Page 59 of Love By a Landslide

“You really don’t need to,” she implored. “We got carried away. It’s not a big deal.”

“That’s just it. This whole thing is a very big deal. I’m not going to lie and say I’m not attracted to you because that would be childish. You are incredible, Lucy. Tough and beautiful and fun.”

“But?”

“But we’re in this dangerous situation, we barely survived a landslide, our rations are dwindling, my focus should be on getting you back to town safely, not taking advantage of you.”

Lucy snorted.

“What?” His tone was the vocal equivalent of planting his hands on his hips.

“You act as though I wasn’t a willing participant.” Lucy felt suddenly cranky. “Do you know how condescending that is?”

“Condescending?”

“Yes. I’m a goddamn adult. You even asked me if I was into it, which, if you hadn’t noticed from the nudity, I totally was.”

“It’s just that—”

“Also,” she interrupted, “taking advantage of me? Come on. If anything, I was the aggressor. You gave me the green light and I was all over you like gum on a shoe. And tell me something. What was I doing on your lap when your back spasmed again?”

A strangled choke came out of Jonathan’s mouth before he finally muttered, “You were shifting against my—”

“I was dry humping you, Jonathan. Dry humping. Say it.”

“Uh. You were dry humping me.”

“Exactly. So how could you possibly be taking advantage of a woman who was actively dry humping you?”

“I guess I can’t?”

“Thank you.”

Both voices fell away, and silence hung heavily until Jonathan croaked out a laugh. Lucy was helpless not to follow and chuckledas well.

“I don’t think I’ve said dry hump since high school.” He snickered, shaking the entire hammock with his mirth.

“Same,” Lucy managed through breathy cackles. “I made that weird.”

“Yup. Sure did.”

She swatted his thigh as the laughter filling the tight space dissipated. “But you get my point? The attraction is mutual.”

“Lucy,” he said with heft.

“No, I know, I know.” She held up both hands, though in the dim, she doubted he could see the gesture. “I get it. It’s bad timing for me too. Just got out of a long-term relationship, remember?”

“And I need to think about the reputation of my business.”

“Ok, so we agree. Sex is not the best idea for us.”

His sigh was so heavy that she thought for a moment he’d backtrack until he said, “Agreed.”

Silence once again filled the stuffy cocoon.

Lucy startled when Jonathan’s warm hand slid under her heel and lifted her foot to his chest. “What are you—Ooooh. . .” Her words cut off as his thumbs massaged the arch of her aching feet. “You really . . .oh yeahhh. . . don’t . . .mmm. . . have to do that?” Why did that come out as a question? Whatever, she just hoped he would continue anyway.

Blessedly, he did.

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