One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

“Not much to hunt around here.” He turned and caught my finger between his lips, giving it a quick suck before releasing it. “I’d rather hunt you.”

Oh, god. Shivering, I let my eyes slide closed. “What should I tell Elaine? I can’t disappear without a word.”

He loosened his hold on me and sat up. My eyes traveled down his lined back now turned to me then lower to that perfect ass when he stood into his jeans and pulled them over his hips. “Tell her you’re going with me to the cabin.”

Tee scooped off the floor, it was over his head and down, leaving his hair in the sexiest bedhead. Mine still hung in the thick fuck-me braid he’d asked me to weave.

“I suppose she’ll know what that means.” Sliding to the edge of the bed, I reached down for my poncho, but he caught my shoulders before I made it.

“Hey.” Our eyes met, and his were a disconcerting mixture of authority and wariness. “I want to know you better. That’s all.”

The little tag at the end pricked the balloon expanding in my chest. That’s all? We’d get to know each other better, but don’t expect more? Was it possible for me to do such a thing?

Another little smile, and I knew it didn’t matter.

* * *

Lane’s voice was the first to greet my ear when Kenny answered. “Mommy paint.” Kenny was right behind him. “Hello?” She said over the chatter of her son. “Mariska? Are you okay? I didn’t expect to hear from you!”

I’d left Stuart to pack his bags and ran over to my side of the house to collect whatever I could think of to bring. Something abou

t the way he’d set up this trip told me I wouldn’t need much in the way of clothing.

“I’m fine!” I quickly eased my friend’s concern. I needed to hear her voice. I needed that reinforcement. “What’s happening back home? Has anyone complained about my lack of smoothie artistry?”

“Pete misses the cinnamon bun protein shake you invented for him.” I heard her transfer the phone to her other ear and the baby to her other hip. “That’s not really a thing, is it?”

Ugh! Pete. For a whole year he’d tried to take things further with us, and I’d turned him down. I couldn’t help a little twinge of guilt over how hurt he’d be if he knew what I just did... And how much I looked forward to doing it again. And again.

“It’s a real thing. Check my recipe notes... I think it’s in the middle.”

“God, you spoil that guy,” she sighed. “No wonder he can’t move on.”

I stood in front of my closet chewing on my lip, trying to decide what I should pack for a three-day sex-weekend. “He asked for it specifically. It was more of a dare.”

“Hmm...” Her voice was skeptical. “I found it!”

Nodding, I pulled out a strapless dress that had an asymmetrical hemline. “Now you can be his forever crush.”

She snorted in my ear. “I’m not ready for anyone new.” Lane said something, and I heard sounds of her putting him down. “By the way, this is a really hot sketch of you know who—”

“Oh, Kenny! That’s why I called you.” Spinning away from the closet, I collapsed across my bed, pulling my knees to my chest. Deep between my thighs, I still throbbed from where he’d been, set up residence, and made it impossible for me to forget him. “So much has happened, and not enough!”

My friend sighed in my ear. “You are so freaking dramatic. What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I told her. “We just did it.”

“Shut the fu—front door!” Her hand muffled over the phone. “Lane’s holding my leg, but eff! Eff! EFF!!! Tell me all about it!”

Rolling onto my stomach, I pressed my forehead into my arm. “It was amazing. I came like five times.” She made a little squeal as I continued. “Okay, I exaggerated a little. But he wants me to go away with him—”

“No! I don’t care if he’s Patrick’s brother, you are not leaving the country with him!”

“I don’t think we’ve made it that far.” Propping my head on my hand. “He wants me to go to this little cabin with him for a few days. He said we’ll get to know each other. That’s all.”

Kenny was quiet. I’d attempted to infuse the last bit with all the weight I’d felt when he said it.

“That’s not very encouraging.” And that was why we were so close. “Can it be that way for you? I mean, I feel like it can’t or you wouldn’t be there to begin with.”