Deep Wood

Right now, I couldn’t care less about Silas Walker, or whoever’s name is on the cabin’s paperwork. My dad’s old mountain cabin is the only place I feel safe.

After the robbery, I made yet another mistake in a series of huge mistakes. I broke up with Brody over text. When he showed up at my house to “talk some sense into me,” I said I’d turn him in if he didn’t leave me alone. Now he thinks I’m a threat, and in his words, the only thing to do with a threat is eliminate it.

A chill skitters down my spine. I gaze out the passenger-side window at the dark forest rushing by. Thankfully, Brody doesn’t know about the cabin. The only people who do are me, my mom, and some guy I’ve never heard of.

“My dad used to bring me out here when I was little,” I say, breaking up the silence. I study the man in my peripheral vision. He said he'd been driving for twelve hours straight. That's the whole damn day. He looks tired—but hopefully not too tired to get it up for me. “I really appreciate you giving me a ride.”

“Don’t mention it.” He taps the steering wheel restlessly. I wonder how many of those energy shots he’s had to drink. Shifting in my seat, I scoot a little closer to the center console.

“You’re sure you won’t take the money?”

“I’m sure.”

I turn the fan system down a notch, the gesture catching his gaze like wool on a cat’s claws. “Well, if you don’t want my money, then what do you want?”

“Nothing,” he says. “I don’t want anything from you.”

“Are you sure?” I take a chance and rest my hand on his thigh, inches from the bulge in his jeans that I swear has doubled in size since I first climbed into his truck. I’ve never done anything like this before—I mean, I’ve given my boyfriend head, but he’s the only one. Offering to blow a guy I’ve only just met might be the most reckless thing I’ve ever done.

His hand tightens around the steering wheel. He’s probably thinking it over, imagining what it would feel like to have my mouth around his cock.

“You don’t have to do that,” he says.

For a second, I wonder if I’ve misjudged the situation, but the bulge in his pants seems pretty straightforward. I’ll admit, the fact that he isn’t dying to get into my pants does make me feel a little safer. If he was too eager, I’d be worried about his intentions.

“I know I don’t, but I want to.” I take a deep breath to quiet my nerves and then slide my hand onto his bulge. Air hisses through his teeth. “I’ve been told I’m good at it.”

“Just because you’re good at something, doesn’t mean you have to do it.”

“Don’t most people like doing what they’re good at?” I massage him through his jeans. “I want to help take the edge off."

"You're gonna take us off the damn road if you don't move your hand."

"So pull over."

The man looks at me with an intensity in his gaze that I’m not ready for. I yelp as he makes a quick turn onto an unmarked dirt road. My pulse picks up speed along with the truck. I'd hoped he'd just pull over on the main road, but instead we seem to be heading deeper into the trees.

When we finally come to a stop, I notice my hands have migrated back to my own lap. The man shifts into park, then sits back to look at me.

"All right, little girl. You want my cock so badly, it's yours."

Chapter Four

Norah

His hand is warm and a little rough as he grasps my wrist and lays my palm on his thigh. I sit there, frozen in a stranger’s truck, unable to make my limbs do what I need them to.

“Go on,” he says.

I swallow to loosen the tightness in my throat. I asked for this, I know, and I thought I could do it when push came to shove. But now that he’s given in, it’s like I’ve forgotten why I thought this was a good idea. He’s the hottest man I’ve ever met, though admittedly a lot older than what I’m used to. I’m attracted to him. So why is this so difficult?

"You look scared," he says.

I scowl. "I'm not."

Even to my own ears, I don’t sound convinced.

"You should be,” he says. “What the fuck are you thinking? Grabbing a stranger’s dick like you know what to do with it."