“Like you can”—tortured squeaks bubble from my throat as my mouth tries to find the right words, landing on—“see me naked.”
“Forgive me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you butt-ass naked under that towel? It wasn’t exactly secure when we woke up…” He bites his lip, taking his sweet time looking me up and down. I could punch him.
“Knock. It. Off. This was a onetime, late-night lapse in judgme?—”
“Three.”
“Three what?” Exasperation wheezes out of me as I scan the room for anything else that may have gotten removed. The irritation in my voice only deepens the amusement on his face.
“Three times… It was athree-timelapsein judgment for you, but who’s counting?”
“Ugh!” I groan into the clothes in my hand. “You’re so damn?—”
“Irresistible?” Smiling widely, he twirls my thong around his finger.
I stomp over to him, the terry cloth chafing my skin with each determined step. “You agreed never to talk about last night,” I say, poking his chest.
“Naw.” He shakes his head. “I didn’t agree to anything.Yousaid we could pretend it didn’t happen, and then you kissed me. SoI’mgoing to pretend I didn’t hear you and kiss you.”
He pulls me toward him so quickly, I let out a gasp before his lips smother mine.Why is he so damn good at this? Kissing is basic—elementary. And yet, when he kisses me, it feels multifaceted. Like the threads of his heart weave intricately with mine, through space and time, organizing in the most perfect way that leaves me lightheaded and flustered. As if past, present, and future are one and the same, and kissing me is the only thing holding the universe together. He kisses me like he wants tokeepkissing me, and it’s easy to get lost in it.
“Hello?” a voice calls down the hall.
I pull away, wide-eyed. He tosses my panties in his open bag, then ushers me behind the door.
“Hey.” Hunter holds up a couple of fingers in greeting. I try to slow my panicked breathing as footsteps stop near the door.
“You just wake up?” Chase asks, leaning on the opposite side of the door frame. “It’s almost nine-thirty.”
“Naw, I’ve been up for a while. Just taking my time.”
“Ew, Hunter, put some damn clothes on!” Kayla’s voice sounds from the hallway. I’m no longer breathing. If I die, I die. The only thing keeping them from seeing me wrapped up in a towel in Hunter’s bedroom is the gap where the door meets the frame. I peek around to shoot Hunter a look.
“Yeah, yeah.” Hunter shifts his weight to his other foot, glancing at me quickly before continuing the conversation. “You two make sure to choose a room far away from mine.”
“Hey,” a third voice echoes from the hallway.
Hunter nods, scrunching his forehead with a confused look. “How’s it going, Trevor?”
Trevor?Great. It’s a goddamn party out there, and Hunter’s entertaining it, while I’m just here, naked, in his room.
“Where’s Ash?” Kayla asks.
“Mmm, I think she said she was taking a walk. Should be back soon.”
“You let her walk out there alone? There are bears out there, Hunter! What’s wrong with you?” Kayla chides.
“Maybe you should go out there and look for her, then.” He tips his head toward the back door. “Give the bears a two-for-one deal.”
“Chase, handle your friend,” she says in a huff, turning back down the hallway. I hear a door shut in the distance.
“Not even five minutes and you’ve already pissed her off. Cool. Thanks, man.” Chase blows out a breath, his steps retreating until another door closes.
As soon as Hunter shuts his door, I throw my sweater over my head, sliding the towel off only after I’m sufficiently covered in my oversized top. Hopping on one leg, I hike up my leggings and catch Hunter watching me with that stupid smirk. I jam my phone in my pocket with a scowl.
Rolling my eyes, I tuck my bonnet under my arm and reach up to twirl my hair into a messy top knot. I stomp over to him and put my finger in his face. “If you say anything?—”
“I won’t.” He wraps his hand around mine, lifts it to his lips, and dusts it with a kiss. “But you need to be quiet before they hear you.”
