Page 57 of Best Part of Me

He clears his throat, matching my smile. “Nope, not a problem for me.”

“Good.” I adjust in my seat, feeling pleased. “I knew I packed that hot-pink bathing suit for a reason.”

He quirks a dark brow at me. “I think you’re misunderstanding the definition of skinny-dipping, Miss Goody-two-shoes.”

And I just roll my eyes at him. “Well, I can’t very well traipse down to the hot spring buck ass naked, can I?”

“What I wouldn’t pay to see that,” his voice growls, scraping against my skin, and I rub my thighs together.

“Lucky for you, you get front-row tickets to the show. For free.”

The look Maverick gives me is all dark, broody, and lust filled.

And I’m living for it.

I make a mental note, the next time he’s rocking my world, to tell him all the things that have been jumbling around in my brain today. About how he’s worth a commitment. How he’s special. How much he’s cared for and loved.

On second thought, maybe I won’t mention thelovepart.Again.

* * *

My eyes flutteropen when the engine of the Jeep shuts off. I straighten in the seat and yawn while I squint out the windshield. It’s still daylight outside, but I feel groggy. The past few months’ turmoil catching up with me.

“Hey,” Maverick’s growly voice says from the seat next to me.

I scrub a hand over my face. I almost forgot where I was. Who I was with.

But that voice is all too familiar to me now. It’s quickly becoming my favorite thing to wake up to. That and his body pressed against mine. Heat flushes at my cheeks as I realize I’m staring at that chiseled jaw of his, those tensed forearms, and still haven’t responded.

I clear my throat. “Hey, where are we?”

“We made it to the campground.” He turns the key, and the quiet music hums from the speakers.

“Guess I nodded off. Sorry.” I unbuckle my seatbelt.

“That’s okay. Your snoring kept me company.”

I gasp. “I don’t snore.”

He chuckles as he pats my thigh. “No one’s ever told you that?”

Burying my face in my hands, I say, “No. Never. I’m sorry. That must’ve been so annoying.”

He squeezes my thigh and my stomach flips.

“It was cute.”

He leans across the console and kisses me. It’s sweet and unexpected. And as much as I don’t want to admit to myself, boyfriendish. A craving burns between my thighs. But at the same time, a thick fog of sleepiness coats my senses.

I feel as if I could sleep for a hundred years.

“I’m exhausted,” I admit as he breaks the kiss.

“Then let’s take a nap,” he says with a smile. “You should be fully rested so you can enjoy crossing a specific activity off your bucket list.” He waggles his brows.

“You sure?”

“I can’t think of a better place to be than in my tent with you pressed up against me.”

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