“Thanks.” It’s good. There’s fruit in it from the other side. We don’t know what it’s called, so we’re calling it Pepperfruit. Which is kind of confusing, but whatever. I eat it in silence and place my bowl in the container. “I’ll go wash these.”
“No, I’ve got it,” Dante says.
It’s like he’s going out of his way to keep me from doing anything productive lately. But whatever. “Which way did Haley go?”
“Toward the waterfall.” He inclines his head.
Away from camp, I’m jogging, not because I have to but because I’m getting antsy. Idle hands are the things that work,or one of those weird things my grandmother used to say. Growing up on the farm, there wasn’t a minute I didn’t have to do something. Then with football, every minute was work out, study plays, school. Then, being an engineer, there’s always something to do. Free time sits on my chest.
Fuck. I miss my books. I didn’t think to bring my e-reader from the ship.
Each step pounds on the path. Ferns swash by my thighs. I’m not even looking for Haley anymore, just running through the jungle scaring birds from their branches into the sky. The waterfall is in front of me before I realize it. I skid to a stop, staring out over it.
Memories flutter at me. Haley. I breathe in, and it’s like I can smell her coconut shampoo on the wind. I pivot, expecting her to be there. The jungle greets me, bamboo swaying.
I step off the trail and head down the logical path for her to take. There’s a clearing where a bunch of plants grow that Dante’s been making tea from. I’m a hundred yards down the path before I find signs of her walking this way. A broken leaf, a scuff in the open dirt.
When I reach the clearing, she’s there, as I expected. Bent over, her black leggings covering her divine ass. The last time I was alone with Haley, fuck, it was on the Rock Candy. And I’m panting inside. I need her so much. I don’t see Penny. Where did the damn dog go?
I’m stalking Haley, each step carefully placed. And with each silent footfall, I’m getting harder. I’m salivating at the thought of touching her. It’s torture. I should run to her side, grab her, and swing her onto my back. But this is better. The expectation of a gift can be so much better than the actual thing. Unless it’s Haley. She’s the best present I could ever ask for.
And I’ve been a silent ogre, ignoring her. Stuck inside myself.
Another step around a clump of ferns. She moves forward. I’m not sure what she’s even picking. But the closer I get without her noticing, the more I’m salivating, and I’m getting mad. How does she not hear me? I’m good, but I’m not that good.
She ducks her head, reaching for another plant.
I freeze.
But then she picks up her basket and darts off like a quick little rabbit. She shimmies through a small space in between the trees. Her almost blond hair flows behind her, her laughter in the wind.
Fuck me.
She glances back but then picks up speed. She rounds the trail, going back on the side to shoot to the waterfall, her basket in her hand. Either she’s gotten faster or I’m getting slower. She’s pulling away from me. Each step, she takes with a sure footing. And the damn giggle joins the wind.
It’s fucking hard to run with a hard dick. Stopping isn’t an option, not when she’s loving this as much as I am. We’re past the halfway point back to camp when she slows.
“I’m going to get you.”
“No, you’re not. You’re too slow, Green.” She finds another gear somewhere. Her heels pushing into the path, a cloud of dust and pebbles kicking up behind her.
Deep in my gut, I’m rooting for her, and I laugh. With each huff, I slow, and she does it—she beats me into camp.
“Sassy, what’s going on? Is it a boar? I got worried when Penny showed up.” Dante’s standing, his hands at his sides.
Haley drops her basket on the ground and races for the treehouse. I’m at her waist as she’s halfway up. I reach for her, but what am I thinking?
“Not a boar, but a bore,” Zane says from the living room platform.
Haley zips past him, a giggle on her lips.
“Damn. Well, alright then.” He follows her up to the sleeping room.
“Sam, get down here,” Dante yells up to the observation tower.
“What’s wrong?” Sam hits the bottom at the same time I reach the room.
“Nothing,” Dante tosses over his shoulder. “Find Rockwell and get your asses in here.”
