Page 24 of Unleashed

“I love you, Morgan,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling of the tent.

My breath hitched. “Slade…” I cautioned, my voice low. He pulled his hand back, but it was too late. His touch had ignited something deep within me, a fire that had been dormant for far too long. The throbbing between my legs returned with a vengeance, making it impossible to ignore.

I clenched my eyes shut, trying to fight it, and eventually, after what felt like hours, sleep came—fitful and restless.

CHAPTER 6

Iwoke just before dawn, the space beside me cold and empty. Slade wasn’t in the tent, and the chill in the air quickly reminded me of our remote surroundings. "Slade?" I called, my voice rough from sleep.

The rustling outside grew louder, and a moment later, Slade pulled back the tent flap, silhouetted against the soft glow of the fire. “I started some coffee,” he said, his face shadowed but undeniably proud of himself. A small pot of water sat on the flames, steam rising slowly.

I blinked, still groggy. “What the hell are you doing?”

Slade chuckled, crouching to stir the water. “I can’t function without coffee. Even the terrible instant stuff.” He winced, as though the memory of its taste pained him.

I shook my head, half-amused by his persistence. “Is there enough for me?”

He grinned, his teeth gleaming in the firelight. “Maybe. Get up, and I’ll share.”

I crawled out of the sleeping bag, stretching muscles that protested from yesterday’s hike. The humidity clung to my skin like a second layer, making me feel sticky and uncomfortable.The tent’s roof had a faint sheen of condensation from our combined body heat. Lovely.

Outside, Slade was focused, carefully measuring out the instant coffee as if it were a sacred ritual. I began breaking down the tent, rolling up the sleeping bags with practiced efficiency. When I finished, the smell of coffee greeted me, though there was only enough for one cup.

I arched a brow, glancing at him. “Where’s mine?”

Slade held up the cup, the dark liquid swirling inside. “We can share. I made it just the way you like it.” He sipped cautiously, and I smirked as his face twisted in discomfort. Black coffee. No sugar, no cream—exactly how I liked it, but definitely not his style.

He handed it over, shaking his head. “Not Coffee Beanery, but I’ll survive. You need to eat.”

“I had a protein bar earlier,” he said, retrieving one from his pack. He waved it in front of me like it was the prize of his haul. “Want one? I bought loads at Hiker’s Paradise.”

I groaned. “They saw you coming, didn’t they?”

His brow furrowed. “Huh?”

“They probably sold you a bunch of overpriced stuff you didn’t need. Those bars, for example.”

Slade frowned, looking down at the peanut butter chocolate chip bar in his hand. “What’s wrong with them?”

“They’re loaded with sugar. You’ll crash after a short burst of energy.” I reached into my own pack and pulled out a dehydrated meal pack, holding it up. “This is what you should’ve gone for. It’s lightweight and more nutritious.”

Slade took the package from me, studying it. “Should I heat more water for it?”

“Nah, I’ll stick with a protein bar for now.” I rummaged in my bag for my REI bars, pulling one out and tossing it to him. “Compare the labels.”

He did, his expression shifting. “Wow. Yours have way more protein and way less sugar.”

“Exactly. Hiker’s Paradise rips off newbies like you.”

Slade sighed, stuffing the sugary bar back in his pack. “I guess they did see me coming.”

I glanced down at his boots. “Speaking of, how’s that blister?”

“Much better,” he said, but I noticed the hesitation.

“Take off your boots,” I ordered.

“What? I need them to hike,” he protested.

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