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And I ripped out of his embrace. Heat burned against my cheeks as I was unwilling to look in his eyes. He didn’t move away as we both stood there. Was that a boundary I’d just crossed? The moment we got back to camp, I needed some time to figure all of this out. I needed space from him only because I didn’t even know what to make of my own thoughts that were weighing heavily in my mind.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, frustrated with my own feelings, and spun around, leaving him standing by the fire like a man turned statue by medusa herself.

Chapter 14

CASSIDY

My feet were stone slabs weighing a thousand pounds. I watched as she scurried over to the two bed rolls, snatched hers up, and then found a mostly flat area to spread it out upon. She climbed beneath the thin blankets without another word.

That had actually happened, yes?

And I had no idea what sense to make of it. Did she like me? Did she not? Was I wearing her down? Was it because I’d pumped the brakes a little on how persistent I was with her?

Exhaling slowly, I knew there were no answers to be had standing here like an idiot. So, I strapped my big boy boots on, smothered the fire with dirt, and walked to the second bed roll.

Finding a spot a respectful distance from hers, I laid it out and went to sit down on it when she spoke. “You’re going to sleep like that?”

Squatting beside the makeshift bed with its single scratchy blanket since the other one was protecting our saddles from the ground, I paused and lifted my gaze to her. She kept her back facing me, her hand tucked up next to her mess of a braid.

“Like…what exactly?” I asked.

She flopped over and rolled her eyes. “In your crusty clothes that I doubt are dry yet.”

“Well, Goldie, if you can’t tell, I ain’t got anything else.”

“You can take them off and lay them out by the saddles?” She blinked at me as if I should’ve already thought of that.

“I’m already down a blanket, damp clothes are warmer than being nearly naked.” I lifted the single layer up and sat down, kicking my boots off. I heard a muted sigh, and then grumbling occurred beneath her breath, growing louder and louder as something crunched over the dirt, accompanied by a shuffling sound that I couldn’t place.

Glancing behind me, my brows raised on their own.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she whispered, laying down directly next to me on her bedroll she’d dragged this way. “It’s not like we didn’t cuddle last night, and you were in your underwear then.”

I studied her face as it sparkled in the low moonlight. “You need a hairbrush,” I teased and stood back up.

She clicked her tongue, but a smile twitched at the edges of her lips.

“Close your eyes unless you wanna see all this,” I instructed, running a hand up and down my body.

“I think it’s so funny that you believe I might actually want to see all ‘that.’” She waved at me, and closed her eyes.

“You’re the one that almost took my shirt off.” I stuffed my feet back in my boots and stood up.

“I told you we aren’t talking about that,” she grumbled as I quickly walked over to the saddles.

“Whatever you say, Goldie.” And I stripped down to my boxer shorts, which were also still a bit damp. In nothing but a pair of boots—which had me chuckling at the sight that I could only imagine others were seeing—I dashed back to the makeshift bed, kicked them off, and slid beneath the blankets as quickly as possible.

Without hesitating, I threw my arms around Briar and pulled her against my body. She shuddered beneath my touch and didn’t fight the movement. Curling into my chest, a heavy sigh left her lips.

“Just so we are clear, this goes on the list of things we don’t talk about,” she muttered. Warm breath danced against my chest, and a shiver ran down my spine. Man, I liked this way too much.

“Yes, ma’am,” I whispered and closed my eyes.

∞∞∞

Bud was hurting. Ponying him was making for a slow trek home beneath the blistering heat of the sun that blazed bright above us. And I was torn in two. Briar clutched my waist, riding behind me, which only increased the sweat that was dripping like a storm down my body. But I also didn’t want her to let go.

Because she’d stated this was another thing that stayed between the two of us.