“Yep. Probably for the best.”
She stood, and Jake circled his fingers around her wrist. He leaned in close so no one could overhear them and whispered in a low voice, “You know, I can help you with that.”
Her face burned, and heat surged through her body.
God. Yes, I want that.
Her eyes flickered to Ben, but he wasn’t paying them any attention. Would he notice if she mounted Jake right then and there?
Jake released her wrist, and she could feel him watching her with intensity as she retreated.
Claire slipped into the bunk area and slid the door closed behind her, cutting off Jake’s stare. She gasped and clutched her chest once alone and considered going into the bathroom to take care of herself.
No. No, she wouldn’t do that. She couldn’t do that. Not when her brother was on the bus.
It had been so long since she had been with anyone she was attracted to. It had been a long time since she truly loved Charles, but she still slept with him since they were together. The last time had been when she got pregnant. Over three whole months since she had had sex. And it hadn’t even been good sex.
But with Jake, she knew it would be good. He would make sure she was taken care of before taking care of himself.
She swallowed hard and made her way to the bathroom where she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and changed into her light cotton shorts and T-shirt before going back to her bunk and crawling inside.
Claire sighed. Lately, she was always exhausted, but getting comfortable while pregnant wasn’t easy. And after the exchange with Jake, there was no way she would fall asleep anytime soon. She shouldn’t have said she was going to sleep, but she couldn’t stay back there for fear she would crawl on top of Jake and get the ride of her life… despite the other guys in the room.
Gross.
Ben was in there.
But if Ben wasn’t, she was sure she wouldn’t care if the other guys watched.
What is wrong with you, Claire?
“God damn these hormones,” she muttered.
Jake’s low chuckle had her freezing. She hadn’t even heard the door open. Claire peeked outside the curtain of her bunk to find him leaning against the opposite side with his arms crossed. That look. That feral look on his face. She had seen it before.
It was the same look that led them to sleeping together four years ago. The one that started the downward spiral of their friendship falling apart—or so she thought—and caused her to flee.
She looked him up and down. He had changed into gray sweatpants and a T-shirt, and she couldn’t miss the prominent bulge in his pants.
She swallowed hard, and when her eyes met his again, she licked her lips.
He took the short step to her bunk and slid inside with her, tugging the curtains closed. Were his closed? She didn’t know, but she didn’t care.
His mouth descended on hers, and he muffled her moan with his lips. It felt as if no time had passed between them. His lips were exactly as she remembered—soft, perfect.
Their mouths moved together, and his hand remained firmly planted on her hip, not moving despite her wiggling to get him to shift it south.
He pulled back and whispered. “I want to get you off. Is that okay?”
She pulled a lip between her teeth and nodded vigorously.
He huffed out a laugh. “You have to be quiet.”
She nodded again.
Jake didn’t waste any time as his hand slipped into her shorts and past her panties. When his fingers found her clit, her eyes rolled back, and she dropped her head against her pillow. He hovered above her, dropping a knee between her legs to avoid crushing her. He watched her, and the need on his face grew with each passing second.
His fingers glided easily over her with her growing arousal. Her panties were already damp, and she would need to change them after this.
