“Okay.” I shrugged and turned away. Then I stopped and turned back to her. “You can share my bag.”
“What?” Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
“I have a double. It’ll be fine.”
“I can’t sleep in the same bag as you.”
“Why not? Would you rather be in Channing’s bag?” I shot at her jealously.
“No.” Her eyes narrowed at me. “Not at all.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I can’t.” She looked away from me.
“We’re friends, right?” I took a step towards her and waited for her to look up at me.
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“Then share my bag with me. I’m not going to have you sleeping on the ground.” Or with Channing.
“Fine.” She nodded. “I’ll try and keep to my side.”
“Good.” I nodded back at her.
“Good.” I watched as she swallowed.
I couldn’t stop myself from staring at her body. I felt a tightening in my chest as I realized that I was going to be sharing a sleeping bag with her. What was I doing to myself? Was I a glutton for punishment?
“I’m going to go and shower,” she said slowly and I nodded.
“Fine.”
“I’m going to go to sleep early.” Her eyes searched mine. “I’ll probably be asleep by the time you get in the bag.”
“I’ll try not to disturb you.”
“Thanks.” She smiled weakly, and I turned away from her, walking back over to the guys.
I saw Channing giving me a look of hatred and I didn’t feel anything. If he only knew the reality of the situation. I hated myself at that moment as well.
Chapter 12
Riley
Present Day
I lay in the sleeping bag with my heart racing. I tried to count sheep to make myself fall asleep, but nothing was working. I just couldn’t fall asleep. My body was on edge waiting for Hudson to get into the bag with me. I wasn’t sure what had happened to my own bag, but I felt like this was some sort of sick retribution for the secret I was keeping. It was going to be the sweetest kind of hell sharing a sleeping bag with Hudson—having him so close to me, yet so far. It wasn’t like I would be able to touch him or kiss him. Not like I wanted to. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths to ensure that I didn’t start crying. That was the last thing I needed.
“Night, Hudson,” I heard Justin say before walking back to the campsite.
“See you in the morning.” Hudson’s voice was smooth, and I shivered. This was it; he was on the way back to the sleeping bag.
I squeezed my eyes tight and lay there curled up. I heard him stop next to the bag, but I wasn’t sure what he was doing. I felt like I’d waited for over an hour for him to finally get into the sleeping bag, but I knew it had only been a couple of minutes, if that.
I froze as I felt him sliding his body into the sleeping bag. He moved very slowly, and I guessed that was because he didn’t want to wake me up. His arm brushed against mine and it left a trail of fire on my skin. I waited to see how he would settle in the bag and was disappointed when he lay back and left distance between us. I pretended to yawn and rolled over so that I was closer to his body. He stilled as I crashed into him. I kept my eyes closed but moved my hand over his waist.
“Riley?” he whispered, but I kept my eyes closed. I felt his arm move around my waist, and I moved in closer to him, pretending to still be asleep. I gasped inwardly as I felt my hand touch his naked chest. My eyes peeked open to confirm that he had no shirt on. “Riley,” he whispered again, and I felt his hands on my face. I looked up at him slowly and saw a smile on his face. “Did I wake you up?”
“No.” I shook my head and made a face.
“Am I making you hot?”
“No.” I shook my head again. “In fact, you’re warming me up. I was a little cold.”
“Oh, well we can’t have you lying there cold.” He put both his arms around me then and pulled me closer to him. I shifted my legs and found them rubbing up against his. “I love the feel of your smooth legs against my hairy ones,” he whispered in my ear, and I giggled.
“You could have smooth legs too.”
“Are you telling me to shave them?” He made a face, and I shook my head.
“I’d never say that.” I ran my fingers against his chest hair. “That’s what makes you a man.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “My chest hair makes me a man?”
“Not just your chest hair.”
“Oh good, I was about to say. I thought it was my dick that made me a man.”
“Hudson.” I pinched him and he chuckled.
“Sorry.” He stroked my hair and sighed. “This was a bad idea.”
“What was a bad idea?”
“Having you sleep with me.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to do so much more than sleep.” He looked at me then, but I didn’t know what to say to him. How could I tell him that I wanted to do more than just sleep with him as well? “Sorry. Did I upset you?”
“No.” I shook my head, and he sighed.
“I’ve missed you.” He gave me a sweet smile. “You look so beautiful. I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become.”
“I missed you too.” I bit my lower lip and stared into his eyes. “I’m sorry I came on this trip. I know you didn’t want me to.”
“I’m glad you came.”
“Why?” I asked in a hushed tone. My heart was thudding and I felt like I was getting a fever from being so close to him.
“Because I get to do this.” He leaned forward and kissed me, his eyes never leaving mine. His lips tasted salty, and I kissed him back. Our lips connected for a few seconds before he pulled back. “Sorry.” He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I didn’t say no.”
He shook his head. “We shouldn’t do this again.”
“Fine.” I pulled away from him slightly. I was hurt. I was so into him, and I wanted to touch him again so badly, but he just seemed to want to push me away.
“Don’t be upset.” He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me towards him. “What are you doing to me, Riley?”
“Nothing,” I mumbled, frustrated and confused.