“How could I forget?”
“The trick is to watch your partner’s face so you can remember every tiny detail. That way, you can catch any little differences from one moment to the next.” The fire’s reflection dances in his glassy eyes, making them heat until I’m sure my entire body is going to ignite. “Wanna know why?”
I gulp but can’t find the discipline to turn away.
“Why?” I whisper, hating how breathless I sound.
“Because they’re the ones that speak louder than words.”
Tapping his forefinger against my nose, he breaks the spell in an instant and turns back to the fire that’s licking at my blackened mallow.
Dammit.
I scrape it against one of the rocks, then grab another one from the bag and stick it on the tip of the roasting stick.
Focus, Reese.
“Seems like caramel and marshmallows don’t like you,” a very amused River points out as I rotate the stick in my hands.
With a huff, I demand, “Did you just relate my s’mores face to my sex face a second ago?”
His deep chuckle makes my stomach tighten as he shakes his head. “That’s not exactly where I was going with it, but I’ll let you know when I watch you lick some melted marshmallow off your fingers. If, ya know, you don’t burn this one too.”
My cheeks heat, but I pray he can’t see it from the light of the fire. “Gee, thanks. Any chance you’d be willing to open up the chocolate and set it on a graham cracker for me? Usually, I’m more prepared, but I got a little excited when you pulled out the big guns.”
“I bet you did.” With another wink, he unwraps the chocolate and sets two small squares onto half a graham cracker sheet.
Smartass.
“So…” I motion around the dark forest with my stick before setting it back over the orange flames. “How did you find this place?”
“I may have stretched the truth about my whereabouts the other night. I did go get those pictures printed, but I also came out here to search for a good spot for our date.”
“Which is when you set up the camping chairs, I assume?”
He nods.
“And they’ve been sitting out here for weeks?”
“Why do you think I was so anxious to take you out?” he jokes.
“Man, you’re brave.”
“I wasn’t too worried about it. And on the off chance that any of it had been stolen, I brought some backups in the truck.”
I glance over at the white behemoth parked a few yards away. “Like what?”
“Like more blankets and chairs in the back. Nothing too crazy. Do you like it, though?”
Dropping my head back, I look up at the dark sky sprinkled with stars and release a contented sigh as an Ed Sheeran song filters through the speaker he’d set up near the cooler.
“Yeah,” I admit. “I kinda do.”
“Kinda?”
I grin. “Kinda. I’m not used to thoughtful guys, though. You’ll have to give me a little time to get acclimated to the idea that someone actually cares about me and is willing to put effort into a date instead of expecting me to pick up dinner on the way home before a quick screw. Not that there’s anything wrong with that on occasion, but––”
“I get it,” he interrupts, prickling at the idea of me screwing someone that isn’t him. “Trust me.”
“I do trust you.”
The smell of burnt sugar distracts me from his warm gaze. Marshmallow flaming, I curse under my breath, then pull it from the fire and blow on it.
My lower lip sticks out as I inspect it to see if I can salvage the gooey goodness. Unfortunately, the charred dessert is pathetic at best.
River’s laughter pulls me from my self-pity party as he grabs another marshmallow, spears it on his stick, then puts it over the fire. “Ya know, I was kidding before when I mentioned the caramel. But the other night, you blamed the mess on me and said I was too much of a distraction. Now, this? I’m beginning to think you’re the common denominator here, not me.”
“You were there for both burnings, so I stand by my initial argument.”
“Don’t worry. It’ll be our little secret,” he teases, multitasking like a champ as he keeps the stick turning at an even pace.
With a half-assed glare, I settle back into my camping chair and tuck my knees to my chest, soaking up the ambiance like a dry sponge. It really is gorgeous here.
The marshmallow slowly browns to golden perfection before River offers it to me a few minutes later.
“For me?” I ask, pointing to my chest.
“Don’t say I never gave you anything.”
Smashing the marshmallow between two graham squares, I let it start to gush out the sides, then wiggle it between us. “Only if you promise to share it with me. I mean, I know it’s not Reese’s Puffs or one of your other sugary cereals, but some moments are worth celebrating with gooey desserts and empty calories. What do ya say?”
“I haven’t had a s’more in at least a decade.”
“Then it’s time we remind you how amazing they are.”
“Ladies first,” he prods. His eyes are crinkled in the corners, and my cheeks pinch from smiling so much. But I better get used to it because I’m pretty sure I’ve never been happier.
With a light laugh, I take a bite then moan as the warm, melty goodness oozes into my mouth.
“Dish ish sho good,” I mumble through my mouthful of food. I can feel his eyes on me as I chew it before licking my fingers to get rid of the stickiness.
“I called it,” he announces before grabbing my wrist and shoving the rest of the s’more into his mouth.
“Called what?”
Pointing at me, he waves his finger around before swallowing his bite and answering me. “Sex face. And the moaning? Come on, Floozy. How come you never sound like that when we’re together?”
“Because I have to be quiet when we’re together.”
His gaze darkens. “You don’t have to be quiet out here.”
I look around the empty forest. There isn’t a soul for miles in any direction.
With a nod, I announce, “You make a pretty sound argument.”
“And now, I’m going to make you scream.” Like a damn lion, he pounces on me, muffling my laughter with loud-mouthed kisses that are playful, and fun, and make me feel happier than I’ve ever felt in my entire life.
I don’t do playful.
I don’t do fun.
And I’m not sure I ever really felt happy and carefree before this very moment, either. I smile against his mouth as his tongue grazes my lips before he pulls away and mutters, “You taste like marshmallows.”
Then he dives right back in, cupping my breast through the thick, worn hoodie he’d given to me earlier as he continues to devour me like a damn s’more. And suddenly, it’s not enough. I need more. Pressing my thighs together, I squirm against him, desperate for more friction the same way I’m desperate for Riv. The air is cool, but the heat from the fire combined with the fervor in his kiss makes the hoodie that’s swallowing me whole feel like a straight jacket. I tug at the hem of it while keeping my mouth on his as that same familiar sense of desperation settles into my bones.