Page 18 of Wilde Sanctuary

“Beautiful,” he said with a groan, and bent to drop a light kiss on her lips.

She moaned, kissing him back, before pulling away with a gasp. “Do you have any idea how you look right now?” She panted.

“Uh, no?” He took the flask and the plate from her, freeing her hands.

She shook her head at him. “You are all muscles and sweaty bronzed skin,” she reached out with a finger and trailed it down the middle of his chest, following a drop of sweat that was trickling slowly south. “These jeans,” she tugged on thewaistband, “are far too large and you have no idea what these make me think of.” She traced her fingers over the vee of his obliques.

Rhett’s skin flamed under her touch and the jeans that she called far too large suddenly felt far too small.

She lifted an eyebrow and grinned. “Now do you understand why I’m a bit flustered?” She walked around him in a slow circle, trailing her finger over his skin as she did. “I want to climb you like a tree.” She finished her circle and stood in front of him again. “But I have turned that cabin inside out and there isn’t a single condom in there, so no tree climbing for me.” She turned as she sang the last word, smirking at him over her shoulder as she walked away.

Rhett watched her hips sway as she left, unable to help but laugh. She was sassy, and he loved every second.

Once she was back in the cabin, he ate the food and got back to work. It didn’t take him long to finish with the tree, moving enough branches to drive the truck out. He’d have to come back with his cousin Logan and a chainsaw to make the track serviceable, but for now, this would do.

Donning his shirt, he headed back to the cabin to find Charlie had cleaned up. It didn’t feel right to not see any evidence of her stay here. Like last night had never happened.

Like she was never in his life.

He rubbed at the center of his chest, frowning.

Charlie emerged from the bedroom, a tote bag in hand, and placed it on a small suitcase near the door.

“Good to go?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

He went to grab her suitcase, but she batted his hand away. “I’ve got it.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “I know, but would it hurt to let me help?”

She gave him a strange look that he couldn’t decipher and pulled her hand away. “Alright.”

Rhett picked up her bag and carried it to the truck. He helped Charlie inside, thankful that he’d cleaned it out only the week prior.

They had almost made it back to Cape Wilde when Charlie turned to him. “Um, where am I going to stay? It was hard enough getting the booking for your cabin at this time of year.”

He shot her a look. “I assumed you’d be staying with me.”

She smirked, an eyebrow raised. “That’s a bit of an assumption there, big guy.”

He laughed. “I’m not that big.”

“Compared to me you are. I’d rather not stay with you.”

He scowled. “Why not?”

“I don’t want you getting any more ideas about my motivations.”

Oh. That made sense, even if he would prefer it if she were with him. In his bed. In his life.

He shoved the thought deep inside and locked it down tight. She was only here for a few more days.

“So, where are you going to stay? You’re right, there are no vacancies this time of year.”

She grinned at him. “I’m going to stay with you.”

Rhett groaned and shook his head. “I thought you just said?—”

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