Walking over to me, Boone scans his gaze over me. “You okay? You’re shaking.”
I exhale, feeling my shoulders deflate. “I’m scared of raccoons.”
“You can’t leave your tent open,” he says plainly.
“Yeah, I know that,” I huff. “It was an accident.”
“Grady…” Boone sighs, raking a hand through his hair. “This is stupid. You don’t need to sleep in a fucking tent. You’re sleeping in the camper, end of discussion.”
My lips part in surprise as my eyes widen. “End of discussion?” I balk. “Who the hell do you think you are? My daddy?”
Boone’s eyes narrow, and he clenches his jaw, huffing out a harsh breath through this nose. I watch his fists clench and unclench a few times, like he needs to give himself a moment before he can respond. “If you’re going to be an idiot and make poor choices, then yeah, I guess I am.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, Grady.” Boone takes a single step in my direction, gesturing behind him with one single finger. “Get in the camper.”
My heart hammers in my chest, blood roaring in my ears as I stand my ground. Narrowing my eyes, I grit out, “No.”
Another step. “Grady, don’t make me throw you over my shoulder and carry you inside, because I will.”
Letting out an exasperated sigh, I toss my hands up in the air before spinning on my heel and storming into the direction of the tree-covered path that leads to the water.He wouldn’t fucking dare.
“If you’re scared of raccoons, it’s probably not smart to go in there,” he calls after me.
I flip him the finger, not bothering to look back or think about the validity of his statement. “Fuck off, Boone!”
Vaguely, I hear the sound of the camper door slamming shut, and for a moment I think he left me out here like I wanted, but then I hear it… Footsteps behind me.Motherfucker.I throw a quick glance behind me, and just like I thought, he’s following behind me, his large steps eating up the distance between us. Still only in briefs, he at least had the smarts to slip on a pair of boots before trudging through the damn woods after me.
He's gaining on me, but I don’t slow down or stop. I can’t sleep in that camper anymore. I just can’t. Nothing good will come from it, and it can’t happen. No matter how much I want it to happen, it can’t. This is for the best. And yeah, sure, I almost got mauled to death by a raccoon, but it’s fine. I’ll be more careful from now on. I’ll zip it closed every time I leave, and all will be well. It was one time, and I doubt the creature is going to return.
I amnotgoing to get bit by a raccoon and get rabies.
I will not.
It’s fine.
I’m fine.
A large, warm, rough palm wraps around my elbow, yanking me to a stop, and I realize two things… It isnotfine, and neither am I. We stand in silence for a moment, and I can feel the heat from his nearly naked body. It sends a shiver down my spine.
“Look at me, G,” he rasps.
Tears creep up and sting the backs of my eyes from how frustrated I feel, but I blink to keep them at bay, pissed that he’s affecting me like this. I bite down on my molars so hard, I’m surprised I don’t crack one. “No.”
I’m acutely aware of his hand still wrapped around my arm, and he’s making no move to remove it. “What is going on with you? Why are you acting like this?”
“I’m fine,” I lie, and without even looking at Boone, I know he’s rolling his eyes.
“Talk to me,” he murmurs, his voice taking on a softer edge. “Look at me…please.”
I swallow against the lump forming in my throat, hating how easily he’s wearing me down. “Boone…”
“Grady, please. When did we get here? Just talk to me, baby.”
Baby.The single word comes out no louder than a whisper, like he didn’t mean to say it…but he did.
I spin around, coming face to face with him, and I instantly regret it. He’s so unbelievably handsome, it hurts. His sharp features, his dark brown eyes that look black under the midnight sky, and the miles of muscles and skin on display, illuminated by the full moon.
