Something Wilder

Don’t fall in love with him again, she thought.

“I’m really trying to imagine how we’re both going to fit in the bag, though,” he said, lifting his chin. “You’ll have to keep your hands to yourself.”

Tearing off a piece of her protein bar, she lobbed it at him.

But instead of it hitting him in the forehead like she’d planned, Leo ducked, catching it in his mouth.

Lily screamed, pointing. “Shut up!”

He was so proud, it was hilarious. “Did you see that!”

“Okay,” she said, “but can you do it twice?” She lobbed another piece, but the arc was flat. That one hit him in the chin.

He shook his head, slapping his hands on his thighs. “That was a bad throw. Doesn’t count.”

“Okay, okay.”

She tried again. It was high, and he had to lean to the right, but he caught it, chomping proudly.

“Who knew you were gifted in the art of catching flying food?” she asked, bending to take a bite for herself. “This must be a new skill.”

He nodded, opening his second bar. “I am full of surprises.”

Isn’t that the truth. Lily stared at him, long and lean. Her nerves hummed. She wondered how good it would feel to have that smooth honeyed skin pressed all along her front. She wanted him for a blanket.

Lily had to be careful, though: keep her focus, not make this about being alone with Leo in the middle of the wilderness. They weren’t just there for themselves, after all. Their friends were relying on them. Her future was riding on this.

But when he looked up at her, smiling shyly, every coherent thought flew out of her head and she found herself blurting, “I like how you’re just sitting over there mostly naked like it’s totally normal.”

He smirked at her, completely at ease in his body. “Well, someone is wearing my clothes and my sleeping bag.”

“Are you cold yet?”

He shook his head. “I’m good.”

Honestly. Lily stared at him, wondering if he was really so dumb as to pass up that opening.

He did a double take when he caught her expression. “What?”

She shook her head, smiling. “Nothing. Good.” Turning her attention back down to her food, she said, “I’m glad you’re not cold.”

“Wait.” He paused. “Were you inviting me into that bag with you?”

“Too late.”

He laughed incredulously. “Just last night you kissed me like I was returning from war and you haven’t acknowledged it once.”

“I know,” she said quickly. “You’re right. Ignore me. I just got wrapped up in the moment.”

She looked down, picking at her bar, but could feel the press of his focus on her. Finally, he said her name: “Lily.”

“Hmm?”

“Ask me again.”

She laughed. “No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

He stood and walked over, bending to get her attention. “Lily, I’m freezing.” His eyes were dancing, sparkling playfully in the sunset. “I’m so cold. Please help me.”

“You liar.” She couldn’t resist him, though, and opened the sleeping bag, holding her breath as he settled beside her. Warm like the sun, smooth and solid. Lily couldn’t help it—she leaned into him, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

Leo’s voice was a soft hum. “Mmm. This is better.” He rested his chin on the top of her head. “You feeling okay?”

She nodded, pinning her lips together with her teeth. She hadn’t felt this kind of sweet, physical ache in forever. Deflecting, she said, “These boxers you gave me have little pizza slices all over them. Are you twelve?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, would you prefer to wear my other pair?” he asked. “The invisible ones?”

Lily laughed, looking up at him, and the instinct to prolong the joke disappeared as a bulb burst somewhere and their smiles straightened. Oh no, they were thinking the same thing. Specifically: how weird it was that they were here, huddled together under a sleeping bag, on this insane adventure, all alone.

She reached out, brushing his hair off his forehead. “Thanks for saving my ass in the river.”

“Thanks for kicking my ass earlier when I fell,” he said, and then smiled down at her, eyes on her mouth.

Grinning, Lily asked him, “Are you perhaps suggesting I was too hard on you?”

He nodded, leaning forward, and she met him halfway, pressing their foreheads together. Lily lifted her hand to the side of his face; his stubble was soft, and she loved the gentle scratch of it. He reached up, cupping her jaw and sending his fingers into her hair. The simple touch on the nape of her neck sent a drugged, ravenous sensation across the surface of her skin. Her lips hovered barely an inch away from his.

“Don’t do this if you’ll feel shitty tomorrow,” he said.

The request sent a cooling realization through her. Tonight-Lily wanted those full lips on hers. But Tomorrow-Lily might wake up feeling unsteady and unsettled all over again. In her experience, nighttime hunger had never been a good mix with daylight rational thinking.