Page 24 of Feverburn

Carson: Jesus fucking Christ!

Me: Don’t give him credit!

Carson: You’re right. Sweet Freya! You’regorgeous, Rosie. If you keep this up, I will have to replace another damn door.

Smiling at his quick use of the Norse goddess oflove,sex, and beauty, I locked my phone screen, hoping the selfie would haunt him for the foreseeable future.

Carson crept into my dreams the entire night, on the periphery of my awareness in a maddening way. I woke up and could’ve sworn he was next to me. Falling back asleep, I had another dream, this time more vivid. It started with him looking up at me from between my legs as his hands clutched my thighs, his bottom lip glistening with remnants of me. The vision morphed to himlyingdown as I braced myself over him, stroking his dick. It was so thick that my fingers barely touched my thumb as I stroked upwards, his deep breaths layering echoes around me. The dream ended with his heartbeat thumping as he held me to his chest, both of us fighting for steady breath. The heartbeats morphed while I jolted awake, my pulse bouncing between my ears.

“Carson?”I called out in my loft, convinced he was with me. I patted my bed, confirming it was empty, and slumped back, staring at my ceiling, unable to fall asleep.

Chapter Eleven

I went for my daily run,gratefulto move my body to distract myself from the last night’sdirtydreams. I picked my favorite trail that had forest on either side. It rained overnight, so everything puddled and smelled amazing. The sun was about to rise, lighting the sky in a mauve color. Ten minutes in, I saw a woman jogging ahead wearing yoga pants and a jacket that matched the sunrise. As I got closer,bloodpooled from my brain to my groin.

I’d recognize that ass anywhere.

Desirelow in my belly coiled as I took a deep gulp and tore my hood off my head, hoping it would make my approach lessfrightening. A man in head-to-toe black sprinting behind you would bescaryfor anyone, especially a woman; even I knew that.

Rosie must’ve felt my gaze because she looked over her shoulder, her mouth hanging before she snapped it shut. She stopped, stretching her arms with a smile as I approached.

“Hey, girl.”

“Hey, fancy meeting you here.”

“Mm, not really,”I teased as we began to jog together. “I told you I lived this way, so how do I know you’re not stalking me?”

“You’re the one who suggested this side of the valley. How do I know you’re not luring me in?”

I shrugged, enjoying the way she argued with me. She wasn’t wrong.

“Where’s Kiszka?”she asked.

“I can’t take him out right after it rains because he’ll find the puddles and roll in the mud. Bathing a husky is like going to the DMV. No one has the time or enjoys it.”

That made her giggle.“Do you run here often?”Her ponytail swung with her trot, bouncing along with herperfecttits.

“Daily. Keeps me sane.”

She ran faster and looked back over her shoulder.“I guess you’ll need more of that sanity with me around.”

My instincts kicked in, and I grabbed her hand, dodging a look around while I darted to the forest line. My chuckle mixed with her breathy laughter while we disappeared. I loved her hand in mine and how she let me lead her deeper.

“Finally alone,”I said, pulling her into the shadow underneath a tree.

“Alone is good,”she whispered, stepping closer to me.

I held her face as her eyes searched mine. She was so beautiful, even without makeup. I stared at her pink lips parting before I lowered mine to meet them. Her lips were smooth, and she tasted as sweet as I imagined. Her hands ran along my shoulders and arms. Mine drifted down to her back, swooping her closer. I needed her softness pushing into me.

A whimper escaped her. I pulled from thekissto gauge the moment, but her eyes remained locked on my lips as she nodded. I returned to kissing her as she wrapped her arms around my neck. I brushed my tongue against hers, sweeping and teasing. Her pheromones and sweat mingled in my senses, making me even hornier. With our fleetingprivacyin the shrouded pines, we kissed hungrily, swaying together inlustand exploration. She was so fuckingperfect, and a part of me was relieved our physical chemistry was as sizzling as I thought it would be. We couldn’t fake this. This was something unmatched, undeniable.

Her breathy noises pushed me over the edge, and I had to do something. I needed her so much closer. I picked her up, hitching her body across mine in a swift motion.“Carson…baby…”she breathed inshockwhile wrapping her legs around me. With a cheek in each hand, my body hummed as her warm center pressed against me, pushing me further into my haze.

I stepped forward, pinning her to the tree trunk. She let out a slight gasp and held me tighter. I groaned at her reaction, tilting my head to deepen thekiss. Her smooth little tongue brushed against mine again, her nails raking through my hair and over my shoulders. As far as first kisses go, this wasintense, far from chaste. If this is how she kissed, I couldn’t fathom how she did other things.

I nibbled and kissed down her jaw to her neck.“That selfie was so fucking sexy, but this, right here with you, is so much better.”My mouth traveled to her collarbone.“Rosie, you’re driving mecrazy.”

“I know the feeling.”She ran her hands down my jaw, touching my beard. We locked eyes and fell into anotherkiss. She swayed into me this time, causing me to fight theurgeto rock my hips. Losing the fight, I moved against her, each thrust pushing her further against the rough tree bark, causing tiny cries to break in her mouth.

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