Page 46 of Cabin Fever

"You never answered me, Carter. Do you want to kiss me?"

For the first time since the day I fell from the roof, I saw a flicker of pain. I recognized that look from a mile away. My father wore it for years the day after my eighth birthday.

"More than anything."

It was the truth. I may not want to lose her, but I'd do anything to make Olivia happy.

Her brow furrowed but the hurt that was there melted. I let out a puff of air in relief. A few strands of golden hair fluttered over her face, landing on her nose. I lifted my fingers and brushed the hair away but realized too late it was a mistake.

Olivia, in my hormone-induced fog, took advantage and grabbed my hand. In a sexual hypnosis, I sat and watched as she began to do obscene things to my hand.

"Is it okay if I lick your fingers?"

I nodded, helpless in the moment.

When she slipped one finger into her mouth, I gurgled as if I had indigestion. It was a half moan, half body seizure. I was no longer in control. Olivia had me and I never wanted it any other way.

I never thought having my finger sucked would feel so incredible. I refused to look away and when her tongue swirled over my fingernail, I groaned.

Olivia pulled my hand away and as she sat back, I thought the moment was over. I should be relieved—no complications to end our friendship. However, what I felt was worse—disappointment.

She didn't want me. Olivia was testing the waters, and I was too cold for her liking.

I had no idea what she wanted in a sexual relationship, but I was pretty sure it wasn't me. Her eyes examined me like a vet with a sick animal.

I was broken, both inside and out. Maybe if I had been more social or didn't run the first time we did more than hug, I'd have her moaning against my touch right now. I shifted and leaned back against the wall, avoiding the wood-burning stove, deflating against the hard surface.

Olivia didn't get up and go back to bed as I thought she would. Instead, she turned, still analyzing the wild mountain beast gazing at her, too struck to move.

There had been many times over the past two weeks when Olivia surprised me, but this one beat them all.

She reached for the hem of her top and pulled. In one game-changing moment, Olivia sat on her knees in front of me in only her lacy white panties.

I stared at her breasts way longer than appropriate. If there was an appropriate amount of time to stare at a woman's chest, which I don't think there was, I'd long surpassed it.

"I never knew a woman could be this breathtaking."

My voice was barely above a whisper, but Olivia heard me. I knew because she blushed as she turned her head from me. The pink crept from her cheeks, down her neck, and across her chest. She wrapped herself in her arms as if it could protect her from my eyes gobbling her up.

I had been with attractive women before, but she was different. My heart strained to be closer to her. I felt lost, and Olivia was the only one who could help me find my way.

But this wasn't about me. I might eventually find my way out of the wilderness, but Olivia was more than a helping hand . . . She was an animal adrift. As much as I wanted to take hold of her, it was better if I turned away.

"I wanted to kiss you that day you walked into my kitchen expecting to be served breakfast. You were spoiled, a little bit crazy, and smarter than I expected. But you know what stopped me?"

"No."

"You deserved better. You still do. I'm a reclusive sheep farmer living on the side of a mountain. I don't think you can get creepier than that."

Her arms fell and she scooted closer, turning her eyes to mine. "Maybe I like creepy." She frowned and shook her head. "That sounded way better in my head. Carter, you aren't creepy. Anti-social, yes. Stubborn, heck yeah. But, creepy? No. As for one little kiss, it won't end the world."

But it might end us.

"I don't think—"

"Then don't think. Just kiss me. Kiss the spoiled right out of me."

And that's what I did. My body plowed through the wall of theories I had created for myself over the past couple of weeks. The idea she didn't want me, or that it would ruin our friendship went through the roof faster than I fell a couple of days ago. When Olivia curved her lips, my body went into action.

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