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Close tome. I wasn't going to think about that part yet.

We slid the poles through the sleeves and secured them to the base. Then lifted the tent and tied off thepoles to keep them from dislodging in a stiff wind. She even helped me attach the rain shield, though the weather hadn’t predicted any yet.

After putting the empty stake bag away, I straightened and brushed my hands off on my pants.

“It looks great.” She actually gazed at the tent in admiration as if it was something nice. Worthy of a female like her. But was it really? This was nowhere good enough for someone who was raised like she had been. I just couldn’t understand why she wasn’t pointing that out.

“That should do it.” I didn't like how my voice croaked, but I internally shrugged it away. Tugging open the flap, I stepped aside, waving her in. “See what you think.”

Beth hesitated long enough for me to wonder if she was having second thoughts. Then she dropped onto her hands and knees and crawled inside, dragging the sleeping bag in behind her, something I should've done for her.

I shouldn’t have watched her ass as she wiggled her way in. And I shouldn’t have followed her inside so quickly.

Too late.

The moment I crawled in after her, the walls of the small space pressed around us, making my every inhalation a challenge. She was right in front of me, wiggling around as she spread out the unzipped bag that took up all of the inside surface. That was also going to be a problem I wasn't going to think about yet.

Something low in my belly twisted. I had no name for it, only that it burned. What if… I shook my head, unwilling to consider that she might not mind this as much as I’d assumed.

Her gold bracelet caught the last streaks of sunlight, glinting like a reminder of everything she was. A woman who wore expensive clothing and lived among finery, in a world where evenings were spent in exclusive rooms, not beneath a scrap of fabric pitched on uneven ground.

she seemed to find all this acceptable. Not that this meant she’d ever choose me. Yet she sat back on her heels and smiled at the tent like it was worth something. And when she looked at me, her smile held true. LikeIwas worth something.

Damn she looked amazing wearing my vest.

Our knees nearly touched in the narrow space. The tent was small, trapping her scent inside with me, sweet and intoxicating, like flowers or an expensive perfume. Her warmth filled the air, mixing with the scent of sun and fresh grass.

I clenched my jaw, trying to ignore all of it, trying to remind myself that she deserved better than rough canvas, softer places to sleep than the ground beside a male who’d spend his life covered in dirt and sorhox sweat. Even if she didn’t seem to mind so far.

I cursed the space for being so tight. Or maybe I cursed myself for wanting it to be tighter.

She licked her lips, a quick flick of her tongue, but it caught my gaze, and I could not look away. That simple motion nearly undid me. She didn’t belong here. Notlying on the ground beside an orc who had nothing to offer. Not with a male whose hands were made for calluses and rope, not rings and whispered promises. I needed to look away. I needed to bury this feeling, kill the aching in my chest before it grew into something I couldn’t control.

What would her mouth feel like beneath mine? I couldn't imagine how wonderful it would be if she was pressing her body against me,wantingme.

I pretended to adjust the sleeping bag that had already been smoothed out, hoping she wouldn’t hear how rough my breathing was or see how my cock was responding to her being so close I could touch her, something I didn't dare do, not even in my wildest dreams. My coorails spiraling around it buzzed, as eager as me to be inside her.

Silence stretched between us.

She continued to watch me, and I had no idea what to say or do. It felt like the heat of a fire burned too close, licking at the edges of something precious. I wanted to look her way, needed to see. Would there be longing in her eyes or was I fooling myself?

I dared a glance.

Her lips parted as if she might speak, but no sound came out.

A question hung between us, but I didn’t have an answer. Didn’t know if I was allowed to have one. So I cleared my throat, shifting a bit to the side.

“It’s not much.” I gestured vaguely at the tent. “I’m sure you’re used to?—”

“It’s perfect.”

I wanted to believe she meant more than just the tent, but even if she didn’t mind all this and might even find fun in roughing it, she was still leaving soon. Hoping for more would only make it worse when she was gone.

Only one pillow.

I swallowed hard. “You take it.” I nudged it toward her.

She glanced at it but didn’t pick it up. “We can share.”