—”

  “I’d love to go.”

  Swallowing, I smoothed down my shirt, wiping the sudden dampness from my palms.

  Bastian’s smile rid the tension from my shoulders, and I pressed my lips to his one last time. “Apple crisp?”

  He chuckled, and the sound filled me with joy. “Absolutely.”

  An hour later, I stood in my open doorway and watched Bastian amble into the dark night. Light mist continued to fall, but he took his good old time leaving me. Once framed in his own door, Bastian turned and lifted a hand.

  While I hadn’t wanted the night to end, the promise of the rest of the weekend ahead had me longing for sleep like most kids the night before Christmas. I just wanted it to be tomorrow all ready.

  I shut and locked the door, and leaned against it, peering from the living room to kitchen and back again. Although the radio still played softly throughout the downstairs, I realized my solitude for the first time. My house felt … empty.

  Gah. Don’t even go there.

  Striding into the kitchen, I focused my mind on cleaning up the mess I’d made while cooking for Bastian.

  Bastian.

  A smile lifted my lips, and I ignored the persistent unease over what lay ahead.

  Bastian

  I knocked on her door within minutes of the sun cresting the eastern hills.

  Coffee mug in hand and dressed in a long, blue robe, Eve welcomed me in with a smile. “Figured since we were heading into the sticks, I might as well let you see me in all my non-happy, day-break glory.”

  “You’ve never looked better.” I couldn’t help but speak the words on my mind. They earned me another “bullshit” curl of her lip.

  “Coffee?” she asked, turning away.

  “That’d be great.”

  “I know I said the crack of dawn, but I’m having trouble waking up this morning.” Eve grabbed a mug from a cabinet and filled it with coffee while I settled on a bar stool.

  “Couldn’t sleep last night?”

  She snorted on laughter. “You could say that. Sugar? Cream?”

  “Black is good.”

  She handed me the coffee and leaned back against the sink, studying me while I sipped. “Don’t bother packing a razor,” she said, focus on my freshly shaved jaw.

  “Like scruff, do you?”

  Her cheeks tinged pink and, glancing away, she cleared her
throat. “There are no bathrooms where we’re heading.”

  “Oh.”

  Eve failed to hide her smirk behind her mug. “Never been camping before?”

  “No.”

  “Well, then … this is going to be interesting.” She moved toward the stairs. “Ten minutes, and I’ll be ready.”

  * * * *

  Gear stowed on Eve’s back seat, we headed south east through the boon docks, on roads winding through hills, trees, and dappled sunlight. Radio off, we talked non-stop except for when we pit-stopped at a small grocery store for two days’ worth of junk food.

  Pleased with the bricks I’d plucked off the top of the wall still closing Eve off from me, I pressed onward, determined to show her how lovely a creature she was—inside and out.

  Birds sang and leaves rustled in the overhead trees when I climbed out of the Subaru. Sunlight filtered down on the small camping site and glinted off Eve’s blonde hair as she popped open the trunk.

  She tossed me a bag as I moved around the car to help unload. “You’re on tent duty.”

  Her laughter accompanied my attempt at feeding the tent poles through their sleeves. I refused to give over to her offer to do it, and a half-hour later, I stood, hands on hips, proud of the green dome I’d put together.

  “Here.” Eve tossed me another bundle of green material. “The outer tent.”

  “Outer tent? What the hell is that?”

  “Rain shield. And don’t worry.” She snickered, fishing through the canvas bag. “There’re no poles involved. Just clamps and pegs.”

  Expelling a loud breath, I set to work, taking another half-hour to figure out the damn contraption. I finally finished, and Eve pulled out the subs and sodas we grabbed at the store and threw them into her backpack. “Late lunch at the overlook,” she said. “Ready to hike?”

  I held out my hand for her bag, but she shook her head and strapped it onto her back. Feeling like a pansy, I motioned her forward. “Lead the way.”

  The scent of pine, crushed dead leaves, and damp soil filled my nose. The air smelled clean. Untouched by man. Birds chirped and squirrels rustled overhead, but more often than not, my gaze strayed to Eve’s ass and toned legs ahead of me as she stepped over rocks and roots in the steep path.

  Thinking of her shapely limbs wrapping around my waist and pressing me deeper inside her stiffened my cock. How the hell was I going to sleep a mere foot away from her with a raging hard-on? I hadn’t a clue, but damn, I couldn’t wait for nightfall.

  “Isn’t the view up here gorgeous?” Eve asked without turning.

  A grin near split my face in half. “Sure is.”

  “How are you holding up?”

  Up being an understatement, I chuckled. “Never felt better.”

  “Good.” She flashed a smile over her shoulder. “Once lunch settles, I’m taking you down the gorge.”

  I’d love to go down your gorge. Clearing my throat, I said, “Down sounds good.” Oh, so good.

  * * * *

  Although horny as hell, I’d never been more relaxed once we returned to camp. I watched in awe as she leaned sticks against each other like a teepee around a single crumpled up piece of paper, and seconds later had a blazing campfire. Loud cracks sounded, sending sparks into the air.

  I opened, and she heated a can of beef stew. While the scent wrinkled my nose—and caused more laughter to bubble from Eve—I chowed down, filling the hole the day’s exercise had created in my stomach.

  “Enjoy the fire,” Eve said, standing and gathering our plastic bowls. “I’ll clean up the pot.”

  “I won’t argue.” Sprawling out on my borrowed sleeping bag beside the fire, I feasted my eyes on Eve as she moved with ease around our site. No fidgeting. No sidelong glances. “I can see why you love it out here.”

  She tucked an escaped lock of hair behind an ear and bent over her task of wiping the blackened pot clean. “While it’s quiet at home, nothing compares to the peaceful outdoors.”

