Ignoring his jest, I look around. The forest is sparser than it was back at the platform. "Where are we now?"
"About half an hour to the lake," he answers.
"I'm okay to walk." I push against his chest and he sets me on my feet. My legs wobble, but he keeps his arm around my waist, keeping me from falling on my face.
"How's your legs?" His voice is amused.
"I'll be fine," I grumble. Then I think better of my behavior and add. "Thank you both," I whisper. "For carrying me when I fell asleep."
"Don't mention it." Aspen chuckles. "Can't have you falling and breaking your neck now, can we?"
I glare at him, but it's half-hearted. I'm just so damn tired.
"You three go ahead," Raven stops next to us. "I'll check for the hunters and your pack."
Aspen, Dex, and I move out of Raven's way and he disappears off into the woods.
"How much longer?" I ask, biting my lip.
"We're almost there."
And right before the sun crests the horizon, Aspen, Dex, and I duck into the thick trees and sit on the soft grass bank overlooking a small lake. The forest stretches out around the water, broken up by small pockets of tall grass. No one stands down by the water's edge, no canoe or boat is on the glassy surface. No smoke from a campfire, no one on the opposite side and the knot in my chest relaxes.
Dex moves ahead of us to a curved willow near the shore. "How about you catch some more Z's while Raven's scouting."
"That sounds like heaven." I shuffle forward, my legs screaming at me with each step.
No sooner than I duck under the heavy leaves and lay on the soft grass, then Aspen and Dex crawl in with me.
But I fall asleep before they even lay down on either side of me. ***
In the morning, I awake alone and a longing for Aspen and Dex fills me. Glancing around, I spot them on the bank of the lake, but Raven is nowhere to be seen, and my stomach clenches.
Both Aspen and Dex have stripped out of their clothes and are at the edge of the water. Their bodies are carved muscles with firm asses that have my heart hammering. For a moment, I stay hidden in the low-hanging branches of the willow.
The cool water must shock them because they both yelp and Aspen waves his hand in the air, trying to shake the water from his fingers.
"What the fuck was that?" Dex asks, laughing and takes a flying leap into the water.
Moments later he comes out of the water, spurting. "Damn, that's freezing."
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth because the water, even though it must be cold, looks so inviting. And I haven't had a shower since yesterday.
I climb out of the hiding spot at the willow tree and hike the short distance to the lake.
"Make room for me," I say and kick off my shoes.
Aspen grins and wades out into the lake backward, his heated gaze on me. "Gotta keep your clothes dry."
Even though they're both
"Make room for me," I say and kick off my shoes.
Aspen grins and wades out into the lake backward, his heated gaze on me. "Gotta keep your clothes dry."
Even though they're both watching me, I don't feel ashamed or bashful. I feel desired, sexy.
Slowly, I peel out of my jeans, but keep my panties on. Next, I take off my shirt and then cross the bank to the water. I dip a toe in and shiver from the temperature that reminds me of the icicles that froze on the trees last winter.
"It's better if you jump in," Dex calls out to me in a teasing voice.
"Let her do this at her pace."
Aspen holds his hand out to me. Water laps at his knees.
"Maybe it's better if I just take a puddle bath here." I step back from the lake.
"We can help warm you up." Aspen cocks his head to the side, his gaze roaming up and down my body and a blush heats my face.
"Just let us know and we'll throw you in." Dex swims closer.
"No thanks." I hold my hands up
and a smicas my face.
"Just let us know and we'll throw you in." Dex swims closer.
"No thanks." I hold my hands up and back away another step.
"That sounds like an excellent idea." Aspen darts toward me and I squeal in both terror and exhilaration as I run away.
But Aspen is faster than me and scoops me up into his arms. I slap my palms against his chest, trying to force my way free, but he holds me tight.
His long stride has us out in the lake up to his waist in mere seconds. The water licks along my ass and I shriek climbing up his chest to get away.
"Don't you dare," I warn.
"Are you sure you're not an octopus?" Aspen grunts. "You're clinging to me like one."
Dex swims over to us and tugs on my low back. "Let go, Jessica
I don't though and he kisses the skin above the hem of my underwear and I gasp, tensing with anticipation.
Aspen grunts. "She's a squirmy octopus." His hands slide from my ass and trail up my back until he grips my arms. "You are though, aren't you?"
which splash in the freezing water. "Don't let me go."
"We just need to get you wet." Dex wraps an arm around my ass and pulls me flush against his body.
"I'm already wet." I roll my eyes. Then I realize what he means and flush. My breathing comes out in ragged pulls and suddenly I don't care about the cold water. They're touching me and I'm on fire.
"Hmmmm," Dex hums his approval. "Your skin is so soft."
His hand slides down my back and cups my ass.
I moan and Aspen's hands travel up the length of me, stopping just below the swell of my breast.
"So fucking soft," Aspen says then brushes the tip of his finger over the hardened peak of my nipples. My nipples pucker harder and tighten against his touch.
Aspen's mouth descends on a trail of kisses up my neck, around my chin and across my lips. His tongue strokes my bottom lip, his hands tweaking my nipples and it's making me crazy with lust.
A hand tangles in my hair, tugging
lust.
A hand tangles in my hair, tugging my head back. I give Aspen a lustful look and he smiles slightly. His gaze drops to my breasts and he reaches out to ease my breasts from my bra before leaning down and twirling his tongue around one nipple. It's light, barely-there and I bite my lip to keep from moaning.
Dex's teeth scrape against the sensitive skin on my neck. His chuckle hits my ear a shiver races through me. "Do you want this, Jessica? Both of us?"
I grip onto Aspen's shoulders like if I let go I'll spiral out of control. And maybe that's what I want. "Never had two guys at once," I say in a breathless tone.
"You'll like it," Aspen comes up from my breast to give me a long, devouring kiss. "And we'll do everything we can to have you getting at least a quadruple orgasm."