She sank down to the couch, sighing heavily and sending her neatly packaged lightweight tent, one of her pink hiking boots, and her first-aid kit tumbling off the cushions. They landed with thunks on the plush area rug.
What the hell am I doing?
Addy wasn’t a second guesser or a wallower, and the fact that she was doing both simmered uncomfortably in her stomach. She pushed from the couch, sending another pile of supplies to the floor, and stalked into the kitchen for a bottle of wine. She took one from the rack without even looking at the label, uncorked it, and guzzled it.
“Okay, Addison. Time to get your ass in gear.” Carrying the open bottle, she went into her bedroom and grabbed the backpack she’d purchased for the trip, hooked it over her shoulder, and swigged another mouthful of wine. She could do this. Like everything else in life, she’d put one foot in front of the other and refuse to think about the big, brooding boyfriend she’d left behind. Feeling better already, she picked up the camping books she’d nearly forgotten to pack, and her mind traveled back to Jake asking her to let him go over safety precautions. He was so earnest and sincere in his desire to help. Her mind instantly found the image of him crouched in the shower as he spotted her tattoo while he lovingly washed her. He’d looked as worried as he’d been curious. A lump lodged in her throat. Do not go there. She swallowed the guilt of not spilling her secret and shifted the books to the crook of her arm, taking another swig of the liquid courage.
An hour later she sat in the middle of her living room floor in her pajamas, among her supplies, eyeing her laptop. She needed to get Jake off her mind. What better way than to get her mind on someone else? Grabbing her technological friend, she remembered her promise to Jake. No looking at my Tumblr page.
For the weekend.
She eyed the clock on the screen. It was after midnight.
Tapping her finger on the edge of the laptop, she debated taking just a peek. Right, like I ever just peek? Would I mind if Jake just peeked at a hot girls Tumblr page? Jealousy gnawed at her. Unless we were looking at hot couple Tumblr pages together.
Hmm…
She grabbed her cell phone from the coffee table and called Jake. The call went directly to voice mail. Of course. Elpitha’s cell reception sucked. She closed her laptop and took another drink. She didn’t want to look at anyone else. She wanted Jake, and it was her own damn fault he wasn’t there.
Chapter Seventeen
ADDY DIDN’T KNOW how long she’d incorporated the incessant pounding on her apartment door into her dreams, but as she tried to get her foggy brain to focus, reaching blindly for her phone on the floor beside the couch, the pounding began anew. Someone has a death wish. Her phone was dead. Another knock on the door brought her to her feet. She stumbled through her living room, guided only by a sliver of moonlight streaking through the curtains, and tripped over the pile of camping supplies she’d failed to pack before she fell asleep.
Another knock sounded.
“Hold on!” What the hell? “You better hope the complex is on fire.”
She put her tired eye up to the peephole, but whoever was on the other side of it was leaning at an odd angle, and she couldn’t see anything but a shoulder. Great. Some drunk guy probably has the wrong apartment. The guy reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, and her breath left her lungs.
Her stomach flipped as she tugged the door open and Jake lifted his head, one forearm still resting on the doorframe.
“Hey there, sexy girl,” Jake said with an easy smile. He wore the low-slung jeans he’d had on earlier and a dark T-shirt that clung to his broad chest. But it was the look of longing in his eyes that made her heart nearly stop.
“What are you doing here?”
His arm slid around her waist, gathering her against him. “I missed you, too.” His lips met hers in a toe-curling kiss that left no room for anything but the inferno between them.
She came away breathless, her hands pressed firmly on his chest. She curled her fingers under, wanting to stay close. “Why are you here?”
He nuzzled against her neck. “Is that any way to greet your boyfriend at two in the morning?”
She dragged him inside by his collar and closed the door behind them. He was grinning like a fool as he hauled her toward him again, his back against the door. He spread his legs and sank down so they were eye to eye. She’d missed his greedy stare and arrogant grin. She pressed her hand to his scruffy cheek, feeling like she should be annoyed with the intrusion, but all she felt was relief and overwhelming happiness.
“Are you checking up on me?” she teased.
