He adjusted himself in his saddle and I let my own eyes linger. With his low-slung designer jeans and form-fitting shirt that showed off his toned muscles and tan, he epitomized virility. And sex. My mouth actually watered. We’d been keeping each other at arm’s length and so far it was working. Although last night when we’d snuggled on the couch and watched TV, he’d been especially tense. I wasn’t stupid. He wanted me, but he didn’t want to hurt me either.

He cleared his throat. “If your horse is that slow, you’re welcome to ride with me. You can sit up front, and we’ll go as fast as you can handle it.”

Perfectly innocent words, but my mind went fuzzy with heat.

“Sit in front of you on a horse? In a rocking motion?” I shook my head. “Like that’s a good idea.”

“You’d like it,” he said huskily. “I promise to keep my hands to myself unless you want me to hold you—so you don’t slide off.”

And so. I pictured me riding in the same saddle with him. Heat pooled in my core and my body twitched. To fight it off, I pulled out a handful of Oreos from my jacket pocket and crammed one in my mouth.

Stress eating? Sexual frustration? Yes. I dreamed about him constantly. I wanted him so badly my lady parts were crying. Yet it wasn’t always just about sex. Most times, it was just an image of us together. Holding each other face-to-face.

“What’s making your face so red, V?”

An Oreo piece got stuck, and I coughed.

“You okay?” he said with concern and pulled on my reins, making my horse stop.

I swallowed down the piece and rasped out, “Yeah.”

He immediately handed me over some water and I chugged it down, but then I realized how manly he smelled with his natural scent and sweat mixed together. A knot formed in my belly. Maybe this trip had been too soon. He was entirely too beautiful.

“What are you thinking?” he said softly.

“The scenery? Uh, it’s quite pretty here.” I stared into his eyes.

“You’re not even looking at the scenery.”

I came to and glanced around at the trees and rocks and stuff. “Better?”

He laughed and wiped a crumb off my lip, and when his breath quickened, I realized he was just as gone as I was.

I shivered and stared at his lips. God, they were luscious. I wanted to bite them. I wanted him to bite me back. Maybe get on that horse with him and let him tear my shirt off with his teeth. I imagined me sitting in front of him while his fingers skimmed my body. My clit. I bit back a moan.

“V? You with me?”

I jerked. “You really want to know what I’m thinking?”

He nodded.

“I’m trying to figure out in my head if it’s possible to have sex on a horse.”

He went utterly still. “And what did you decide?”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “That—that we’d better talk about something else.”

He nodded.

“There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you,” he said a few minutes later.

I smirked good-naturedly. “Is this about watching that Star Wars marathon with you? Because I’m not a sci-fi fan. Although if you give me a neck rub like last night, I might give in.”

“No, this is serious.”

My body pinged with awareness. “Oh?”

He stared straight ahead, curiously not meeting my gaze. “Briarcrest Academy—my high school—is having a reunion, and I want you to go with me.”

“Like a date?” My voice was breathless.

He rubbed his jaw and thought about it. “Do you want it to be a date?”

My heart banged in my chest. It felt like high school all over again, which was terribly ironic. “Do you?”

“Do dates kiss each other?”

I nodded. And more.

“Alright, I’d kiss you,” he murmured.

“Oh.” What did that mean?

He flashed me a grin. “It’s still a few months away, but I’ve cleared my schedule so we can drive cross-country to Dallas. I’d like to spend some time with Leo and Nora when we’re there. We can stay with them—or not. It’s up to you. I can’t wait for you to meet my niece, Gabby.”

“Wait, you planned a driving trip because of my fear of flying? You want me to meet your family?”

He sent me a cocked eyebrow. “Duh.”

Sweetness swept over me. “Thank you,” I said simply. “Date or not, I’d love to go.”

He shrugged, but it felt like something big had just happened.

We arrived at the cabin a bit later. Situated on a small hill, the rugged structure was secluded and quaint with a fire pit and even a big wooden swing mounted between two sturdy oak trees.

When we walked inside, however, we discovered a small problem.

Mila pursed her lips. “This is all wrong. The picture on the brochure showed four beds, not two.”

I peeked my head in the first bedroom. Yep. One smallish bed. It was the same in the second bedroom.

Spider, who didn’t seem concerned—who in fact looked pleased—spoke up. “I’m not cuddling with Sebastian on that tiny bed.” He grinned at us broadly. “So which one of you birds is gonna keep me warm?”

Mila poked him in the arm. “Watch yourself, Clarence.”

He blanched, his eyes on me and then back to her. “Mila, fuck, no one, and I mean no one knows my real name. Easy there, my love.”

I chuckled. “Clarence? No wonder you kept that under wraps.”

He strutted around the small den. “Spider suits me better. That’s all. But you are now sworn to secrecy. You can’t tell anyone, V.”

“You called her my love,” I felt compelled to add since no one else seemed to notice.

“I did?” Spider asked, a quizzical look on his face.

“Yes,” we all said. Mila blushed.

“So.” He took out a cig and lit it up. His hand trembled.

“Ugh, take your smart mouth and that cancer stick outside.” Mila pushed at him until they were out the door.

Sebastian groaned as they left. “How much longer can I let them go on like this without saying anything?”

I sighed. It was obvious to everyone that they were into each other.

“Spider does seem calmer when she’s around.”

I tugged on his hand. “You can’t control people or emotions.”