Page 98 of Sass in the Grass

“You know you do, Jovian,” Alan said.

Mike just nodded before he said, “You’re weird, you’re funny and you’re a jerk sometimes, but we like you. Everyone can be a jerk sometimes.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Thedaybeforethecharity night at Chaps, Jovian was a nervous wreck. He walked back to Cherokee’s cabin with him, holding his hand, though he wanted to chew the hell out of his cuticles.

“Why are you fidgety tonight? Worried about the survival trip?”

That was a great thing to be nervous about. “Yeah, that’s it. That must be it.”

“Don’t worry, baby. I’d never let anything happen to you.”

“I know that. But…I don’t want special treatment. Not anymore.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but that’s my new job. I may not have the camp to teach at each summer anymore, at least not for awhile, but I have a feeling you’re going to keep me plenty busy. Especially…well, on the road.”

Jovian was only half paying attention to Cherokee. His mind was a couple of hundred miles away. “Okay,” he said while facing away from Cherokee.

That must have worried him, as he stopped and pulled Jovian back and into his arms. “Jovian, what’s going on?”

“What? Didn’t you just ask me that?”

“Baby, if you’re worried about after…I’ll admit I am, too. I’m very worried.”

Suddenly, he forgot all about the event. “Worried about what?”

“That you’ll leave here, you’ll remember the city and all you love about it, and…suddenly this will feel like a summer fling. A nice, sexy summer fling.”

Jovian’s heart broke into a million pieces. “Cherokee…no! That’s not it! I could never think of you like a fling!”

“You don’t know what you’re going to feel when you get back there. And, as much as it’ll hurt, I’ll understand.”

“Well, that’s just wonderful! How can you think that about me?”

“I…don’t get angry, I’m just saying—”

“You’re saying I’m some slut that had some fun with the mountain man and will go back to shopping and lunches, forgetting about how much I love him!”

Cherokee grabbed him and fought to hold him tightly, but he won, and finally, Jovian stopped trying to beat him with his fists. “Stop.”

“You think little of me,” he said, and that he meant it, and it hurt.

“I think a lot of you, baby. I think…the world of you.”

“Then stop thinking I won’t be back, or that we’re just over the minute the camp is done.”

“Okay. Okay, I’m sorry I said that.”

“Good! Now, you can make it up to me by fucking me good and then cuddling after. I believe I am a cuddler now.”

“That, well, I think I can manage.”

Jovian was happy, but only for the time being. His mind soon went back to his deception, and he wondered how the hell Cherokee would forgive him for taking off and leaving only a note.

It wasn’t long after they were in the cabin, however, that he forgot all about that. Cherokee stripped him down to his birthday suit and pushed him on the bed. Jovian saw that crazy sexy steel in his eyes and knew his little ass was in for it.

“I get it. Make me walk funny so I can’t just forget you.”

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