Page 14 of Spring Fling

I want to know what she tastes like everywhere.

But just as I start to slip the lace aside, just as her hand slides down my chest toward the waistband of my briefs?—

A loud whoop shatters the night air.

We both freeze.

Voices. Laughter. Footsteps crunching gravel.

Teenagers.

Three of them, maybe four, stumbling through the trees with flashlights and backpacks, all arguing about who was supposed to try to buy beer.

She jerks back from me, cheeks flaming. I sink lower into the water, dragging her protectively behind a rock just in time.

We exchange a look—part terror, part laughter.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she whispers.

I shake my head, fighting a groan.

We stay crouched there for another long second, hearts pounding, trying not to burst into giggles.

Finally, she leans close, her lips brushing my ear. “I think we should move this party to another location.”

“Oh.” I like the sound of that.

“I have a hotel room in town,” she says. “It has fresh towels and a shower where we could clean up and warm up.”

I really like the sound of that.

“It also has a freshly made bed just begging to be messed up.”

FIVE

ANGELA

We stumble into my hotel room, damp from the springs and breathless with laughter.

Wade closes the door behind us, then stands there, his hand still on the handle, like he’s giving me one last chance to change my mind.

Like he’s trying to be good.

Better than he has to be.

God help me, that makes me want him even more.

The tension hums between us, thick and golden, the kind that crackles in the air before a storm.

Outside, the world is dark and cool. Inside, it’s just us and the low hum of the heater kicking on, the soft glow from the bedside lamp spilling across rumpled sheets.

I set my purse down with a quiet clunk and turn to face him.

Neither of us speaks. We don't need to.

Wade crosses the room. Each step deliberate, careful. Like he’s trying not to scare me into running away.

Like I would. No one could tear me away from this man right now.

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