Chapter 7
Kailey
Abeautiful sunset is present—shades of pinks and purples cascade across the sky.
Crickets are chirping into the background noise surrounding us.
We just finished eating hot dogs that were cooked over the fire, using branches right off the tree.
Looking around, I notice everyone is up and moving, starting to pack their stuff up to head out.
Jared is making small talk with the guys while I watch Brittney roll up the tarp that was under our blow up mattress that’s slowly deflating.
That thing is a life saver, ten out of ten recommended for relaxing at the river.
Looking around, I see that Beth finally took off with that girl she’d been chatting with earlier from her work.
It’s been a struggle for me to focus ever since he showed up here.
Once his shirt came off, it was game over for my bikini bottoms. Jared’s naked back was on display, showcasing SINNER tattooed in between his shoulder blades.
Even though I thought I’d prepared myself for him not being here, I secretly hoped Jared would show up.
That damn gray hat and those black swimming trunks…
Whew, instant turn on. I couldn’t avoid the fact that he’s devastatingly ripped, with muscles that you could bounce a dime off of.
The kind that would make you fall to your knees willingly, succumbing to the temptation of licking each individual ab, only stopping once you’ve reached the thin line of brown hair that leads to his prominent Adonis belt.
His hat is practically begging me to take it off so I can run my hands through the dark hair playing peek-a-boo from underneath it, finishing with a hard tug. Something tells me he’d like that.
His arms bulge as he starts to help pick up around the fire we made.
Catching me checking him out, he gives me a wink and a smile.
The kind of smile that makes your core heat, causing it to dampen your panties.
My eyes linger for too long on how that bottom lip is plumper than the top.
Makes me wonder if he’s a good kisser. What would those lips feel like on mine?
Before my nerves get the best of me, I walk up behind Jared quietly.
Standing on my tiptoes, my whisper ghosts the tip of his ear.
“Do you want to hang out with me longer?” I can smell his cologne; cinnamon and whiskey invades my nostrils.
Leaning into him, my lips lightly caress his neck, my body faintly brushing against his.
Jared’s body jumps, caught off guard. He trips over a rock, twisting his body around in a blink of an eye, grabbing me by my elbow.
A yelp escapes from my mouth, and I fall on top of his hard body.
His thin black trunks hardly contain the growing bulge pressing against my stomach, growing harder with each breath.
Naturally, my body sinks deeper into him.
A grunt of pain escapes from his lips. Thank goodness he put his shirt on, or else his back might’ve been pierced from rocks.
Our eyes lock onto each other, my tongue darting out to moisten my dry lips.
His pupils are blown as he tracks the movement.
All of the background noise—our friends talking—is eliminated by this connection.
One that is starting to consume me. My eyelids become heavy; I’m silently wondering if he’ll kiss me, praying that he does.
Jared’s dark curly hair is free flowing over his face, hat now forgotten on the ground from our abrupt fall.
A deviously slow, sexy smile breaks out over his handsome face.
He grabs the back of my head, pulling me in closer.
His eyelids become hooded, and that sexy mouth is closing in on mine.
My heart skips a beat, realizing he’s going to kiss me.
Hell yes! But he doesn’t. This asshole moves at the last second, his mouth nipping an ear lobe instead.
Tiny goosebumps erupt all over my body, my core throbbing.
A shiver races through me, causing my thighs to press together, aching for relief.
Jared’s hands squeeze my ass, his breath on my cheek. “Yes, please,” he begs. It comes out in a whisper.
My mind short-circuits, hips grinding into him without shame. Yep, he’s hung.
Brittney clears her throat next to us. Both our heads whip up in her direction, causing my hair to smack Jared in the face.
My eyes connect with hers. How long has she been watching us?
She’s standing above us, looking down at our embrace, hair tied up into a loose messy bun, hands on her hips.
A shit-eating grin on her face. Brittney has wanted this to happen since the first time we laid eyes on him.
“Sooooo, do you want me to follow the guys out and drive your car to my house?”
Jared grabs my hips, slowly lifting me off of him, like I weigh nothing. Jumping to his feet first, he offers me his hand and helps me off of the ground. Our hands still connected, my eyes still glued to his face—this palpable connection still lingering.
“Will you be able to give me a ride to Brittney’s later?”
“Of course, if that’s what you want.” Jared looks between Brittney and me before slowly backing away, grabbing a bottle of water to pour on the fire. I don’t miss the casual way he readjusts himself in those thin trunks.
“I’m going to need all the details when you come back to my house tonight!
” Brittney whisper-shouts, trying to hide how giddy this makes her.
“You deserve a night of fun, even if you don’t want to date.
Enjoy him in all the right ways. Please, do not let that fine specimen off the hook.
” She doesn’t bother to hide the fact that she’s checking out Jared’s ass.
I pull her in for a tight hug, pecking her on the cheek. “No promises.” Brittney holds onto me for an extra beat before releasing me.
My heart is racing against my rib cage, palms clammy. Oh boy, I want Cap Guy real bad.
Greg loads up the last of our supplies into Steffan’s truck.
His stare ping-pongs between Jared and me as Brittney lets them know they’ll see me later.
My nerves are at an all-time high as I give hugs to the guys.
It would be hard to miss their intimidating stares directed toward Jared.
We watch my Camaro pull out of the park, and the lights of the other vehicles disappear into the distance.
Leaving just the two of us alone, at last.
A warm hand that fits perfectly around mine latches on, pulling my stare from the road. “You wanna go for a drive?” Jared tips his head. “We can head out to my house; it isn’t too far from here.”
I’m unable to form a logical sentence, with this tingling sensation spreading up my arm.
So, I simply smile and nod. Jared’s hand tightens around mine, leading me to his cherry-red single cab Chevy truck, and he opens the passenger door for me.
Not only is he sex on legs, this guy is also a gentleman.
Butterflies erupt in my stomach, making me dizzy and nauseous.
I haven’t felt this since… well… ever, if I’m being honest with myself.
Even with Brandon, his physical touch never sent my body into GO mode.
Maybe it’s because I haven’t been touched in a while.
.. That has to be it, right? Are these the feelings my smutty books are always talking about? !