Page 47

“Who cares?” Ezra snaps his beady eyes, glaring, his stringy hair greased back behind his ears. “They got to eat, and we didn’t. Micah took it upon himself to give them everything he caught today.” He looks directly at me. “Everyone needs to contribute more. This is bullshit.”

Maison squeezes me and presses a kiss to my cheek. “Dude, relax. London does her part. I’ll go fishing tomorrow, and Micah is out now trying to trap something. The other group is struggling and needed to eat more than us.”

Is that what Micah was doing? The image of Naomi kneeling below him is seared into my mind—and the mere thought of it sends a pulse shooting between my legs. It’s a miracle Micah comes back with anything based on how often he drags Naomi into the woods.

Ezra cuts me a menacing look. “We all need to learn how to get food, including the girls. Where the fuck were you all day, London?”

Maison tenses beside me, and Nigel smirks. This group is bad enough with food, so one day without food and they seem to unravel. Ezra probably knows where his ex-girlfriend is right now, too, which isn’t helping his mood.

Thomas walks up behind Ezra. “I didn’t see you catch anything today,” he mocks.

“Fuck this,” Ezra mutters, kicking at the fire. “Everyone, be ready tomorrow. We’re heading out early, and that includes you, too, Nigel, you useless motherfucker.” He stalks back to his shelter.

I grasp Maison’s arm tighter and nudge him. Food is not my concern, although I don’t disagree with Ezra—I probably should learn to fish—but Maison insists on doing it for me. Like he’s providing for me, taking care of me. His eyes flash at me. “What’s up, babe? What’s wrong?”

I jerk my head toward the sitting spot he made for us, which consists of two blankets near the fire, leaning on a log. It’s also where we usually sleep during our fire night, which is tonight… for me, anyway. Maison will need his rest for the hunt they are going on tomorrow.

I grab his hand and lead him toward our spot, and he raises his eyebrows from the sultry look I give him. My body is vibrating now. I’m acutely aware of Nigel watching me with him, though I’ve barely spared Nigel a glance since he threatened me. He’s bluffing—if he says anything, he’ll get outed, too.

He follows me to the blanket. He’s been patient since our first night when I wanted to take things slow. He only gets kisses from me at night in our small shelter. My energy is usually low, and the others are just a few feet away. But I’m stupid for not claiming him, for not making him feel good the way Naomi was making Micah feel. If I don’t give him something, he may get it elsewhere. Serena is coming back soon, and I can’t let it be her.

We sit staring at the fire, and I nestle between his outstretched legs. Nigel, Jade, and Thomas slip away—there’s no reason for them to stay awake since there is no dinner tonight—leaving Maison and me by ourselves. Micah and Naomi are still out doing whatever they’re doing in the woods.

“What’s up, baby?” he whispers in my ear as the sounds of the forest fill our ears with the wind, the trees singing, and the night bugs flying around us. The fire is warm on my face and I lean into him, the pressure now building to the point it’s almost painful.

I gaze up at him, and his chestnut eyes flicker in the firelight. I kiss the little spot between his neck and his ear, and his body tenses. “I just missed you today,” I breathe. “I don’t like when you’re away from me.”

My hand finds his and I lead it down my stomach, to the band of my sweatpants. He grins and moves his hand lower, his fingers now grazing the pulse between my legs.

“Damn, baby,” he whispers, kissing my ear, “I should leave you more often… What has you so riled up? You’re so wet right now.”

My heat is pooling, and I press his fingers right inside me—anything to get rid of this pressure I feel so deep within me. I lean into him, as if he’s not close enough, and I try to absorb his body into mine.

“I want you right now, Maison,” I whisper, and I mean every word. This has nothing to do with Micah; I want Maison to feel pleasure. He deserves it more than Micah does. His fingers tease beneath the blanket, and I moan as my hips arch, giving him access to go harder, deeper. I lean up to kiss his perfect lips, and I reach my hand down to the bulge beneath his sweats.

He pulls up and narrows his full, dark brows. “Are you sure, baby? You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

I bite at my bottom lip. “I’m sure.”

He grabs my chin and his full, soft, sweet lips kiss me back before he slips his tongue into my mouth. I press my fingers on the spot I saw Naomi touching when Micah’s body quivered. I want to explore Maison’s body and see his reactions. I reach for his cock and it springs to life in my hands.

His lips twitch into that cute smile as I bring his big erection into my tiny hand and start stroking it. “Faster, baby,” he says in a light whisper. “Grip it hard and stroke it.”

I take his lead and stroke him. “Like that?” I ask as I nibble on his neck, his ears, his cheek.

His voice comes out rough. “God damn it, London,” he moans as my hands move faster, and his fingers slip in and out of me, alleviating my ache for him as my folds tighten around his fingers. His other hand conforms around the swells of my breasts. “When are you going to let me fuck you? I could do so many things to you if you let me.”

My stomach tightens and I still my motions, pulling my hand right off him. I can’t cross that line with him—especially knowing I was planning to hurt him, to ruin his life more than it already was, when it was his brother who hurt Olivia. Using him to get to Micah—I need to tell him; I need to talk to him about it. Otherwise, he’s too good for me, and Nigel will win. The worst thing I could do right now is have sex with him.

He frowns and pulls his fingers out of me, then grips me and leads me on top of him so my back is to the fire, my knees are against the blanket under us on either side of him, and I’m facing his soft face etched with concern. He grips a piece of my hair that’s fallen over my face, still damp from my lake dip. “Where did you go just now, baby? Why are you still scared of me? I promise I won’t hurt you.” He glides his hands along my sides. “Nothing I want to do to you will be painful. You can trust me.”

Olivia. He’s trying to tell me it wasn’t him who hurt Olivia.

I swallow. “Maison… I don’t think you will hurt me.”

He wraps his arms around me, and I lean into him, aware of how hard he is against me, and how only a few layers of fabric separate me from him. The gold in his eyes shine, and I have to control every urge not to slip my pants down and slide onto him. I want him so badly, so desperately. But I pull off and turn away from him. My face heated and body pulsing, I stare out at the fire and close my eyes. After a few minutes of silence, he says, “I’m into you, London—I need you to know that. I’ll take care of you out here, okay, baby? You’re the only girl I want.”

His hands tickle my belly, and I squirm beneath him. A big smile forms on my face, even though he can’t see it. “I’m into you, too, Maison,” I say. “Soon… We’ll do it soon. I’m almost ready, I promise.”