Chapter 40
This is the first time I’m coming face-to-face with the entire Kraut clan since my and Daren’s breakup. That ambush dinner at Arthur’s dad’s house and stumbling into Jensen outside of the library didn’t count.
This round, everyone is here.
Trees crowd in on the edges of the road as I drive us farther into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
“Sure you packed everything you need?” I ask Arthur. It’s a silly question.
He had a detailed checklist and laid out every item for this hike on the dining room table before tucking each one into his backpack. Then, he weighed the massive thing, concluding the pack was good to go.
Personally, I’m done with lugging all my gear around on my back. Did enough of that in the field. Give me a day hike where all I need is a CamelBak and I can end the day with a shower, and I’m set.
Plus, backpacking doesn’t mesh well with my napping sleeping habits.
“Yeah,” Arthur says in response to my question.
“You sure? Want to bring my Taser just in case?”
He quirks one brow. “In case what?”
“In case your family gets too annoying.”
He snorts, and I grin, trying not to let guilt eat me alive.
Arthur is about to hike for three days with his family on their annual pre-Thanksgiving outing. Apparently, this is his last vacation of the year since mail delivery ramps up so much approaching the winter holidays.
And every moment of this outing is going to be tense because of me.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to offer that he can tell them we broke up. Take some of the target off his back. That way, he can enjoy this time with his family.
But isn’t the damage already done?
And . . . what about the last couple of weeks?
This might have started out fake, but something real is happening. I promised to help Arthur get better at kissing, not take his virginity and instruct him on the exact method needed to make me come multiple times a night.
Yet here we are.
So, no, I don’t want to fake break up with my fake boyfriend.
But I also don’t want to cause a real rift in his family.
Signs for the trailhead appear on the side of the road. Without thought, I reach up to fiddle with the hearing aid in my left ear. Whenever I wear it, I have a bad habit of touching it when I’m anxious. When I realize what I’m doing, I stop.
But Arthur must have seen because his heavy hand comes to rest on my thigh.
“What’s up?” he asks.
“Did I ruin this trip for you all?” I wince when I realize I spoke the fear aloud. Now, I’m driving a wedge into his family and asking that he comfort me while I do it. “Never mind. Forget it.”
Arthur doesn’t say anything as I turn onto a dirt and gravel road that eventually brings us to a small parking lot, scattered with a few other cars. I recognize Jensen Kraut’s truck and the cluster of bodies lingering around the tailgate.
Guess we’re the last to arrive.
I plan to park next to them, but Arthur points me to a spot a bit away from the group. When I shut off the engine, his squeeze of my thigh has me turning to meet his intense gaze.
“You didn’t ruin anything,” he says, voice deep and rumbly.
“They’re still mad at you.” I saw a glare or two pointed our way as we passed by.
Arthur shrugs, like his family’s ire doesn’t matter. Then, he unbuckles his seat belt, leans into my space, and captures my mouth in a searing kiss.
He’s getting really good at those now. I’m so proud.
There’s a tap on the glass, and we break apart to see Jensen wearing a stern expression.
“Time to get a move on.” The words are muffled, but with my hearing aid in, I manage to make them out.
Arthur releases a heavy sigh, gives my thigh another squeeze, then opens his door. The cool air of the day sneaks in, and I’m glad I’m wearing a big flannel jacket. His jacket.
Staying in the car is the coward’s route, so I climb out and follow Arthur to the trunk.
As he checks over his pack, I check over him.
He’s got his hair held back from his face with a battered baseball hat, a fleece to ward off the cool mountain air, and a pair of hiking pants with a number of pockets I’m envious of.
I’m also jealous of the way the material hugs his ass. Hopefully, there’s some stretch to them, or he’ll split the seams the first time he bends over.
Maybe I should ask him to bend over now, so we can make sure. Don’t want him going into the woods improperly clothed.
I’d like to be improperly clothed around him.
Biting my lip to hold back a groan, I focus on Arthur’s hands rather than his behind. But that shift in attention is almost as bad. Because now, I’m remembering how he lay between my legs last night, face inches from my vulva, those thick fingers parting me, stroking me slowly as he waited for feedback on each movement.
