CHAPTER EIGHT #2
As evening sets in, James quickly gets the bonfire going. The flames crackle beside me, throwing off a warm glow as dinner cooks: meat, a can of beans, and potatoes boiling in pond water we scooped up three days ago. It’s not fancy, but it smells like heaven.
My mouth waters as I take the first bite of real meat I’ve had in a month.
“Oh my God,” I groan through a mouthful. “I needed this so bad. If I had to eat one more can of soup, I think I’d actually throw up again.”
That’s all it takes to send James and Michael into a fit of laughter. Apparently, my misery is the funniest thing they’ve heard all week. Whatever. I’ve got my own ways to get even.
I eye Michael’s plate and, the second he looks away, I strike, snatching a chunk of meat right off it with my fork.
“Hey! What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Michael shouts. “Give it back!”
Oh yes, the outrage!
I take a triumphant bite. “I was sick, so I should eat more.”
Michael tries to stay annoyed, but it’s a losing battle.
“Clever girl,” he says. “But next time I find chocolate, I’m eating the whole thing and not giving you a single bite.”
My jaw drops in horror. See? That’s an actual threat!
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Don’t test me.”
I make a dramatic fake stab at him with my fork. “Oh, you’re asking for it!”
He throws his hands up in fake surrender, and we both laugh.
I catch James watching the whole scene, clearly amused and not nearly worried enough. Big mistake. I strike again, snatching a piece of meat off his plate this time.
James freezes mid-chew, eyes locked on the piece of meat on my fork.
Slowly, and I mean painfully slowly, he sets his plate down and gives me a look so dark it sends shivers down my spine.
“You shouldn’t have done that, baby. Now I’m going to have to punish you.”
He stands up slow and dangerous, like he already knows I’m not getting away.
I jump to my feet. Every hair on my arms stands on end.
“Michael, a little help here?”
Michael pumps his fist in the air. “Get her, James!”
Unbelievable. Betrayed by my own blood.
“You’re mine,” James growls. And damn if that doesn’t heat me straight to my core.
“Ahh!” I bolt through the camp.
I glance over my shoulder, and James is right behind me. For every two steps I take, he only needs one.
I’m laughing now, nervous, breathless laughter, as he closes the distance.
Sure enough, he catches me. His arms wrap around my waist, and in one smooth motion, he hauls me over his shoulder like a caveman.
My laughter turns into a delighted squeal, and I swat at his back, not that I’m really trying to escape.
“You’re being a very naughty girl today, Sarah,” he murmurs. There’s a hidden smile in his words, one meant just for me. His fingers tighten on my thigh, and his voice drops even lower, so low that only I can hear. “And I really like it.”
◆◆◆
I stare up at the dark sky, my eyes searching for a shooting star. I’m always hoping to catch one. The last time I did, my wish came true. So I keep looking, just in case the magic works twice.
I scoot a little closer to James in my sleeping bag, feeling his warm hand on the small of my back. He’s lying beside me, shirtless, even though it’s freezing.
I rest my hand on his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heartbeat under my fingers. The bonfire crackles beside us, filling the silence.
It’s just us, the fire, and the stars.
Michael’s boots crunch on the dirt as he circles the camp, dragging my attention away until James’s voice pulls me right back.
“What are you thinking about?”
My fingers wander over the scars on his skin. He’s like an old book; each scar is a chapter, and I want to read every single one.
“Are you ever gonna tell me how you got those scars?” I ask.
Come on, James, let me in this time.
He doesn’t answer. His face shifts, and I can almost see the walls going up. He closes his eyes, trying to shut the conversation down, too. But I’m not letting him off that easily.
I soften my voice and reach for his arm, brushing my fingers over a thin scar.
“This one’s not so bad. Did you fall out of a tree or something?”
He keeps his eyes shut, but I catch the faint blush creeping up his cheeks.
“And this one…” I run my finger over a crooked scar on his jaw, “…must’ve been from a food fight gone terribly wrong, right?”
That gets his attention. His eyes open, and there’s this amused glint in them, trying to figure out how far I’m gonna take this.
“Wow, this one’s huge.” I trace a scar on his stomach. “Was it a bear fight? No, wait—was it a shark?”
His lips twitch into a smirk.
I’m getting to him.
I move to the burn marks on his right forearm. “Oh, I know this one. The Great Marshmallow Roast Massacre, right? Tragic day.”
He chuckles, but I’m not done.
I tap another scar on his shoulder, pretending to look deeply serious. “And this? I’m guessing it’s from the first girl you kissed. She didn’t take the breakup well, huh? Who the hell told her she could kiss you?” I huff. “Who is she? Name and address.”
His laughter spills out, warm and genuine.
God, I love that sound.
I wish he’d share it all, every story, every scar. But maybe his smile is enough for tonight.
“I don’t want you to know,” he suddenly says.
“Know what?”
His blue eyes find mine, but the smile’s gone. “What these scars really mean… how bad this world can be.”
I blink. Maybe tonight really is the night for truths.
I let my fingers trace a scar on his chest. “Some scars go deep, huh? Must’ve hurt a lot.”
James takes a deep breath, his chest rising and falling under my hand. “Pain only makes you stronger. And for me… it brought me here. To you. Without it, I wouldn’t be lying here with you right now.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. “So… I’m the reason for all that pain?”
He shakes his head. “No, that’s not what I mean. You’re the reason I can forget those scars are even there.”
