“What’s the motherfucker’s name?” His tone was harsh and strained.
This domineering protectiveness Doug was displaying had my stomach all a flutter. My first instinct was to roll out of his arms and hide in the bathroom. The only flutter I needed to feel in his presence was his tongue fluttering over my body. But it had been a long stress-filled day. I was tired and wanted someone to give a damn. I allowed myself to succumb to the warm and fuzzy feeling he gave me, staying nestled against his body.
“Joanna,” I said.
“Sounds like a pussy. Well, tomorrow, I’m going to pay Mr. Anna a not so friendly visit.”
I looked up into his stern face and giggled. “Not Joe Anna. It’s Joanna. Joanna Sinclair.”
Doug’s face relaxed once it dawned on him what I said. “I bet I could still kick her ass.”
“I’m sure of it.”
“You realize no one else thinks that about you, right?”
“I suppose,” I said without much conviction.
His index finger found my chin, tilting my head back and meeting my gaze. “Soph, you’re the most intelligent, savvy, and hardest working person I know. You’ve earned every one of your achievements. Don’t let some jealous opportunist cause you to doubt yourself and your abilities.”
Doug’s words and sincerity were unexpected, but exactly what I needed. The hint of tears bubbled up behind my eyes. I blinked several times, pushing them down. Leaning in, he placed a light kiss on my mouth.
“Thank you,” I whispered, against his lips.
“Hey, that’s what friends are for.” A hint of a smile appeared on his face.
I snuggled in closer to Doug, resting my head on his chest. We didn’t speak. We laid there in each other’s arms. Doug caressing my hair was the last thing I remembered before my eyes drifted shut.
THE BRIGHT SUNLIGHT crept underneath my eyelids, forcing them open. I was laying on my side with a very firm somebody spooning me. My brain slowly unscrambled the events of last night. I smiled at the memory of Doug taking care of me. Easing out from under his draped arm, I shifted, and turned to look at his sleeping face.
He looked so peaceful. His hair a sexy mess and the scruff along his jaw was well past the five o’clock shadow. As I studied each inch of his face, I realized that this was the first time I’d spent the entire night with a man. It was also, hands-down, the best night’s sleep I’d ever had.
“Doug, are you awake?” He didn’t budge while his breathing remained slow and steady. “This is nice,” I whispered.
Suddenly, his eyes popped wide open. “You like me. You really like me.”
“You jackass! I thought you were asleep.”
Doug roared to life, flipped me on my back, and hovered over me. I let my knees fall apart and he took his place between them.
“This is nice,” he said, gently rocking his hips against me.
Feeling how much he wanted me set me ablaze.
“I must have fallen asleep.”
A slight smile curled the corners of his mouth. “Appears that way.”
“I didn’t mean for you to babysit me all night.”
“I know.”
I tightened my legs around him, pushing him closer. “Then why did you?”
“I wanted to be here for you.”
“What about your report?” I said, tugging at his jeans.
“I’ll finish it later and email it in.”
He slid down until his face was at my stomach. He kissed his way up my torso, moving the soft worn T-shirt up my body. I lifted my arms and he pulled the shirt off of me. Pressing his mouth to mine, he kissed me slow and deep. Doug’s hand traveled up my body, leaving streaks of heat in its wake. He cupped my breast, massaging it gently while his thumb skimmed over my nipple. Every movement was methodical and deliberate. He knew every dip and curve of my body. His touch knew where to go and what to do. It was as if he’d taken a master class on the topic of my anatomy. My eyelids floated down and I settled in, letting the professor take as long as he wanted.
ONE HOUR AND fifteen seconds was the total amount of time this morning that I spent on and in Sophie’s bed. I was going to say Sophie’s body but thought it would be too crude. Though I didn’t have the words to describe what happened between us this morning for an hour and fifteen seconds, I knew it wasn’t crude.
