Page 12 of Wild River

Truthfully, I haven’tstoppedblushing since I woke up from the river and first met this man. It’s been a non-stop swirl of butterflies in my stomach. And since he tore my dress open as easily as shredding paper, since he checked over my cuts and scrapes after the shower, his strong hands so gentle on my skin as he cleaned them all and bandaged me up…

Yeah. If the stove fails, the heat from my body could cook that stew.

“I’m good.”

I don’tsoundgood. I sound strangled as hell. And Jake must hear it too, because his gaze stays on me for a long beat before he turns back to fixing our dinner. Lunch. Mid afternoon meal?

Whatever.

Time today has been warped and crazy. I ran away from the manor house at mid-morning, and who knows how long I was in the river for. Took my time in the shower, too. Now the sunshine spilling through the cabin windows has gone all buttery and golden, and the shadows outside are stretching longer. My stomach’s rumbling, that’s for sure.

“Bet you’re hungry after nearly drowning.” It’s like he can read my mind.

“I could eat every scrap of food in your cupboards and then some.”

Jake nods approvingly, stirring the stew. “You’re welcome to it.”

Gah. He’s been so kind to me already. He’s such a good man.

And with his dark hair all damp from his own shower, as he stands there barefoot in sweatpants and a faded blue t-shirt, all I want is to lick him all over then curl up to sleep in his armpit.

Want to stay in this cabin, with this man,forever.

Hoo, boy. Nearly drowning has really messed with my head.

I can’t get carried away, though. Jake saved my life, and he brought me back here to rest and recover, but that’s not an indefinite invitation. He’s probably craving his own space back already. Probably hoping that I’ll move along soon—that I won’t take advantage of his hospitality.

Well, he doesn’t need to worry. I’ve had etiquette drilled into me every day since before I could walk.

I won’t overstay my welcome.

* * *

We eat on the deck, watching the birds and chewing peacefully, then stay out there for a while and chat about life. About Jake’s rowdy high school days, which I find so hard to picture; about all the rich-person hobbies I had to learn and sucked at. Horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, golf. One especially sucky summer of synchronized swimming.

The big bowl of stew stops my stomach from growling, but there’s a different kind of hunger gnawing on my insides still, and it gets worse and worse as we chat together, the sun sinking toward the trees. It’shim.

Jake is so close yet so far. Near enough to make out every stupid-handsome detail of his stupid-handsome face, the faint lines at the corners of his eyes and few bronze hairs in his beard, but not close enough to touch.

The low rumble of his voice both sets me at ease and makes my nerves go all jittery with longing. If I crawled into his lap, would he push me away?

Eventually, Jake stands then bends over to pick up our bowls.

“I’ll take those.” My body lurches out of my seat, and I snatch them away clumsily, staggering one step to the side. “You cooked. I’ll wash up.”

Jake steadies my elbow. “That’s not how it works with drowning victims.”

“Psh.” I shrug him off and step past him to the doorway, hoping to hide my frazzled expression. Honestly, I can’t tell if I’m dizzy because of my time in the river, or if it’s because I’ve spent hours now physically pining for this man. “I conquered death this morning. Pretty sure I can scrub a few bowls.”

Still, once I’m wrist deep in soapy water, warm steam curling against my cheeks, I sag against the kitchen counter for a second to catch my breath. My pulse throbs in my ears. I’m hot, and dizzy, and so slick between my thighs I can barely stand it. My nipples are hard little beads, stabbing into my borrowed t-shirt.

How much longer can I go on like this? A few more hours of torturous arousal and I’ll explode.

It’s just one more reason not to linger here. Need to get moving, and hopefully once there’s some distance between us, my head will clear enough to think straight.

My family will be searching for me. I need a plan.

“Becca, let me help.”

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