Emory holds up her phone again, snaps another shot. “Carly’s going tolovethis. Maybe Trello will put it on the student website, too. Right on the home page.”
Shirtlessness be damned. I’m about to launch myself at her, give her arealphoto opp, but by the time I work up my nerve, she’s already pedaling away, zooming back down the path the way she came.
“Fuck.” Baz drags a hand through his hair. “I should probably go run interference. I need to get that phone.”
“Do you really think she’ll send stuff to Trello?”
“Trello? No. But she’s got photos of you, Stevie. Of us. And as beautiful and spectacular as you are…” As if to prove his point, he lowers his mouth, blazing a trail of kisses across the top of each breast, making me ache for him once again. But then he sighs and says, “You said you didn’t want anyone to know. And even if you did, I can’t imagine you’d want them finding out from Emory and her damn homemade porno.”
I lean back against the rock and sigh, crossing my arms over my chest. “No, I wouldn’t.”
Baz crouches down and grabs my sports bra, hands it back to me. “Look, I don’t want to leave you. Are you fucking insane? But if I don’t go, not only are those pictures fair game, but she’s gonna ride back here with Carly and the rest of them in tow, and make a big fucking scene, and I really don’t want you caught up in all that bullshit.”
“You sure about that?” I yank the bra over my head, get the girls situated again. “Maybe it’syouyou don’t want caught up in it.”
His eyes flare, his energy smacking me hard. I hurt him with that comment.
“Sorry. Shit, I’m sorry.” I blow out a breath and lower my eyes. “I know you’re looking out for me. I just don’t think there’s much point. She’s probably halfway to the dorms by now.”
Baz smiles, then says, “Good thing your boy knows how to teleport.”
Despite the disappointment that our happy little afternoon delight got shat upon by one of Carly’s bobbleheads, I can’t help but agree.
“Hey.” He leans in close, cradles the back of my head, and brushes his lips across my mouth in a kiss so tender, I can’t believe it’s from Baz. Then, with one more flash of that deadly smirk, “To be continued, Little Bird.”
I return his devious smile.
On behalf of myself, my aching nipples, and my throbbing core… You can fucking bet on it, Baz Redgrave.
Thirty-Five
STEVIE
I keep telling myself it’s for the best. That Emory actually did me a huge favor by interrupting us before things got totally out of control.
But I’m completely full of shit.
I wanted him. I still want him.
See, this is why I have rules in the first place.
Shaking off the funk, I grab my daypack and find another boulder—one that isn’t so keen on showing me who’s boss—and haul myself up to the top, finding a nice flat spot to plunk my ass down and enjoy a chocolate-covered granola bar. Not as good as sex with Baz would’ve been, perhaps, but it satisfies a need in its own right.
After the snack, I take out my phone, snap a selfie for Jessa.
Getting my rocks off in the Forest of Iron & Bone,I text.Wish u were here.
Bitch, why are you so hot?she replies.BTW, your boyfriend says… hey girl.
I’m about to ask her who she thinks my boyfriend is when her pic comes through.
I laugh like a damn machine gun, so obnoxiously loud I’m pretty sure I scare all the rattlers out of their hidey-holes.
It’s Mr. Winky, propped up next to a potted cactus on the window sill of my old bedroom.
Goddess, I miss that place.
I miss Jessa. Her balls-out sense of humor, her smile, her hugs. All of it.
