Hardy shook his head. “I just never expected that you might be comfortable with bugs.”
“Why is that?”
Hardy shrugged. “I don’t know. Most girls I know would’ve screamed if that thing got anywhere near them, much less on them.”
It was Miracle’s turn to shrug. “I used to be afraid of them. Terrified even, but then I decided not to be.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
Hardy figured that’s exactly how it happened, amazingly. It was obvious that Miracle had decided to live her life, really live it, to the best of her ability and nothing was going to stand in her way, not even the fear of nature’s creepiest crawlers.
Miracle returned her attention to the millipede and continued to play with it, so Hardy got out his camera and started taking photos. Even through the lens, she was captivating. And Hardy was captivated. More and more with every minute he spent in her company.
With a crooked grin in place, Miracle looked up at Hardy. “You aren’t afraid of this little guy, are you?”
“No. Why?”
Hardy could tell by her expression that she was up to no good. When she stood to her feet, he knew he was right.
“Then give me your hand.”
“I’m holding the camera. Maybe later.”
“Then put the camera down.”
“One of us has to go back with some pictures or—”
“Oh, no! No excuses. Put the camera down or he’s going down your shirt.”
When he didn’t immediately comply, Miracle lunged at Hardy and, reflexively, Hardy jerked away.
Miracle giggled in delight. “Ohmigod! You are! You’re afraid of bugs.”
“No, I’m not,” Hardy defended. “Just those things. All those legs…they’re nasty.” He shuddered involuntarily, which just sent Miracle into more giggles.
She waved her hand in front of him and he leaned as far away as he could. After teasing him for another minute, she sobered. “Seriously, they’re not that bad.” Hardy was still eyeing the millipede skeptically. “Do you trust me?”
Hardy’s eyes flickered up to Miracle’s. The humorous light had faded from her eyes. He could see that she really wanted to know.
“Yes,” he answered. And he did. For some reason, he knew he could trust her with his life. Maybe more than he could trust anyone else he knew.
“Then give me the camera and lay down.”
“What? You’re cra—”
“You said you trusted me.”
Hardy looked down into the mesmerizing emerald pools of Miracle’s eyes. There was seriousness in them, but also something else, something that burned there and warmed him from the inside out. Without a word, he handed her the camera, dropped into a squat then stretched out in the leaves right at her feet.
He watched her as she knelt near his right elbow, struggling to keep the millipede from getting away as she juggled the camera. When she settled back on her haunches, she leaned over Hardy.
“Close your eyes.”
With a dramatically loud sigh, Hardy complied, but he wasn’t worried. No, if anything he felt excited at the prospect of being at her mercy such as he was.
First, he felt her touch his hand, turning it over, palm up, and running her fingers along his. He shivered. Then Hardy felt the millipede. When his heart increased its pace, Hardy knew it wasn’t the legs she let crawl over his skin that did it. Not, it was the feel of Miracle touching him that excited him.
Her fingers skated up his arm and stopped at the inside of his elbow, herding the millipede. Then she ran it back to his palm. His breath caught in his chest when she raised the hem of his shirt just enough to expose his belly. He felt her fingers skim lightly over his abs, causing them to contract. He thought he could feel the tickle of the millipede, but he couldn’t be sure. All his senses were trained on Miracle—her fingers, her scent, her breathing, her warmth.
Hardy heard the clicking of the camera, but he paid it little attention. He felt Miracle’s fingers back on his arm and then up around his neck. They drifted across his forehead, followed by the scampering legs of the millipede, but still Hardy didn’t care. He didn’t care what else was happening around him, as long as Miracle didn’t stop touching him.
When the arthropod took off down the other side of his neck, Hardy felt Miracle lean over him, chasing the millipede with her fingers as it ran down his other arm. He opened his eyes and saw Miracle’s br**sts near his face, her stomach pressed to his. Instantly, he was rigid.
Miracle chased the millipede down his other arm to his hand, where it rested on his stomach. As she worked her fingers around the bug, Hardy saw her eyes stop somewhere in the vicinity of his zipper and she paused. Color bloomed in her cheeks and Hardy knew she’d noticed his current state of arousal. Although he knew he should feel sheepish, he couldn’t bring himself to feel anything but desire.
Miracle wanted him, too. And now he knew it.
Though nearly imperceptible, Hardy was watching Miracle closely enough to detect her reaction— the way she caught her breath, the slight widening of her eyes, the way they flickered several times to his crotch, the parting of her lips, her shallow breathing. She was practically panting, as was he.
Finally, she looked up at him and he knew. He was right. She wanted him. Maybe even as much as he wanted her.
Miracle’s pupils were dilated. She said nothing, just continued to watch him, her hand resting on his stomach, perfectly still. Hardy had no idea where the millipede had gotten off to and he really didn’t care. His focus was on Miracle and the moment they were sharing. Nothing else mattered.
Until he felt it crawling across his ribs up under his shirt.
With a yelp, Hardy rolled onto his side and then to his feet, pulling his shirt away from his body and brushing his hand over his skin. Finally, the millipede dropped out.
When he looked down at Miracle, he could tell she was trying not to laugh. Although she had her hand over her mouth, he didn’t need to see her lips to know she was smiling. The corners of her eyes were crinkled and the bright green orbs sparkled with barely-contained mirth.
Hardy put his hands on his hips. “Go ahead.”
Keeping her hand pressed tightly to her lips, Miracle shook her head.
“Seriously, go ahead.”
Hardy saw her eyes water and she squeezed them shut, shaking her head again.
“Fine. I’ll help you then.”
And then he fell on her, wrestling her over and tickling her sides mercilessly. She pulled her hand away from her mouth to fight him off, giggling uncontrollably and writhing to get away from him.