Page 129 of Roughing It

I roll us, cradling Blakely to my body. I’ll be damned if she’s sleeping on the fucking ground. My fingers walk up and down her spine, and my lips kiss her damp skin. The salty-sweet taste tingles on my lips. “You okay?”

“Mhmmm.”

“Need to clean you up.”

“Too sleepy.” Her voice is thick with contentment, and she snuggles into my arms.

I shift her, ignoring her little protest. Digging through our bags, I find the package of wipes and use one to clean the mess between her legs. I’d rather push it all back in…

Minutes later, Blakely’s soft breath brushes against my bare chest. Masculine pride roars through me. I fucked my girl into oblivion. Brushing the hair from her face, I fist my cock, adjusting us so I can slip back inside her, not ready to lose the heat of her pussy. The feel of her around me.

I’m an idiot, but I’m not stupid, and I’m going to drink my fill of her while I can.

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT

The ambient sounds of wildlife moving in the dark stir me from sleep. My movement wakes Blakely, so I stroke her back, kiss the top of her head, and pull a sex-strewn blanket over us. My only goal is making her as comfortable as possible.

My dick twitches where it’s buried inside her. She’s wearing me like a glove, and it’s goddamn exquisite.

“Shh, baby. It’s early. Go back to sleep.”

“Bear?”

“Yeah, Spitfire?”

“I lovecamping with you.” She buries her face in my neck, her eyelashes fluttering against my skin.

Something warm swells in my chest, radiating outward like the glow of the sun. I pull her closer. “I love camping with you, too. Even if you’re terrible at it.” Slim fingers pinch my nipple.

“Rude.”

Hours later, I wake to soft puffs of air against my chest, soft hair tickling my nose, soft curves under my hand, and the hard ache of the ground against my back.

I ease out of her, the desire to rub one out and mark her with my cum only outweighed by the need to take care of her. So I pile the blankets around her so she’s safely nestled. A pouty frown clouds her face—a brat even in her sleep.

My brat.

“You’ll be fine without me, baby,” I whisper to her sleeping form. With the words comes a stirring of something ugly inside me. I don’t want her to be fine without me.

Shit.I tug on my jeans and throw my flannel over my chest, not bothering to button it. Yanking my boots on,I crawl out of the tent, in need of a stretch and a piss.

The campsite fared better than I expected. Downed branches lay near the tent, but we didn’t lose anything. I get to work, doing what I can to find tinder. I rake the coals, moving the dryer ones to the top, and once the fire is going, I set about prepping breakfast.

Two days. She’s leaving me in two days. Even though we both know Trail Creek, being away from that influencer bullshit, is better for her. While I don’t agree with her choices, I have grown to understand them. There’s a reason for the persona, for the mask, but goddamn, she’s so much more without it.

The weight of it looms, heavy, hanging over me. I just met her, and now the universe is ripping her away.

The loudzipof the tent precedes Blakely’s stumbling footsteps. She ambles towards the trees to take care of business before joining me by the fire. While she uses some of the water I boiled to rinse her hands and brush her teeth, I study her.

Her mussed hair, sleepy eyes, and, best of all, the large hickey on her collar.Mine.The possessive roar reverberates through me.

“Did you make this?” Her eyebrows rise as she takes in the fresh coffee and frittata.

I grunt, letting her know I cooked it all. Who else would’ve?

“You’re such a fucking catch, Hudson Brooks.” She stretches on her tiptoes and kisses me. As my tongue seeks hers, she pulls away and plops onto one of the camping chairs. “So, are you making a plate for me, or is this a self-serve situation?”

I let out a rough laugh. So goddamn sassy. If she were standing, I’d swat her ass. But like the whipped fool I am, I divvy up a slice of the eggy casserole and drop it on her lap. This pain in the ass, this thorn in my side, is the best thing to ever happen to me.

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