a chord, and she wasn’t going to argue about that. She reaped the benefits.
“I can’t imagine why I’ve never had sex outside before. Maybe it was the fear of getting caught. That platform gives us a measure of privacy that’s not easy to find.”
She laughed. “I’m sure that’s something Jack and Emmett didn’t envision.”
“They didn’t count on me.”
“Neither did I. But I’m so glad you showed up, Luke.”
He held her gaze. “Me, too.”
Maybe this was her perfect moment. “I’ve been thinking about something.”
“So you had the same idea? Pull up the ladder so we don’t get surprised by an unexpected visitor?”
“No, I didn’t think of that, but it’s a good idea. Yes, it will look suspicious, but better that someone imagines something is going on than that they see it in living color.”
“My thought exactly.”
“But that wasn’t what I was going to say.”
“Okay, shoot.” He picked up his beer and took a swallow.
She loved looking at him sitting there, his shirt unsnapped at her request, his posture relaxed, happy. He was a gorgeous man. Even watching him drink his beer was a treat.
“What?” He smiled at her.
“You’re incredibly good-looking, Luke.”
He actually blushed. “That’s not what you were going to say.”
“No, but it doesn’t hurt to tell you.”
“You’re not afraid it’ll go to my head?”
“Actually, no. You’re brash, but you’re not conceited.”
“Thank you.” He put down his empty plate. “But you still haven’t told me this big revelation.”
“Okay. We had a discussion about my potential plans for the future. They’re different from yours.”
“Yes, they are.”
“Just so you know, I realize the difference. When you said this was possibly your best afternoon ever, you could say it because you’d already announced your plans to leave. It was possibly my best afternoon ever, but I was afraid to say so, in case you’d think I was trying to, I don’t know…trap you into something.”
His expression brightened. “It was possibly your best afternoon ever?”
“Yes. But that doesn’t mean that I—”
“I’m glad. I’m really glad. As for being worried that you’d try to trap me, I’m not.”
“That’s good, but why not? We get along and we have great sex. Why wouldn’t I want to try and change your mind?”
“Because you believe in the principle of live and let live. You’re watching those eagles from afar. You’re not trying to capture them and band them.”
She nodded. Good observation on his part. “So if I’m enthusiastic about something we’re doing together, you won’t worry that I’m building castles in the air?”
“No. I trust you. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here.” “Fair enough.”
“Ready for dessert?”
“You brought dessert?”
“Of course. Hang on.” He stood and walked over to his saddlebags. He pulled out a plastic container. “I put them in here so they wouldn’t get crushed.”
Popping the top on the container, he showed her two chocolate cupcakes.
“Yum.”
“Even better, they have cream filling.”
“I love that.” She reached for one.
“You know what I wish?” He took the other cupcake and returned to his spot on the ground.
“What?”
“That we didn’t have to worry about bears. Because if we didn’t have to worry about bears, we’d be eating these in the tent.”
“You mean like at a slumber party?” She wasn’t sure where he was going with this story.
“An X-rated slumber party. Yours would be served on my abs, and mine would be served in your cleavage.”
“Mmm.” She glanced over at him. “Hold that thought. You can bring cupcakes to the next picnic on the platform.”
“Damn. I didn’t think of that. We could have—”
“We don’t have to do everything at once. I’ll be out here until the nestlings fly.” And you leave.
“You’re right. Maybe we should pace ourselves. But you’ve given me a challenge. It’ll be fun to think of all the interesting ways we can have sex between now and then.”
“I’ll look forward to your boundless creativity.” She’d just had another insight. By setting a limit on their time together, he’d ramped up the tension. Lovers faced with a ticking clock always cherished the moments more than those who thought they had forever.
She needed to remember that truism as she joined him on this roller coaster. He was an exciting lover, but he was also a bit of an adrenaline junkie. He didn’t know how to relax into a relationship and live it day by day. So she would accept him for the thrill ride that he was and understand that when the ride was over, he’d be gone.
LUKE WASN’T WORRIED that Naomi would let herself get attached to him, but it didn’t hurt for her to say that she wouldn’t. He let her go into the tent first and undress while he smothered the fire and made sure every trace of food was packed in airtight containers and stored in the sack she hung from a tree.
Someday he’d love to devour a cream-filled chocolate cupcake that was resting in the valley between her breasts, but he wasn’t sure when that would be. Even if they met in town, she’d be staying with her parents. There would be no cupcake games under that roof.
But he wasn’t about to complain. He stripped down outside the tent in deference to the cramped quarters. Then, holding the battery-operated lantern he’d used for the last stages of the cleanup operation, he crawled into the tent.
Entering a tent where a naked woman lay waiting was arousing enough. But when the light fell on her lounging like Cleopatra on her barge, he was immediately ready for action. His cock twitched with impatience as he zipped the tent closed.
He turned toward her and pretended shock. “My God! There’s a stark-naked woman in this tent! What shall I do?”
She crooked a finger. “Come closer and let me whisper some