  Temptation to tell her I knew of a thing or two that would compare in enjoyment rolled over me, but I refrained. Shadows lengthened across the small campground, and although we had neighbors a stone throw away, their murmuring barely reached my ears. Shrubs and trees blocked us from view, and leaning back, hands behind my head, I decided tonight, come hell or high water, I would hear Eve’s gasps, smother her moans with my lips as my hands explored her body.

  Twilight hindered sight through the trees before she finished cleaning up. After hiding herself in the tent for a few minutes, she emerged with pants and clogs replacing her hiking gear. She settled onto the ground beside my knees.

  I leaned up on my elbow and propped my head on my hand. “Eve.” I patted the sleeping bag I laid on. “Come up here.”

  Her bottom lip sucked between her teeth as she peered at me in the growing darkness. “Why?”

  “I want to kiss you.”

  A gasp reached my ears, and I wished we’d brought a lantern so I could see her face. She scooted to my side, and I tugged her down to lay beside me.

  Baby steps.

  Inches separated our bodies, but I didn’t pull her close like I longed to do. Instead, I ran a fingertip down her cheek and neck, her pulse thrumming beneath my feather-light touch. She gazed up at me with widened eyes. Her lips parted and breathing hitched, and I held in my groan. As if my aching cock needed her encouragement.

  Enjoying the tension sizzling between us, I leaned down and kissed her, and the second I swept my tongue along the seam of her lips, she moaned and shimmied closer.

  Arousal rolled over me, and I clamped my arm around her waist, pressing her breasts and hips tight against me. My groan escaped into her mouth. No way in hell would I get any sleep.

  A shudder rippled through her body as I sucked her lower lip between mine and slowly released my grip. I nipped her chin and planted kisses along her jaw. Her sigh and head roll emboldened me to do as I’d been dreaming of all day.

  I loosened my hold on her waist to run my palm along the tops of her rounded ass and press against her thigh with my stiff cock. She draped her leg over mine, drawing a groan from deep inside me.

  Fuck.

  With my slow and easy plan in mind, I intentionally hadn’t brought protection. Cursing myself for a fool, I claimed her lips again, letting her feel the raging inferno inside of me.

  Damn the baby steps. I slid my hand inside the back elastic of her pants and dug my fingers into her ass cheek, grinding against her pelvic bone.

  Eve clutched at my hair and shifted her hips forward, encouraging me to thrust against the clothing separating us. My control teetered.

  Eve

  My body trembled beneath the flames licking my skin as Bastian devoured my mouth. And his hands … good God above, his hand roamed up and down my bare ass, fingers dipping lower with each downward press.

  Dangerous.

  Ignoring the word clanging in my mind, I lowered my leg from his waist to his knee, loosening my pants he explored beneath.

  A finger slid through my wetness, drawing a moan from deep in my chest. He stopped shy of my throbbing clit and roamed back.

  “I want to taste you, Eve.”

  Bastian’s murmured words sent my heart into hyper drive.

  “I’ve never … I mean, no one…” My mind struggled for words as my body begged for fulfillment. I didn’t say no. Couldn’t. I would allow myself this one pleasure in life, taking whatever Bastian would give. “Yes.”

  He leapt up, pulled me along, grabbed the sleeping bag, and grasped my hand in his. Pulse beating between my ears, I ducked into the tent and spread open his sleeping bag while he zipped us into privacy.

  On his knees, Bastian crawled toward me. Enough light from the still-flickering fire allowed me to see the desire in his eyes as he drew close. He placed a gentle kiss on my lips and pressed forward until I lay down. Back on his haunches, he pulled off my shoes and tossed them. Two fingers slipped beneath my pants and panties and slid them do
wn my legs.

  Heat swept through my body.

  Bastian lifted my right leg, raining kisses along my calf. My knee. The inside of my thigh.

  Eyes clenched shut, I bit my lip to keep from whimpering. Hot breath blew across my core a second before he licked up through my wetness. My hips rose to meet him, my legs wrapped around his back.

  A mixture of moans and gasps flew from my lips as he lapped and suckled on my swollen nub. Teeth grazed as he backed away, the suction extending my clit. It popped free from his mouth, and I sucked in air, pinpricks of light ready to explode within my mind.

  “D-don’t stop,” I whispered, the words ripping from my parched throat as I lifted my hips. “Please.”

  His tongue pressed into me so damn slowly, I groaned and grabbed his head between my hands. “Please, Bastian.”

  Two fingers slid into my soaked passage and curled as his tongue flicked up to my throbbing bundle of nerves.

  Tension coiled in my stomach and spread downward, and my back arched off the ground as he clamped his lips around my clit. An orgasm like I’d only dreamed of sent me soaring. The sound of rushing wind filled my ears, muting my cries.

  My legs dropped from their hold on his waist, and he planted a kiss on my belly button as I tried to catch my breath and make sense of the universe. Bones nothing more than mush, I couldn’t move. I basked in the after effects of my release, the euphoric feeling the world could end and I wouldn’t give a shit.

  Bastian stretched out beside me and tugged me against his body.

  “What about you?” I finally found my voice.

  “I’m fine.”

  Running my palm down the hardness pressing against his jeans, I murmured, “Sure about that?”

  He pulled my earlobe into his mouth. “Keep that up much longer,” he whispered into my ear, “and I’ll be more than fine.”

  I rolled to my side and tugged his jeans down enough to release his penis from its prison.

  A groan rumbled in his chest as I slid my hand down his length and back up again. On my second journey southward, he grabbed my arm, stilling me. “Stop, Eve. You don’t have to do this.”