Page 130 of False Flag

“No.” She reached for the hem of his undershirt and ran her hands underneath, touching his abs.

He was real. He was here. He hadn’t abandoned her.

He let out a soft chuckle and covered her hands, stopping further exploration. “Does anyone know you’re here?”

“No. Dahlia knows I was going for a hike. That’s all.”

“Could you have been followed in the woods?”

“No. I made certain of it.”

“How did you find this place?”

“The compass was going haywire. I wanted to check it out. How did you get here?”

“Something similar, but⁠—”

“No. Wait. I don’t care. Tell me after you fuck me. I need you. Need this.”

He brushed his lips over hers. “I don’t have a condom.” He held up his finger and wiggled it. “I do have this. And a tongue.”

“I have an IUD. When I was hospitalized last year with MRSA, you can bet I was cleared of everything. You’re the only person I’ve been with since then.”

“I was tested—negative on all fronts—last fall. I haven’t been with anyone other than you since then either.”

“Good. Now get inside me.” She reached for his belt.

“You sure you want to do this here? It’s a rotting lean-to that was consumed by the forest long before that tunnel was carved out.”

“I don’t care. I need you. Need us.” She pressed her forehead to his chest and breathed in his scent. “I felt so isolated even before I learned about Drew…”

His hand cupped the back of her head. “I’m so, so sorry.”

She took a deep breath, then raised her head to meet his gaze. “Later, I want to talk about him. Right now, I need something real in this land of fakery and lies. Are you real, Jake? Do you want me?”

“I’ve wanted you from the first moment I saw you.” He stroked her cheek. “But more important, I’ve loved you from the first moment I knew you.”

His words caused heat to unfurl in her belly. This was real. He was real. “And when was that?”

“Hard to say. Victoria? Or maybe before that, when you used me for sex, then walked away.” He shrugged. “That kind of thing does a number on a man.”

The heat spread up to her cheeks, and she laughed softly. “I think for me, it was when we were on Finlayson Point and watched the sunset.”

His body stiffened ever so slightly, but she could feel the tension in the arms that held her. “What happened for you on Finlayson Point?”

She ran her lips over the stubble on his chin. “I fell in love.” She rose on her toes and whispered in his ear, “With you, Jacob Burns.”

His arms tightened around her. His voice was husky as he said, “You aren’t just saying it so I’ll put out?”

She laughed. “No. I’m saying it so you know I won’t walk away when you do. Which had better be now. Get naked.”

He released her and stepped back. “You first.”

She huffed out a sigh. “If that’s what it takes, fine.” She undid the top button of her shirt and pulled it over her head, then reached for the plastic buckle at the waistband of her field pants. The cuffs got caught up at her feet, and it took her a moment to remove her lightweight hiking boots, but then she was down to undergarments.

She pulled her sports bra over her head, eagerly watching him as he stripped. She wanted to see all of Jake. The one time they’d been together felt like it might be a fever dream at this point. He couldn’t possibly be as perfect as she remembered.

But he was. At last, he stood naked before her. Utterly beautiful.