I was ready to pull his hair out at the roots. I was also ready to fuck him into oblivion.
We went with option two.
“Everything okay?”
At his deep-voiced question, I pop my attention to his face. I realize I’m breathing heavy.
Arthur’s brow furrows. “Is it Daren?”
“What?” I suck in a breath to steady my breathing, then glance around, searching for my ex, eventually finding him leaning on his father’s truck, glaring at us across the parking lot. “No. I didn’t see him actually.” I turn back to Arthur with a grimace. “Now, I do. But it’s fine.”
The big man stares at me with an unreadable expression that has me wanting to tug his beard.
“What’s up?” I step in close, lowering my voice till I barely hear it. “You rethinking my Taser offer?”
He barks a laugh, then presses his lips together, trying to suppress a smile. I can’t look away from his mouth.
“I want to kiss attack you,” I say. “But I don’t think I should.”
Arthur’s body stills, and then he leans down until our faces are level. “Do it.”
I smirk, then dive in for a quick nip. Then stay for a long, slow press. Arthur responds with the same, no sign of his former statue state, and I love his new pliancy. I wish I could tug him into the nearby woods and climb him like a tree.
But he has a family gathering to get to.
I break away with a pout. “You’ve got to get going.”
My eyes flick toward the group. Sherman Kraut gives me a hearty wave and a wide grin that almost makes me feel welcome until my eyes once again catch on Daren’s smoldering scowl. I return my attention to Arthur, finding his expression shuttered once more.
“You still good for Sunday?” he asks.
I nod. “Got the address saved. I’ll be there.”
Originally, I wasn’t going to be the chauffeur on this trip. But yesterday, a deer ran out in front of Marvin’s van. Arthur’s cousin walked away from the collision unscathed, but the van is at the Winstons’ shop. Before the wreck, they were going to leave the van at the end of the trail because it had enough room to cart everyone back to this starting point where they could pick up Jensen’s truck. But that plan is scrapped. The other Krauts were able to pile into two trucks to get here, but since they’re leaving one vehicle at the trailhead, they need a vehicle with more capacity to pick them up at the end of the hike, so they don’t have to make a double trip. Hence, my offer.
“Tell your mom hi for me,” Arthur says while slipping the straps of his pack over his broad shoulders.
From here, I’m swinging over to Lexington to spend the night with my mom at her boyfriend’s place. She said the guy won’t be there—traveling for work—but he’s fine with me staying over, especially since Mom moved in with him last month and it’s their place now.
I try not to cynically wonder how long this relationship will last. Still, my mother has a pattern. No reason to think this is any different from her past temporary loves.
“Will do. Stay safe.” I pat his chest. “Avoid bears.”
“I thought I was a bear,” he murmurs.
I grin. “You are. Which is why I’m worried if you meet up with any, you’ll hunker down in their cave for the winter and never come home.”
That earns me a full smile and another quick kiss.
“Be back soon, Raccoon.” His voice rumbles through me, hardening my nipples despite the silly nickname. The tilt of Arthur’s lips grows cocky, as if he knows I’m wet now just from his teasing.
“Get your ass in gear!” The shout comes from Marvin on the other side of the lot. The guy looks ready for some mountain climbing.
It hasn’t passed my notice none of them have come over to say hi. Sherman offers me a teasing wink though, and I think his excuse is giving Arthur and me some alone time for our goodbye.
“Have a good hike!” I shout to the group, only because it’s bitchy to say, Have a good hike, Sherman, and only Arthur and Sherman.
With a quick, affectionate tug of Arthur’s beard, I say, “See you soon.” Then, I climb back into my car.
Only when I’m on the road, heading toward my mom, do I realize I didn’t think of Daren or even notice him until Arthur pointed the guy out.
I rub my chest where the pain machine used to grind and churn.
But there’s no agonizing crank of rusty gears anymore. No toxic sludge of jealousy. No noxious fumes of animosity.
The pain machine lost fuel somewhere along the way.
Now, all that’s left is a throbbing ache of want for another man. One I can’t have.