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My pulse was thumping, my heart in my throat. I had to swallow so I could speak. “Uh, I might have picked up on that.”
“But it’s not something we’ve discussed, and I personally happen to find consent extremely sexy.”
My pulse was now staccato.
“Almost as sexy as you,” he added, so very nonchalantly. He could have been discussing his favourite kind of toothpaste. He sighed again. “Almost. I mean, you do have a rockin’ hot body under all that science nerd.”
My watch beeped.
Traitorous piece of technology...
“What’s that alarm for?” Tully asked, grabbing my wrist. I tried to pull my hand away, but he lifted it up so he could read the screen. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing,” I blurted out.
“It says you should take a rest. But you’re not doing anything.”
“It must need resetting,” I said, pulling my arm from his grasp. I fumbled with the watchband.
Tully laughed, rolling onto his side, somehow closer now. His chest touched my arm, his face so close to mine. Too close to mine. He smiled and pulled his bottom lip in between his teeth.
My watch beeped again before I managed to rip it off.
“Is your watch telling me something?” he asked.
“I hate your stupid smile,” I said, dumping my watch onto the floor beside the bed.
Tully laughed, a warm, rumbly sound that was far too close. “If your heart rate’s up, you’re either excited or terrified. Which is it?”
Both.
“Neither.”
He dragged his index finger up my chest, stopping at the base of my throat. “I don’t believe you. But—” He rolled back onto his back with a huff. “—like I said, consent is my foreplay. No green light, no go.”
My heart was knocking so hard against my ribs it hurt, and I had to pretend I could breathe normally. But I couldn’t speak.
He rolled onto his other side, facing away. “Night, Jeremiah.”
I wanted to tell him yes. I wanted to reach out and touch him, bring him back to where he’d been when he was so close I could feel his body heat.
But I still couldn’t form the words, and then I left it too long to say anything.
Not even goodnight.
* * *
Tully was upand out of bed when I woke. I wasn’t surprised, but it did sting. I didn’t want things to be awkward between us.
I didn’t know what I wanted between us.
A quick fling? A sex-buddy for my stay?
It certainly wouldn’t be hurting anyone.
Unless he had someone at home who would be hurt...
I sat up on the bed, my feet on the floor and scratched my head. Tully was walking back across the clearing, swatting away a fly. Shirtless, his skin radiant in the early morning sun with a sheen of sweat...
