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I glance back at Kayde, confused about what exactly that means, but Kayde’s bored gaze just remains fixed on the man in front of us. He leans back against a tree, arms crossing over his chest as he just…waits.
Well, if this is a stare off between them, I’m already uncomfortable.
“What’s your name?” I ask, stepping between them like I can break this stand off just by breaking their line of sight of each other. The man blinks and tilts his head the other way, surveying me as if he’s just now seeing me.
“Why do you want to know?” he counters, still with that shit-eating grin on his lips.
“Because you’re rude as fuck and know our names,” I grit out, nails cutting into my palms at my sides. “So tell me yours, unless you want to be ‘that stupid fuck in the woods’ to anyone I talk to.”
His brows jerk up at that, and he cranes the other way to look at Kayde, as if to ask him if I’m serious.
But I don’t let him.
I sidestep, keeping my gaze on his, and preventing him from sharing a look with Kayde. He doesn’t need to. Not when I’m talking to him. And while I might be fighting not to shiver or run or go back to Kayde right now, that doesn’t mean that I’m about to fold.
“She’s not playing around.” Kayde chuckles from behind me. “Might as well tell her.”
“It’s not that interesting.” The man gives a loud, theatrical sigh. “You’ll be disappointed. It’s nothing so cool and cliche as Summer the summer camp counselor.” There it is again. The cocky, shit-eating grin that he tries on me once more.
“I’ll lower my expectations,” I assure him, arms folded over my chest.
“Thanks.” His grin turns wolfish, and he moves to sit on the log with his legs hanging from the side closest to me. “I’m Grey.” When I only blink in response, unimpressed, he barks out a sharp laugh and adds, “Told you it’s not that great.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Probably looking for my stuff someone took.” His answer is sly and quicker than I expect. Some of the amusement seems to leech away from his tone as he says it, and his eyes find mine in the near-dark. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you? I mean, you don’t look like a thief or anything, but who can know for sure?”
His stuff.
The duffel bag.
Kayde really had been telling the truth.
Something uncurls inside of me. Like a fist clenched around my ribs and compressing my heart between the sharp bones that I’d been ignoring. Kayde hadn’t lied to me.
And that means a lot more than I’m willing to admit right now.
“That’s a real shame. Maybe your stuff is just somewhere else,” I allow, folding my arms more comfortably around myself. “These woods are pretty dangerous, you know. Especially for someone who maybe shouldn’t be here.”
“Are they?” His soft voice is full of fake shock, and Grey slides to his feet in one graceful movement. “Jeez, I never knew. Does get a little weird around here at night, though.” As I watch, he strides toward us, though stops at a warning sound from Kayde behind me. “Do you ever get scared out here at night, Summer?” he asks, eyes glittering. “Do you ever worry that you might not make it back to your cabin if you go too far into the woods?”
Before I can answer, arms wrap around my chest and I’m pulled back just as Kayde rests his head on my shoulder. From the corner of my eye, I can see his wide, white-toothed grin that looks more predatory than friendly.
“She doesn’t need to worry,” Kayde promises, his hands splayed over my stomach and just under my throat. “Because she knows nothing would happen to her out here. I’d kill any little animal that thought it had a chance with her. You understand.”
To my surprise, Grey takes a step back. Something crosses his face, and he looks between us with a shrewd expression twisting his lips. “All right,” he chuckles at last. “I wasn’t trying to be rude, or anything.”
“Yeah, you definitely were. You can find someone else to play your games with, or you can feed the local wildlife population.” Kayde shrugs, still holding onto me, and it’s hard to not focus on the warmth of his hands or the absolute turn on that is the way he’s talking right now.
Fuck, it really isn’t fair for Kayde to exist.
“Maybe I’m having fun on my camping trip.” There’s a hint of a whine in Grey’s voice, and he edges a step closer, like he’s trying to taunt Kayde into action. Sure enough, Kayde’s hands tighten on my body, and he pulls me back as much as he can until I’m flush against his chest.
“Maybe you should end it early,” my blond psychopath suggests.
“Oh yeah?” I don’t expect it when Grey takes another step forward, until he’s only inches away from me. He ignores the clear warning on Kayde’s face, and the way his hand on my stomach drops to his side instead. “What happens if I don’t end it early? What happens if I want to stay?”
This time, I instantly find the words on my tongue. I suck in a breath, prepared to tell him just where he can stay if the mood strikes him, just as the snap of twigs and crunch of leaves pulls my attention to the space behind us.