“Do I need to check up on you?” He dragged his eyes down her tank top, lingering on the words emblazoned across her chest: EAT CLEAN PLAY DIRTY. His eyes darkened and flicked to hers for half a second before dropping to her boy shorts, where they lingered on the words printed from hip to hip, ALL-NIGHT BUFFET.
She cringed.
He grabbed her butt, pulling her firmly against him. “It just so happens I’m starved.”
Her body was vibrating with desire, but a hint of worry tiptoed in. Had he come to change her mind about the trip? “Is that right?” She kissed him just below his ear, then bit down hard.
“Ouch! Damn, woman.” He spanked her ass.
She drew back, holding his biceps, and glared at him. “Are you here to get me to change my mind about the trip?”
“No. I’m here because—” His eyes drifted over her shoulder, and he huffed out a disbelieving laugh before meeting her gaze again. “Because I missed you, and someone has to make sure you’re taken care of before you go. Safety-wise, of course.” He reached behind him and handed her a leather journal that he must have had stuffed in the back of his pants, because there was no way it would fit in his pocket. “And I brought you this. In case you want to keep a journal about your adventure.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Really? That’s so sweet, but…this isn’t to soften me up, is it? To get me into an incredible sexathon meant to convince me that I need a six-foot-three tour guide?”
He set the beautiful journal on the floor and brushed one hand over her hair, which she was sure looked like Medusa’s. “I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to you and I wasn’t there to protect you, but I know you want to do this alone. So no, this visit isn’t meant to convince you to let me go. I want to run through the basic safety rules with you, and…” He gathered her closer, holding her like he never wanted to let her go. “I needed you in my arms one last time. Ten days is a long fucking time.”
She’d never thought so before, but ten hours without him had seemed like forever.
“Baby?” he whispered in her ear.
“Mm-hm.” She wanted to stake a tent right there in his arms.
“Is that a pink hiking boot?”
“You have a problem with pink?” She tried to sound offended, but she couldn’t stop smiling. He was there, like he’d somehow known she was missing him, and he wasn’t pushing her to change her mind about the trip.
He rose to his full height, lifting her in his arms as he did. Her legs wound around his waist. She never imagined herself being carried by anyone, and Jake took her from fighting it to wanting it in the blink of an eye.
“Let me show you just how much I love pink.” He carried her through the living room. “Nice packing job.”
“No comments from the peanut gallery. You’re not here to critique me. You’re here to…” She studied his face. Was he really there with no ulterior motive? He missed her? Wanted to teach her a few safety rules?
He stopped at the threshold to the bedroom, pressing his lips to hers. His hand slid beneath her boy shorts and she drew back from the kiss.
“You’re here for a booty call,” she teased.
He carried her into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed with her straddling his lap. “That’s a long way to go for a booty call.”
She flipped her hair dramatically and batted her lashes. “I’m worth it. I’ve ruined you for all other women.”
He lifted her top over her head and tossed it aside. Her nipples puckered at the cool air whisking over them.
“Cocky, aren’t we?” he teased, before bringing his glorious mouth to her breast. His tongue slid over the taut peak, making her shiver all over.
She ran her fingers through his hair. Oh, how she’d missed that. “Just like you’ve ruined me for all other men.”
Turning with her in his arms, he laid her on the bed beneath him and inched down her body one kiss at a time until he reached her shorts. “Baby, I haven’t even begun to ruin you. Now, let’s see what’s on the menu tonight.”
He took her shorts down slowly, licking his lips as he tossed them aside. The predatory look in his eyes made her ache.
She covered her privates with her hands, a big grin tugging at her lips. “Fair’s fair. Naked, big guy. Now.”
A low laugh sailed from his lungs. “My, my. I do love your demanding side.” He tugged off his shirt, swung it over his head, and tossed it across the room.
“Woo-hoo,” she cheered, pushing up on her elbows to take in the show.
He unbuttoned his jeans and swayed his hips as he unzipped them, revealing a tuft of dark hair. Sweet baby Jesus, the man had moves and he’d gone commando.