Coming to a dead stop, I look around and realize I have no idea which direction the path is in. We could have only come in a few yards away from the trail, but the forest is so thick it’s hard to see through.
Holding my breath, I slowly turn around, listening for any sounds of life. And then something comes crashing through the trees behind me. Logan jumps out at me, and I let out a little shriek as I lunge forward, ready to smear mud on his face. He catches my wrist, blocking my attempt to run my fingers down his cheek.
“Nice try!”
“I know, right?” I bring my other hand up and pat his cheek.
“Dammit,” he laughs.
“Now we’re even.”
“Even? You’re the klutz who fell in the mud.” He lets go or my wrist and brings his hand up, pushing a loose strand of hair back out of my face. I drop my hand from his face and rest it on his shoulder. Logan steps in a little closer and the heat coming off of him is a hundred times more intense than the heat of this whole damn island.
He takes in a breath. It’s a simple gesture—a necessary one—yet with my hand on his shoulder, I feel every muscle moving under my fingers. I swallow hard, not sure if I’m going to be able to resist him for much longer.
I want him to kiss me as much as I don’t.
The breeze picks up, rattling through the bamboo around us. Logan rests his other hand on my waist. Looking into his eyes, I slowly run my hand down, splaying my fingers over his peck.
Damn him and his muscles.
And the way the faint scent of his cologne is mixing with the fresh scent of the forest.
“Are we lost?” I ask, voice coming out a faint whisper.
Logan widens his stance and presses his fingers into my skin. “Depends.”
“On what?”
“On what you consider lost.”
My lips curve into a smile. “Not knowing where we are.”
“Then yes, we’re lost.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Nah, I think we’re—oh, shit another spider!”
I jump forward, crashing into him. “That’s not funny!” He’s laughing, and brings his arms in, folding them around me. Warmth rushes through me, tingling my core and making me never want to move away from him.
“You do know spiders crawl all over you at night, right?”
I tip my head up. “I refuse to believe that.” My arms are smashed between my chest and Logan’s, and my muscles are twitching as I resist wrapping them around his torso. It’s been a while since I’ve snuggled or cuddled with anyone, and being close to Logan feels amazing right now.
But it’s more than that, and I know it.
“You eat them in your sleep too.”
“I have never in my life eaten a spider.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“I will. And I will believe it until the day I die.”
Logan chuckles, and the laughter rumbles his chest, which I’m still very much up against. My heart threatens to take over, but that traitor has led me down the path of disappointment and pain way too many times before.
That’s why I left.
And why I left is why I met Logan.
Maybe things do happen for a reason.
But I swore I’d listen to my head instead of my heart, though right now…right now my head can’t come up with a single reason not to give in. Not to tip my head up and lock eyes with Logan. To finally feel what those full lips would feel like against mine.
My heart hammers away in my chest, so fast I’m sure Logan can feel it. I can feel his gaze on me, and I know if I look up this will be it.
The moment our friendship changes forever.Chapter 16DanielleIt terrifies me as much as it excites me, and my entire body yearns to feel his right up against mine. I blink, swallow hard, and look up. Logan’s eyes meet mine, and the way he’s looking at me makes me want to melt into a puddle on the forest floor. If he wasn’t holding onto me, there’s a good chance my knees would have given out.
All my life, I’ve wanted someone to look at me the way Logan is looking at me right now. Like he can’t wait to strip me down and run his hands all over my body. Like he’s going to take all night pleasing me. Like I’m the only woman he ever wants to look at ever again.
Looking at me like I matter.
The wind blows through again, followed by fat raindrops. Logan hugs me tighter, shielding me from the rain with his own body.
“What the hell? It was sunny when we left.” This time I do slip my arms around him.
“We’re on the other side of the island now.”
“Crazy how just an hour or so drive can make that much of a difference.”