Something in the Way (Something in the Way #1)(61)

Did I think twelve-year-olds away from home should be learning to apply makeup? Not really. But in the scheme of things, I guessed it wasn’t so bad if it meant it’d change their experience here for the positive, and Tiffany’s, too. “Give them a lesson.”

“All right,” she said. “I guess I could try that. Then I’ll teach them how to be stylish, even in hiking boots.”

“There you go.” I finished off both desserts and stood. “I’ll walk you back.”

She also got up. “It’s still early.”

“Not in camp time. It’s like I need twice the amount of sleep here.”

As we walked outside, she grabbed my hand, but when I squeezed hers, she relaxed. My palm was probably clammy. The site was quiet, even more so as we headed into the woods. I could’ve used a cigarette, but I didn’t want to stop. Best I got her to her cabin quickly.

She took it upon herself, though, not that it surprised me. She stopped, getting me to look back with a light tug on my hand. “I want to thank you for dinner.”

“How?” I asked, but I knew.

She rose onto the balls of her feet and pressed her lips to mine. I stood still as a statue, as did she. This was the point where I was supposed to take over. I put my arm around her waist. For all her bravado, she melted against me quicker than I would’ve guessed, dissolving into our kiss. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t sure if I wanted it. It was happening. Any guy at this camp would’ve killed to be in my position.

I tried not to think of the horse earlier, of the defiant pout I’d left behind when I’d picked up Tiffany for our date tonight.

I didn’t realize my hand was on the back of Tiffany’s head until I pulled her hair, and she moaned, bringing me back to the moment. She pushed her tongue against my lips, and I opened my mouth. I owed her my attention, but she also demanded it. She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me harder. I followed her lead, going through the motions, trying not to give in to the wet, willing mouth attached to mine. She took my bottom lip between her teeth and nipped it. My dick woke up. Fuck, this girl knew what she was doing.

An owl hooted so loud, I jumped back as if we’d been caught. I held her at a distance by her waist.

“What?” she whispered.

“I . . . should get you back.”

“Seriously?” She stepped into me and trailed soft fingers along the back of my neck, playing with the ends of my hair.

It’d been months since I’d kissed someone. Two seconds in, we’d stripped down to jump in bed. She’d told me her name, but I couldn’t remember it now.

“I’m just getting started,” Tiffany said.

“I know.” Between being turned on and needing to keep our bodies apart, I was a little out of breath. “That’s why I have to stop. You’re getting me excited, and there’s not really anything I can do about it until we get home. Know what I mean?”

“Who says we have to wait?” She removed an arm from around my neck, lowering it to my pants.

I caught her wrist. “I promised Gary we’d keep it PG.”

She smiled. “How would he know? Unless he’s watching with binoculars, the pervert.”

“I told you.” I had to force the words out while my angry cock throbbed. “I like to take it slow.”

She sighed, softening against my chest. “I guess. But this is super slow.”

“And what’s wrong with that?” I asked with a grunt. Here was a girl who had what men wanted and actually knew it. Why give it up so fast? “You should be the one making me wait.”

She moved away from me. “What do you mean?”

“You know what you’re worth.” The only sound was her breathing. “It’ll happen,” I said. “Just be patient.”

She didn’t respond right away. What she was thinking about, I had no idea. “Okay,” she said finally. “We can stay slow for a while.”

“Good.” I took her hand again and led her to her cabin. “See you in the morning. Seven o’clock sharp, all right? I don’t want to see you on cleaning duty again.”

She wandered away, a little dazed, while I wondered why pointing out her worth had only seemed to confuse her.





18





Lake





For the second night in a row, Manning didn’t come to the dining hall after lights-out. Tiffany did—at least that meant she wasn’t with him. With Manning away, boys had been approaching her all night like bees with honey or moths to a flame. That’s what Tiffany was to them, whether they knew it or not. A honeyed-flame. One poor guy had been circling for an hour, working up the nerve to talk to her. Tiffany didn’t even notice him.

Tiffany, Hannah, and I sat in a circle on the floor with a few other counselors. Tiffany crossed her legs under her. “I don’t remember half these guys from high school. It’s like they haven’t seen a girl in months.”

“They probably spent four years thinking they’d never get a chance to talk to you,” Hannah said.

“Most of them are geeks.” She scrunched her nose. “I guess that can be sexy.”

I glanced around to make sure none of them were within hearing distance, then changed the subject. “How was last night?”