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“Didn’t say that. You wanna go all downward whatever, then have at it.”

“Will you try, too?”

“Not a chance in hell. Already got a bad back, not trying to crack it. But you go on.”

She never expected he’d agree, but gets a kick out of his perplexed expression when she shows him a few pictures of the more interesting poses.

“I’m ready for a little zen in my life.” She leaves the book on the side table in the bedroom. “Adding this to my list.”

“I’ll cheer you on from the sidelines.” He shakes out the blankets on a queen-sized bed stuffed into the very end of the rig. “You picked a good trailer.”

“I’ve always loved these things. Used to want one.”

“Now you got one.”

“For the night at least.” She’s grateful that she’s still clean from that impromptu shower the night before because she’s about to ask him something she’s been fussing over in her head since they decided to stay here.

Something she hopes won’t send him scurrying for one of these other trailers.

He’s unaware, busy checking the windows and escape hatch in the roof before finally settling.

“I um…” She winces at how it never sounds right, no matter how many ways she says it in her head. “It’s uncomfortable to sleep in pants.”

He eyes her cautiously. “Yeah. It is.”

“Do you mind if I take them off? I don’t want to make you feel….weird about it.”

“It’s fine. Go on.”

Well, that was easier than expected, but she’d been less worried he’d say no and more worried those little touches might lessen now that the barrier of her jeans isn’t offering a false sense of security.

“You can, too. If you want,” she offers awkwardly.

Some of that shyness bubbles to the surface, but his reply surprises her. “Alright. If you’re sure you don’t care.”

“I don’t.”

They are pantless within the next thirty seconds, and then she’s in bed with Wade wearing nothing but her shirt and underwear.

She has, after all, been subconsciously trying to get naked with him, except this isn’t part of that convoluted plan.

She really did just want to avoid the seam of her jeans rubbing her wrong and the button digging into her belly.

“Don’t get used to this,” she says absently, just for something to say. “I’ll be furry soon without razors out here.”

She made use of one at the farmhouse, but it won’t be long before she’s a cactus again. Something about that bothers her when it shouldn’t. It’s the end of the world. Who cares if her legs have hair on them?

Wade only grumbles, like she’s not making sense. “I already got a fucking forest growing on mine. Hope you’re not ticklish ‘cause they might get you when I’m passed out.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

“You’ll also take the whole blanket.”

“What? I dunno what you’re talking about. I know how to share.”

“Leaving me with half a corner ain’t sharing.”

He tugs at the blanket covering her with a glimpse of mischief in his eyes, so she tugs it back, and then all of a sudden they’re in a playful war over the only blanket and she erupts into a fit of laughter at the ridiculousness of it.

The louder she gets, the more he’s encouraged until half his body covers her in an attempt to snag the other blanket corner, or maybe it’s a cover for the raspberry he blows into her neck.

Hot tears drift down her cheeks as she shrieks and flails, offering him an open chance to grab his prize.

“Ha!” He grins, wrapping himself up like a burrito in a victory gesture. “Except now you’re cold, aren’t ya? Can’t have that. Come on. I’m about to show you how to share properly.”

She slips under the edge that he lifts for her and snuggles in where it’s warm with a contented sigh.

“Never seen you laugh like that,” he says, in a low, gravelly whisper.

That’s because she hasn’t. Not in so long that she barely remembers that version of herself. Wasn’t sure that person even existed anymore.

Her palm finds his shoulder, resting there as he half hovers above her. “Haven’t seen you smile like this in a long time.”

Wade being playful is a new thing she wants to see more of, but that silly overtone begins to vanish as their current position catches up to them and the air begins to crack and sizzle, pulling taut between them.

The secret longing she’s hidden so expertly begins to manifest without her permission.

Her whole body pulses and throbs, ready to unfurl just for him at the first intimate touch.

She’s his for the taking, can’t help but glance at his lips, her lower belly tightening as his tongue snakes out to wet them.

Then, he begins to grow hard against her thigh that’s thrown haphazardly over him, and she can’t control her shock or bewilderment. It’s just biology, she tells herself, but her heart wants to believe it’s because he wants her and not just because she’s a woman half naked in bed with him.

“Sorry,” he winces regretfully, as if he’d taken her reaction the wrong way before moving to the other side of the bed again. “Didn’t mean to….”

“It’s okay.”

He’s embarrassed. She’s confused. They’re both frustrated in more ways than one.

She played with fire, and this time she lost.