Page 52 of Through The Woods

A shadow passed over me and I sat up as Charm tossed my clothes over. He was fully dressed again, as if nothing had happened. “Get your clothes on and we’ll head back.”

I turned so he couldn’t see my legs and began the arduous task of pulling denim over damp skin. “Did you warm up?” I peeked over my shoulder and his expression turned murderous.

“Jesus, Sweetheart. It wasn’t that bad.”

I choked back a laugh long enough to say, “That’s what she said.”

He stared me down, his lips remaining in a solemn line.

Tough crowd.

I turned away and pulled my shirt over my head, fighting to keep the giggles in. Once I was fully dressed, he started back down the trail toward the bike, not bothering to see if I was keeping up or not.

“You know it’s okay, right? Fifty-two percent of men will—”

“Don’t make this harder than it has to be,” he growled.

I clapped my hands and jumped up and down. “That’s what she said—no, wait. That’s what he said? That’s what one of them said!”

I liked frustrating him. Like an annoying little sister. A guy like Charm needed someone to bring him down a few pegs. And the quickest way to forget the most amazing kiss of my life, was to convince myself that I could never be seen as anything more than the annoying junkie who’d shown up and killed the bachelor vibe at the clubhouse.

I kept pace with him, even though it was obvious he was trying to get away from me. “Slow down. Let’s talk about it.”

He walked faster, so I added, “I’m sorry.”

“Fuck off, Neve,” was his response.

“Wait up,” I panted as I jogged behind him. “Let me be your friend.”

I’d meant it as a joke, but it came out laced in desperation.

He reached the motorcycle and tossed me the helmet. “With friends like you, I damn sure wouldn’t need any enemies. Let’s go.”

I nodded stupidly and put my helmet on, thankful yet again that he couldn’t see my face as my cheeks burned with embarrassment. I’d tried to make friends with him and put my personal feelings aside, but that kiss had only confused things further.

He belonged to someone else and a man like Charm couldn’t be shared. The problem was lying in the pleasure center of my brain. I’d had a hit of him and there was no coming back from that.

I was a full-blown addict now.

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