Summertime Sneak Out (Camp Hardwood 3)

He helps me down and I stand there, not really wanting to go anywhere. But maybe I could use a second alone to collect my thoughts.

“Now,” he tells me and smacks my ass.

It’s both playful and stern at the same time and I let out a small squeal of surprise before I do as I’m told. My nipples tighten at not only the sting in my bottom but the tone in his voice. I like to think of this as the Van Effect. It’s a mixture of no messing around and playful at the same time and only he can pull it off.

I make my way back toward the staff kitchen and wonder what Van has to handle. I’m guessing he’s going after Jack, and though I should probably stop him, I don’t think Van is someone who’s stopped once he gets his mind set on something. He didn’t move when I put my hands on him and I wonder if I have the same effect on him as he does on me.

I’m not surprised when I see Piper sitting at the table. Her head is down as she talks to her small baby bump and she looks worried. I can’t hear what she’s saying but I don’t care for the sad look in her eyes. She’s normally all smiles but this is different.

“Hey.” Her head snaps up at my voice and she pulls on her shirt to hide the bump.

One day I’m going to get her to tell me all about this but it’s not as if I have much room to talk. I haven't told her much about myself either, but there’s not much to say. Growing up in a carnival was weirdly normal. Well, it’s what I thought of as normal. It’s where I learned to cook so it wasn’t like the time was a total waste. Sometimes when Piper is in the kitchen with me I tell her stories that I know will make her laugh.

I’ve been cooking for as long as I can remember. At first I did it for my parents in our small RV and then later for the carnival. Everyone has to earn their keep so I used my skill the best I could. That was until we landed in the town next to Camp Hardwood and I decided to stay.

When Honey offered me a job cooking, I snatched it up. Not only would I have somewhere to stay but a paycheck to make ends meet. I never got paid when I worked for the carnival since my parents always took it.

Here I thought I could settle in and that’s something I’ve never done in my whole life. We were always moving around so it’s nice to be in one place. I’d hate to have to leave because I messed things up here between Honey and me. I’d never go back to the carnival life because I didn't fit in there. I was always the odd one out and I don’t know why. It was a freaking carnival but I never felt as though I belonged with anyone there.

“Hey.” Piper sits up a little straighter and smiles. “Whatcha gonna cook?”

“Whatever you want.”

I’ve always been good at cooking and it does the trick to make people smile, myself included. I have this inner need to make people happy and I’m sure someone would say it has something to do with my upbringing. But if wanting to make people happy is a terrible habit then I’ve fallen into the wrong hands.

Piper licks her lips. “Pasta.”

She says it like it’s the best idea she’s ever had. When I tell her I’ll make meatballs I look up to see her eyes widen. I think it’s because of the food, but then I see her staring down at my wrists. They’ve gotten a little worse since I left the stables and now they’re red and marked all around them. My breath catches but the sight is erotic. My sex clenches thinking about everything Van did to me and how I got them.

“What happened?”

I’m broken from my dirty thoughts when Piper touches one of the marks. I jerk my hand back because it feels wrong to let her touch them. They belong to Van.

“Sorry. Does it hurt?” Her voice and eyes are filled with concern.

“No,” I tell her and take a step back.

I see my backpack hanging on its hook and I walk over to fish out a long-sleeved shirt. It’s one Honey gave me and I keep it in there for when it gets cool at night.

“You’re not going to tell me, are you?” Piper asks, raising one eyebrow.

I shake my head no and her shoulders drop.

“Tell me you’re fine and I’ll leave it alone.”

“I’m fine,” I say with a small laugh.

My body is more than fine. It’s not just the marks that have me out of sorts, it’s knowing who put them there. I want to see Van again and find out what other kinds of pleasure he can give me.