“He didn’t tell you why he was ending things?”
“No, he just kept saying it wasn’t me; it was him. Since I’ve been here, I’ve started to wonder if he didn’t find someone else who made him happy.”
“Cybil.”
Without looking at him, I shake my head. “We’ve known each other since we were five. He and Jade were always my best friends. Before we were even teenagers, all everyone ever talked about was how he and I would end up together, so when it happened, I thought everyone was right. Now, I don’t think they were.”
“What do you mean?” he asks, and I look over at him, swallowing hard.
“Have you ever met someone who made your pulse race to the point of lightheadedness, or someone who made you feel like you were coming out of your skin with one look?”
“Yeah,” he says with his eyes locked on mine, and jealousy makes my skin prickle as I wonder how many women have given him that feeling.
“I never felt that until recently. I . . . I didn’t even know those feelings even existed before now.” I grip the cup in my hand tighter as his eyes seem to darken and his jaw twitches.
“Who made you feel those things?” he asks roughly, and I rub my lips together.
“You,” I admit, sure that I should keep that information to myself.
“Come here, Cybil,” he orders, but he doesn’t actually give me a chance to come to him. His hand shoots out, and his fingers wrap around the base of my scalp; then he angles my head just like he wants it and drops his mouth to mine.
The first brush of his lips makes me dizzy; then his tongue slides across my bottom lip, causing my nipples to tighten and the space between my legs to pulse. My mouth falls open on a gasp, and he takes the opportunity to tangle his tongue with mine. As the kiss deepens, I despise the mug in my hands, because all I want to do is touch him back, to run my fingers through his thick hair and dig my nails into his skin.
“Jesus, Cybil,” he groans, resting his forehead against mine, and I whimper in agreement, not sure I’ll be able to take much more, not without dropping hot cocoa all over us.
I moan when he leans in to nip my bottom lip and whimper as he places a soft kiss and a swipe of his tongue against my abused mouth. “Wow.” My eyes flutter open, and I find him watching me like I’m the most fascinating thing he’s ever seen in his life, when I know that’s far from the truth, given the life he’s lived.
“Are you okay?”
Am I okay? I’m not sure. I feel like I’ve stepped into a raging river while attached to a live wire, and all my nerve endings are standing at attention like they’re waiting to see what will happen next.
“I’ve wanted to do that since you told me off at the bar.” He smirks at the memory as he smooths the tips of his fingers over my cheek. “And a dozen times since then.” His eyes focus on his fingers as they tuck my hair behind my ear.
“Really?” I ask, and he tips his head down until his gaze locks with mine. When I see the look he gives me, my pulse that had slowed speeds right back up.
“You’ve tested my control these last few days, sunshine.”
“Oh.” I lick my lips, liking that he wants me as much as I want him, that I’m not the only one who’s been fighting all these feelings. “I’ve wanted to kiss you too.” I smile while adding, “Though when we first met, I really wanted to kick you.”
Laughing, he leans back, taking the mug of cocoa from my grasp. “I guessed that when you brushed me off.”
“You deserved it.”
“Yeah,” he says softly, putting the lid on the thermos and wrapping his arm around my shoulders to pull me into his side. I lean into him with a smile on my face, then jump a mile when a loud bang echoes through the quiet morning air, causing the birds in the nearby trees to take flight.
“What was that?” I ask as he bolts to his feet and looks around.
“Gunshot. My guess, a twelve gauge.” He spins in a full circle, scanning the tree line before facing me. “Come on.” He reaches for my hand, and as he pulls me up off the log, there’s another shot, this one sounding closer. “Let’s get back to camp.”
Without another word, he tucks me into his side and leads me quickly back through the forest. As soon as we make it to camp, we find that everyone is up and standing outside their tents, looking sleepy but concerned.
“Where have you two been?” Lauren asks accusingly when she spots us, and I force Tanner to release my hand, wanting badly to tell her it’s none of her business. But I know this is his job, and I don’t want to jeopardize his or his friends’ reputation.