“Then let me carry some of it with you.” I rest my hand on his chest, hoping he’ll see I’m not scared of any of it. But he just goes quiet again, shutting me out.
Why won’t he let me in? I don’t want to keep playing guessing games.
“No more secrets, James,” I grumble, crossing my arms. “I’ve told you everything about my life. I deserve to know yours. I don’t have any secrets from you.”
“Is that so?” His lips curl into a smile.
Oh no. That smile is not good. It’s trouble. Big, fat trouble.
“Y-Yes,” I stammer as his grin grows downright triumphant.
He props himself up on his elbows. “How many times have you slipped away from Michael and me in the last year to go to a store alone?”
“That… that’s a completely different conversation.”
I quickly snap my eyes shut and pretend to fall asleep.
Real smooth, Sarah. Real smooth.
I hear nothing but his laughter.
I crack one eye open to spy on him, which only makes him laugh harder. Yep, he’s having the time of his life.
“For the record,” I huff, giving in, “it was definitely less than you think—especially after that fight. You know, the one where I seriously thought your head was going to explode.”
“Oh yeah, our first real fight on your birthday. You, Sarah Williams, have this ridiculous talent for crawling under my skin.”
I grin, not even a little sorry.
“What can I say, Outsider? It’s a talent I’m kinda proud of. That day, I swear I saw you turn red from lack of air. Didn’t realize I had that much power.”
“Your power?” James raises an eyebrow. “Let’s see who’s really in charge now.”
He pulls me closer, his lips brushing over mine in that slow, deliberate way that makes my head spin. And then—oh my God—he licks me. Licks me.
“I told you I’d do something dangerous with you tonight,” he growls in that very, very low tone.
And that voice can make me do anything. Anything.
My breath catches, and I bite down on my bottom lip. I’m practically vibrating with need.
James just smirks, the cocky bastard. “Well, well, who’s gasping for air now?”
Before I can come up with a sassy comeback, he closes the space between us and crashes his mouth against mine.
His kiss is deep and so hungry it feels like the world might end if he stops.
Then I feel the thick bulge of his cock, pressing hard through his jeans, right between my thighs. And I know exactly where this is going.
I break the kiss, gasping.
“James, we don’t have any cover.”
“When has that ever stopped me?”
He’s got a point. Staircases, empty offices, abandoned cars, closets—you name it, he’s probably tried it. The man’s got zero limits, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t into it. But still…
I don’t have time to protest, though. He grabs the collar of my yellow dress, and my stomach does that stupid flutter thing because I already know what he’s about to do.
“James Hill, don’t you dare—”
Too late. He yanks the fabric hard, and the buttons go flying everywhere like confetti.
“Oops,” he says, all smug.
The cool night air hits my skin, and I glance down at my poor, ruined dress. I try to pull it together, but my body has other plans. Just the sight of what his hands did to my dress has me soaking through my panties.
I can’t even pretend I’m mad at him, but I try anyway.
“James! You’ve ruined the buttons again. Now I’ll have to sew this thing back together.”
“Don’t even bother. I’ll just tear it off again tomorrow.”
“You can’t just rip all my clothes off.”
“Why not?”
“Because, believe it or not, I need clothes to wear!”
“And miss out on the fun of me tearing them off you? Not a chance.”
I giggle at his ridiculous, beautiful face. “I love it when you do that, but…” I glance nervously toward the trees. “Michael might hear us.”
“He’s way past those trees on his route. He won’t be back for a while. And I’ll be quiet.”
“But I might not be,” I admit, biting the inside of my cheek, because let’s face it, self-control and I are never on speaking terms when it comes to him.
He just smiles. That damn smile. Infuriating and irresistible all at once.
He leans in, so close our noses are almost touching. “If you need to, bite me to keep from screaming. Because make no mistake, I’m going to make you scream.”
I suck in a breath.
“What if I leave a scar?”
“Even better. At least it’ll be yours.”
And just like that, he has me.
James starts kissing my neck, leaving this electric trail that makes it impossible to think straight.
The rest of the world disappears. Just gone.
He keeps kissing me, again and again, his lips trailing down my skin, following some secret map only he knows. His hands are right there too, stealing my breath with every touch. He’s claiming me, inch by inch. His eyes are practically eating me alive.
And I’ve never felt more powerful, like I’m the only thing he sees.
Then suddenly, my bra’s in his hands. I blink, stunned.
What the actual hell? I didn’t even feel him unclasp it.
“How did you do that? Explain yourself,” I demand, trying to cover myself with my hands.
James doesn’t even bother answering. Nope. He grabs my hands, pulls them above my head, and pins them there.
And now his eyes—oh, those eyes—are locked on my bare chest like a man at a feast.
“James, what if some animal is watching—”
I lose my words the second his lips find my breasts, his tongue teasing each nipple before his mouth closes over one, sucking.
God, this feels so good.
It’s dizzying, overwhelming, and exactly what I want from him.
In one quick move, he tears off my panties too. Jesus Christ!
I haven’t even recovered from the electric shocks running through me when his hand slides between my legs, pressing hard.
My nerves are buzzing, pleasure taking over, leaving me in pieces I can’t control.
A moan slips out before I can stop it, and of course, I hear James laugh.
I want to strangle him for this. He always wins.
“I hate you,” I groan, though I don’t mean it. Not even a little.
He leans in, lips grazing my ear. “Told you I’d make you scream. Next time, don’t forget to bite.”