Page 118 of How You See Me
He’s right behind me, his heavier weight carrying him down faster, and the thrill of the chase pumps adrenaline through me with the force of a firehose.
I run back to the top, but he’s stronger and in far better shape. He takes the stairs two at a time and catches me around my middle, carrying me to the launch platform in the crook of his arm like a weightless football.
“I’m ready to collect my prize.”
Happy to be on the so-called losing end of this race, his low, greedy tone sparks a new level of desire in me.
He shifts my body so we’re chest to chest, and my legs lock around his waist—right where I want to be. He lowers to sit at the top of the slide.
“What are you doing?” I manage, still dazed by the heat in his gaze.
“We’ll ride together this time.” His hands cup my rear, keeping me pressed against him.
As he sets us in motion, the world narrows to only us in this moment. My lips crash against his, and he’s ready for me, freeing all self-doubt and igniting a whirlwind of passion I don’t dare try to contain. A moan rumbles deep in my throat when his hand moves up and inside my tank, right where I need it to be. Somehow, he always knows.
I cling to him, drunk on the feel of his strong frame beneath me. His touch. His kiss. Great goddess, the things he does to me and makes me want to do to him. I could stay like this for hours and never get enough.
Hitting the bottom gives him the steady base he needs to take control. And he doesn’t hesitate. Those rough,calloused hands grip my hips, helping me writhe against him, giving as much as he takes. But I need to touch him in the same way. To have his mouth on my skin and taste his.
I go to remove his shirt, freezing mid-yank when someone yells from the fence.
“Hey! You can’t be in there.”
Of all the times we could be interrupted, why this—
Hayes jumps up and separates from me like it’s his commanding officer barking at us, not a bald park staffer unlocking the gate with a frown.
I hide my snicker and grab his hand.
“Sorry,” I chirp on the way out, breathless and flushed, not sorry at all. Well, I'm sorry the fun had to come to an end.
We bolt back to camp, laughter spilling out of us as the van comes into view.
“We are so naughty,” he teases, scooping me up and cradling me.
“You haven’t seen naughty yet.”
He growls, teeth nipping at my jaw. “I really, really like the sound of that.”
???
We’re back on the road, behind schedule again—but no one’s complaining. After making great use of the van’s comfortable bed, we hit the showers. Hayes ducked into the men’s bathroom to take a shower, knowing he could finish up before me and be waiting when I emerged. But I pulled a trick of my own. I snuck into his stall when no onewas looking, including him, and it was more than worth the risk.
The utter shock on his face, followed by something far more carnal and much, much better will live rent-free in my brain forever. I not only surprised him. I surprised myself.
I’ve never been so brazen. But something about Hayes strips away my layers, revealing a different, bolder person. He makes me feel wanted in a way that’s new and deeply addicting.
Not that he hasn’t made me feel wanted before. Every touch, every glance, every kiss has both ruined and saved me. There’s no going back to the person I once was.
This morning, he took his time with me, then washed my hair and body with those capable hands.
I can still feel them on me now and force the memory out of my head before I beg him to pull over and repeat it.
“Where are we heading today?” I ask, trying to distract myself with scenery and innocent conversation.
“Sedona, Arizona. Ava would love the red rocks there.”
“Oh, no.” I jolt upright, my sketchpad sliding from my lap onto the floorboard.