Never had I ever been with a woman for that long. Not even close. The fact was, I never wanted to linger before, during, and especially not after the deed had been done. Sophie’s body demanded one to linger. But it wasn’t just the hour and fifteen seconds this morning. Last night with her snuggled up to me and talking about her day was good… really good… great even. To date, Sophie was the only woman who held my interest in and out of bed.
Since it was the day before we left for the camping trip, we both took off from work to help Hart and Bryson with any last minute prep. So after the hour and fifteen seconds, Sophie and I thought we should get back to the real world. We showered. Separately. Then got dressed. I finished my report and emailed it before the deadline, then headed over to Hart’s place.
On the drive over I thought about my feelings toward Sophie and how they had changed. I mean, I always liked her, even though we didn’t see eye-to-eye all the time. Her insults never even bothered me, because I knew deep down she liked me. And I always got a lot of pleasure out of making her smile and laugh. I liked a happy Sophie. Who was I kidding? I liked a pissed off Sophie as well. I liked a loud mouth Sophie as well as a quiet one. I liked her soft side, the way she was with her grandmother. Last night I got a peek at her vulnerable side and I liked that too.
I was feeling things I’d never before experienced. And what was even worse, I was thinking about my feelings. What the fuck was happening to me? I know Sophie and I made a pact to keep this arrangement between the two of us, but I needed to talk this out with someone.
Needed to talk this out with someone? You’re turning into a pussy, Doug.
A few minutes later I was pulling up to Hart’s house. He was packing one of the tents when I got out of the car. I walked over, grabbed one corner of the tent, and helped him fold it.
“Mornin’, Douglas.”
“Hey.”
“You okay?” Hart said.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
I could feel Hart’s eyes on me. “You’re not still pissed about the other night, are you?”
“Nah.”
“Doug, talk to me.”
Since we were kids, Hart had been able to read me like no one else. He instinctively knew when I had something on my mind. It was as if he had a sixth sense. Hart was also the one person I trusted more than anyone in the world. I knew if I confided in him about Sophie, he’d keep it in the vault. Maybe I’ll leave the part out about us having sex, like we did this morning for an hour and fifteen seconds.
“Is Bryson home?”
“No. She took Hope to a mommy and me thing,” he said.
“Good because I need some jaw time alone with you.”
He stopped folding the tent. “As long as that means talking only, we’re good to go.”
“First, you have to promise you won’t say anything to Bryson.”
“I can’t promise that, dude. But I will do my best not to make it a topic of conversation.”
“Fair enough.”
We finished packing the first tent and moved onto the second one. Hart and I examined the material and made sure the stakes were together while I talked.
“This thing between me and Sophie…”
“I didn’t realize there was a thing between you and Sophie.”
“Oh, there’s a thing. A very big thing between us.” I cracked a smile and chuckled.
“You’re thirty-two, dude.” Hart pursed his lips and shook his head.
I stuffed the second tent into the bag as Hart dragged out the third one.
“Lately, I’ve been having certain yearnings, if you will, for her.”
“You’ve had certain yearnings fo
r her since the day you met.”
“These are different. I want to do things with her that I’ve never wanted to do with anyone.”
Hart glared intently at me. “May I remind you that Sophie is like a sister to Bryson? My wife. Therefore, Sophie is like a sister to me. I advise you to think very carefully about telling me these things you want to do.”
“I’m not talking about sex stuff. Although, that would make the list…”
“Consider this warning two. You got one more before I punch you in the nuts,” Hart said in a low husky voice.
“What I’m trying to get at is…” I hesitated for a moment, nervous to actually put the words out there. “I like the way she walks around my life. When she’s happy, I’m happy. And when someone hurts her, my blood boils so hot it feels like I’m going to explode.
“You are so fucked.”
“Why?! I didn’t say a word about having nonstop sex with her for an entire hour and fifteen seconds.”
“I’m going to set that comment to the side for the time being. You’re falling in love with Sophie.”
