Page 110 of The Illicit Play

Dammit.

Clenching my jaw, I internally argue that she started it, but that’s no excuse. I could have stopped her at any second, but I gave in to temptation, and we had each other like the consequences didn’t matter.

Just stop thinking about it!

A growl rumbles in my chest and I shake my head, begging myself to snap out of this angsty mood.

Look at the view. Just enjoy the view!

Unclipping my pack, I slip it off my shoulders and walk closer to the edge. Gazing down at the river below us, I go still, the sounds of nature starting to amplify as I take a moment to listen.

I love this place so much.

It fills my soul every time.

The thump of Blake’s pack hitting the ground makes me jolt, and I glance over my shoulder, the view I’ve been admiring taking on a different edge when she steps into it. Her blonde ponytail is dancing in the breeze, those reckless curls flicking across her shoulders as she sighs and smiles at the landscape.

Wow.

She’s just so… wow.

I can’t breathe as she moves in beside me, planting her feet next to mine and looking content.

Don’t say anything. Don’t ruin this moment for her.

Watching her out of the corner of my eye, I slip my hands into my pockets and try to keep my raging emotions on lockdown. She’s so close I can smell her again, that sweet citrusy scent blending with hints of sweat and pine and…

My insides clench as another wave of desire flushes through me.

I take a quick step sideways, creating a wider gap between us.

She glances at me, her eyebrows dipping in confusion, and I hide what I was trying to do with a smile, quickly pointing at her phone.

“Do you want me to take a picture with you in it?”

She glances down at her hand, waving the device and shaking her head. “I don’t want to ruin the shot.”

“Are you kidding me?” I step forward, taking the phone off her before she can say any more bullshit. “You’ll be enhancing the photo.”

Stepping back, I snap a few shots of her admiring the view before ordering her to turn around.

She puts on that fake smile of hers and then strikes a few poses. My lips start to twitch as she gets more and more ridiculous with each one. It starts with simple peace signs and quickly escalates. Everything from Marilyn Monroe’s white dress image to Betty Boop’s little butt-sticking-out routine.

And the only reason I know that is because Emma’sgot a poster at her place. Which will no doubt be moving into her new house with Dad, and I’ll see it every time I go back to visit.

Man, they’d love Blake.

Stop it. They’re never gonna meet her. They have no excuse to ever meet her!

The thoughts sour my mood, and I cut the photo shoot short.

“Yeah, got a bunch. I’m sure your family will love them.” I pass her phone back and her nose wrinkles, her lips dropping into a pout at the mention of her family.

Maybe it’s just dawning on her that heading back early is going to have her facing Wily and the truth that much faster.

But I’m not about to convince her otherwise; she needs to get that shit off her chest. And I need to get some distance from this woman before I do something stupid again.

My eyes trail down her lush body before I can stop them, and I’m back to picturing her naked ass perched on top of me again.