Page 35 of Camping with the Boss

“If you ask River, too careful.”

When he doesn’t continue, I ask softly, “Can I see your scars?”

After that many surgeries, they’d be hard to avoid. And I remember his earlier panic when I’d grabbed his shirt.

Instead of taking his shirt off, he pulls down the collar, exposing several white lines. “You can touch them.”

I swallow, aware of the gift he’s giving me. Trust. He leans his head back, and I brush a finger over his scars. His heart is pounding so fast. Leaning in slowly so he has time to object, I kiss the biggest one. His skin is hot against my lips, and I force myself to stop there.

I kiss his jaw, my heart full. “Thank you.”

He’s quiet. Did I ruin everything? Canyon has exposed so much of himself tonight. And I know that feeling of being laid bare. Raw. I need to give him something.I want to give him something.

“Ander was seven and I was nine when our parents died. A car accident.” I stop. What if it reminds him of his own trauma.

“I’m so sorry,” he says gently. “So your…aunt took care of you?”

I swallow the painful memories. “No. Our uncle. But less than a year later, he married Meredith. Our uncle was sick, and I think he wanted someone to take care of us. But after he died, our aunt decided we’d been coddled enough.”

“Wade…” His eyes are full of emotion as he touches my cheek. I kiss his hand, and then, with my heart racing so fast it feels like the start of something dangerous, I cup his cheek. He presses against my hand and places a kiss in the center of my palm. I can tell the moment he realizes, and my stomach flips. His fingers are gentle as he pulls my hand away and stares at the scars. His eyes widen with shock. “She did this?”

I nod, too emotional to speak.

He traces the scars with his fingers and then softly, sweetly kisses them. When he’s done, he brushes his lips over mine, and this time, it isn’t awkward or painful. “Wade?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“I want you so much. I’m done playing it safe.”

Chapter Nine

Canyon

Tuesday, June 10th, 10:30 p.m.

Wade stares at me. I’ve stunned him into silence. I don’t wait for him to recover. I kiss him. Less painfully this time, coaxing his lips. And then he’s kissing me back, and I’m relieved and frantic at the same time because I need this. I need him.

His hands thread through my hair as he deepens the kiss. The tenderness and care are unexpected. “God, you’re so sweet.”

“Wait…” I sit up, and my hands shake as I pull off my shirt. Wade’s eyes dart to my face. Checking in. I nod.

I thought he was such a brute. And he is. But not to me unless…I want it, and sometimes I really want it.

His eyes roam over my chest. “Gorgeous.”

I flush at his compliment and shake my head. “I’m not.”

He raises a brow. “Are you contradicting me?”

“Um…” Holy smokes. His firm voice has me squirming.

“Do not contradict me. Am I clear?” He tips my chin. “Those thoughts in your head are all lies. You’re beautiful, Canyon. Here…” He brushes his fingertips over my cheek. “And here.” Down my chest. My body screams at him to keep going. I’maching for his touch. His hand moves, not down, but up to my temple. “And in here.”

“Anywhere else?” I ask as demurely as I can. My eyes peeking up at him.

His breath catches. “You are a cheeky little?—”

“Little? Are you sure? You didn’t even check.”

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