Page 66 of Keep Your Friends Close and Your… Work Enemy Closer?

I didn't argue, not even when the sounds of the others disappeared completely, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the occasional bird chirping. The forest felt more intimate somehow, like it was just the two of us in our own little world. I could feel the heat of his body close to mine, his hard chest brushing against me as we walked.

"Jared..." I started, but he cut me off.

"Just trust me. I won't let anything happen to you."

His words, his confident tone, sent a shiver down my spine, and after a few more steps, we stopped. He turned me to face him again, and I could feel his breath against my cheek, so close it made my heart pound.

I reached for the ties of my blindfold with trembling fingers, but his hands on mine halted my movement.

"Leave it on," he said.

Hesitating for only a moment, I decided to do as he asked. This side of Jared was making my stomach do flips, and even more so when he edged my back against the solid trunk of a tree and pinned my hands above my head.

Heat filled my core as he used his free hand to cup my cheek and jaw.

"It's just you and me now," he said, the tension crackling between us, anticipation thrumming in our shared air. "Do you feel it?"

"Feel what?" I breathed.

"Whatever's happening between us. You can't deny it."

My breath hitched at his words, how assertive and self-assured he was about this spark we had.

I licked my lips, my mouth suddenly dry, my lungs working overtime in this exploding heat, everything else in the world forgotten.

"Let me kiss you," he murmured, the vibration of his voice something I could feel.

Shocking even myself, I nodded my assent, and before I could second guess anything, his lips brushed against me, the lightest of touches, barely there, but it still sent a shock through my entire system.

My breath caught, and for a moment, the world stopped too. All that existed was this single point of contact where we touched, the warmth of his lips on mine, the way his big body pressed into me.

He made a noise deep in his throat, his hand tightening its grip on mine still pinned above my head, his other hand angling my mouth up toward his, his fingers splaying so wide on my face they spanned the side of my neck.

And then his lips were on me again, taking mine in a scorching hot kiss filled with a passion that curled my toes. My fucking God, Jared could kiss. Who the hell knew?

Parting my lips, I opened my mouth to his, and his tongue instantly found mine, making me melt against him with a moaned exhale.

Our passion exploded then, and he let go of my hands to wrap his arms around me, pulling me in so tight against him I could barely breathe. Needing to touch him myself, my hands slid up his back, feeling the heat of his body through his shirt.

"Hey, love birds!" Ranger Jim's booming voice echoed through the trees, startling me so much I nearly jumped out of my skin. "No getting lost in the woods now! We've got team-building to do!"

Jared pulled back, and I could feel his silent laugh more than hear it. "Damn it, Jim," he muttered under his breath.

How utterly embarrassing to be busted by fucking Ranger Jim.

I couldn't help but laugh too, the moment shattered in the most ridiculous way. "We should probably get back," I said, still breathless and slightly dazed.

"Yeah, we should." Jared sighed, frustration lacing his voice.

His hand on my lower back, he guided me toward the group, my whole world reeling with what had just happened between us.

And even more wild? I was kind of okay with it all.

Jared was slowly wearing me down, and although part of me was terrified, another even bigger part of me was thrilled. It'd been a long time since a man had pursued me like this, so doggedly, so determined to win me over, and it was exhilarating if I was being honest with myself.

When we reached the clearing, I could hear the voices of my co-workers again, and mortification settled in. "Is everyone staring at us?" I whispered in Jared's direction.

He chuckled. "Only Mona. And she's smiling."

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