Scrunching up my face, I said, “Get the fuck outta here.”
“You have all the signs,” Hart said with the hint of a smile.
“How do I get rid of them?”
“It’s too late. There’s no turning back. You’ve got it and you’ve got it bad.”
“Fuck me,” I muttered.
“In all seriousness, be careful, Doug. Don’t start something you have no intention of finishing. I know this is a new concept for you, but think long and hard about the consequences if this blows up in your face.”
I opened my mouth to speak when suddenly Bryson appeared at the open garage door, holding a sleeping Hope in her arms.
“Hey, beautiful,” Hart said.
“Hey, sexy.”
“How was mommy and me?”
“Fantastic, as evidenced by sleeping beauty here. You two were in an intense conversation when I walked up. What gives?”
Hart and I looked at each other for a beat.
“Doug was sharing his feelings.”
Bryson’s gaze bounced between the two of us.
She huffed out a chuckle and headed inside the house. “Yeah, right.”
“I CAN’T BELIEVE I let y’all talk me into this trip.”
Sitting on the large rock, I looked down at my phone, desperately trying to find the inkling of a signal.
“Give it a chance,” Bryson said as she unpacked a box loaded with our food for the next two days. “I wasn’t sure I’d like camping either until Hart turned me on to it. We always have an amazing time.”
“That’s because you fuck each other’s brains out between roasting marshmallows.”
With raised eyebrows, she said, “Let me tell you… there’s nothing better than doing it in a tent with the top unzipped, looking up at the stars while Hart’s tongue swirls around my… Never mind.”
Fall in the mountains of Ashville was gorgeous, but this campground was too primitive. Bryson played up the place, making it sound as if this was the Four Seasons of campsites. Four Seasons my ass. The only building I saw on our way in was a dilapidated wooden shack with the words bathroom/shower burned into the side.
I blew out a breath, tossing my phone into my purse. “No signal. Great. What the hell am I supposed to do with no signal?”
“Enjoy spending quality time with your friends and nature.”
“I’ve never been a fan of nature and quality time is meant to be spent surrounded by quality accommodations.”
Just then Julia walked up carrying a box of various alcoholic beverages and set it down on the table.
“I’m bored and my cute boots already have dirt on them,” I said.
Julia pulled a couple of bottles out of the box. “No one wears expensive shoes to go camping.”
Leaning back on my hands, I extended my right leg and admired my brown leather, Diane von Furstenbeurg ankle boots.
Julia held out her hand to Bryson. “Pay up.”
My best friend reached into the front pocket of her jeans and took out a roll of bills, slapping it into Julia’s waiting palm.
“How about double or nothing?” Bryson said.
“I’m gonna quit while I’m ahead.”
My gaze swung between the two of them. “What just took place here?”
Bryson focused back on the box in front of her. “Nothing.”
“A friendly wager on how long it would be before you started complaining. I had fifteen minutes. Bryson gave you an entire half hour.”
I glared at Bryson.
She feigned innocence. “What?! I believed in you.”
“Only for thirty minutes!” I snapped.
An apologetic smile spread across her face. “Look, while Julia and I finish up here and the guys set up the tents, why don’t you go get some wood for the fire.”
“Okay. Give me your car keys.” I stood and dusted off the rock debris from the back of my jeans.
Bryson’s brows knitted together as she narrowed her eyes. “For what?”
“How else am I going to get to the store?”
A Betty Rubble giggle rolled out of Julia. Bryson gave her a quick elbow nudge then turned her warm understanding expression back to me.
“Sophie, there’s an entire forest full of firewood.”
“You want me to pick up sticks?”
“Yes.”
“Off the ground?”
Bryson cleared her throat, trying really hard not to laugh. “Those are the easiest ones to reach.”
