This is for the best, and I think as soon as I realized and accepted that, things became easier between us. I can hang around him without dwelling over my feelings for him. Sure, I replay that night over and over again, but I can control myself.
Pulling open the door to the camper, I step inside. It’s cool in here from the air conditioner unit Boone had put in here. I’m thankful for it, otherwise it would be miserable. There’s nothing worse than being too hot when you’re trying to sleep. I grab a quick change of clothes, stuffing them into my backpack, before doing the same with my equipment. I’ll get changed in the bathrooms really quick before walking over to the arena. Just as I’m about to head out, the door to the camper pulls open, and in walks Boone…in nothing more than a fucking towel around his waist and shower sandals on his feet.
Against my will, my gaze drags down his nearly naked body before common sense cuts in and I lift my eyes to meet his. My cheeks heat immediately, and Boone looks like a deer caught in headlights.
“Shit, sorry,” he mumbles, standing frozen in place. “I’d forgotten my clothes on my bed when I went to take a shower.” He points behind me toward the bed as if to prove his statement.
There’re water droplets dripping from his dark hair, and his broad, toned, fuzzy chest is also wet. The towel around his waist leaves little to the imagination. He looks like a fucking Greek god standing before me. I can’t look away. My mouth is dry, and my heart is beating so fast it’s hard to breathe. I don’t know what to do with myself. I need to leave, get as far away from him as I can, but he’s blocking the exit.
Unsure what to do, I lift my backpack up and say, “I was just grabbing my stuff.”
He nods once, but says nothing. His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he swallows, and like the masochist I am, my eyes drop and track the movement. I want to drag the flat of my tongue along his throat before sinking down and doing the same to his chest, gathering all the moisture, and tasting him. The fresh, clean scent of whatever body wash he uses reaches me, and it’s making me dizzy. He smells good, and he looks sinful. It’s a dangerous combination for my senses. I need to get out of here, or all my previous thoughts about things going well and not being awkward will become null and void. If I stay in here for one second longer, there’s no telling what I might do.
My gaze dips lower when movement catches my attention. The hand holding the towel around his waist flexes as he tightens his grip, and all I can think of is that same hand letting go, and watching the material fall to the floor. I imagine him standing there completely naked in front of me, and then I imagine him taking his big, thick cock in a tight fist the way he did that one time in his bedroom. The blood roars in my ears, and by the time my gaze makes it back up to his face again, it feels like I’ve been standing here for hours, when in reality it’s only been about a minute or so.
I swallow thickly, taking a step in his direction before I finally speak up. “I’m gonna squeeze by you. I gotta get changed and head to the arena.”
Boone nods again, seeming to come to his senses too. “Yeah, uh…” He turns to the side, letting me through. “Me too.”
I make the mistake of meeting his gaze as I move past him. His eyes dip to my mouth before coming back up. It’s something I don’t think he even realizes he did, but I caught it. He’s so close, and sonaked,I could move even an inch forward, and my body would be touching his. It’s bad…so bad. This can’t be happening. Clearing my throat, I avert my gaze, leaving the camper before anything can happen. Before I can give in to the desire foreverythingto happen. My chest is heaving, and my pulse has skyrocketed by the time I get to the bathrooms.
Fuck.
As soon as I’m finished changing, I pull my phone out and notice I have a new text waiting for me.
Xander: Hey, let me know when you’re heading to the arena. I’ll walk over with you.
Me: I’m heading over now. Meet you in front of the water fountain?
Xander: Sounds good.
Blowing out a breath, I shove my dirty clothes back into my backpack. I’m not even going to attempt to drop them back off at the camper on my way out. Just my luck, he’d still be standing there, and who knows what would happen if that were the case. It’s better to avoid it like the plague until I have no choice but to go to sleep later tonight. It’s safer that way.
Xander’s waiting for me as I approach the fountain. “Hey, man,” he mutters.
Offering him a smile I know doesn’t reach my eyes, I say, “Hey.”
The walk from the campsite to the arena is only about a mile. We fall into line, walking side by side, all while my mind is still reeling over what just happened in the camper. There wasdefinitelyan energy in there between us, and I know it wasn’t just one sided. I saw the way he looked at me. I couldfeelthe electricity.
“Are you okay?” Xander asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Yeah,” I lie as I try to calm my nerves.
“No, you’re not,” he counters with a furrowed brow. “What’s wrong?”
Glancing over at Xander, I consider telling him. I know I can trust him, and he’s a level-headed guy. Maybe he’d have some advice for me. Or maybe he’ll tell me what a sick pervert I am. Either way, I think getting it off my chest will help. I haven’t told anybody, and it’s killing me.
Heaving a sigh, I mutter, “Okay, but if I tell you, you need to promise me you won’t say anything to anyone.”
Face dead serious, he nods. “I promise.”
Stomach in knots, I chew the inside of my cheek before saying, “Something happened that night we did karaoke, and it’s been fucking with my head ever since.”
“What is it?” he asks softly.
“Boone and I kissed,” I say barely above a whisper. Nobody is around us, but I still worry that somehow, someone will hear us, and I can’t risk it. Turning my head, my gaze connects with his, and the shock is evident in his expression.
He’s quiet for a moment as we keep walking. It feels like I’m about to puke. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. What if it gets back to Boone? Or worse, to Jade?