Staring at my two friends, I tried to visualize spending any amount of time gathering dirty sticks. It pissed me off that they considered me a whiny prima donna. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do this outdoor wilderness crap. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to pitch a tent for God’s sake. I just had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that people actually wanted to surround themselves with dirt and bugs.
Grabbing the corkscrew from the table, I opened a bottle of red wine and took a swig.
“Sustenance. It’s important to stay hydrated in the wild,” I said before walking away.
I headed toward the woods with the bottle in hand, passing the guys, who were erecting our sleeping quarters. Hart was hammering stakes into the ground, securing tent one. Colin and Ronnie were finishing setting up tents two and three. And Doug somehow had draped and twisted tent four around his body. I paused for a moment, took another swig of wine, watching while expletives and punches hit against the nylon as he attempted the great escape.
I had walked for about ten minutes when it dawned on me that I wouldn’t be able to hold firewood and a bottle of wine. Therefore I found a big tree, leaned against it, closed my eyes, and soaked in nature. While the wine buzzed through my body the sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds floated into my ears. Enjoying the light breeze, I drifted in and out of awareness.
As I relaxed into my surroundings, the tip of my nose began to tickle. Being in the great outdoors was a shock to my system. I crinkled my nose in hopes that would be enough to soothe the itch. It did for a few seconds before the tickle came back. Not wanting to disturb my peacefulness, I kept my eyes closed, brought my hand up and brushed it across the tip of my nose. I did this a few more times and each time the tickle came back stronger. Then a stifled laugh broke through my zen bubble. I opened my eyes to find Doug standing in front of me with a goofy grin on his face and a weird looking leaf in his hand.
Swatting his hand away, I said, “What the hell are you doing?”
“I thought you’d like some company.” He snagged the wine bottle and took a swig.
“Great, you can gather the wood for the fire.”
Resting one hand flat against the tree near my head, Doug moved in close. “I was kind of hoping you’d grab my wood.”
“You are unbelievable. Did you get your tent up?”
“Oh yeah, my tent has been erected.” He smirked.
Laughter fl
ew out of me.
“Come on, Soph. You. Me. Surrounded by nature doing what comes nat-tur-al-ly.”
My gaze locked with his and the warm tingles floated all over my body, with extra concentration hovering in the lady region. “What if someone sees us?”
“The campground is near empty.”
“Good point. But what if someone hears us?” I said.
“You’ll have to resist the urge to shout my name in ecstasy.”
I stayed still letting him make the first move. His gaze roamed down my face, lingering for several seconds on my lips. The way Doug kissed made me feel as if my lips were a rare precious jewel. At times he was so hungry for them, his approach was that of a starving man trying to taste as much as possible before they disappeared. Then there were times like right now. Looking at them with an awestruck gaze, dragging the moment out as long as time would allow, because he knew it would vanish and not come back.
Looking into my eyes with a serious expression on his face, he whispered, “God damn, you’re beautiful.”
This wasn’t the first time I’d heard a guy call me beautiful. However, it was the first time I could remember one looking me in the eye while he said it. Usually, the guy’s gaze was making a steady descent down my body or he mumbled it during the fucking portion of the evening. Every time Doug looked at me, I felt special.
Hooking my finger around the belt loop of his jeans, I pulled him closer.
My hand slid down the front of his jeans. “Okay, Paul Bunyan, show me what you’ve got.”
With a slight thrust of his hips, he pushed against my palm as he moved in for a kiss. As his lips were about to touch mine, my hand reared up slapping his cheek. Doug pulled back abruptly, rubbing the side of his face.
“What the fuck was that for?!” He flinched in pain.
“Sorry, I thought I saw a bug on your face.”
His scowl relaxed. “Oh. Okay. Thanks. Now let’s get back down to business.”
Straightening my shoulders, I stuck out my chest. “Give it to me. I’m ready for some primal, back to nature tree fucking.”
He leaned in and stopped. “That makes it sound like we’re fucking the tree…”
“What?”
Crazy Sexy Love Page 17
