That seemed . . . backward. Another rule he’d have to figure out.
“It’s special to me too,” he said. “I want to do it again with you. And . . . again.”
She laughed, a happy sound, her eyes shining as she met his gaze. “Me too. But first, feed me, Jak. I’ve worked up an appetite.”
He grinned. He could do that. He could feed her. Nothing would bring him more happiness.
**********
They spent the day taking turns reading aloud from The Count of Monte Cristo. Jak read slowly, carefully, and would halt when he came to a word he didn’t know, his eyes moving over it several times before he’d attempt to say it out loud. Nine times out of ten, he’d say it correctly the first time. He’s smart, Harper thought over and over. More than smart. If he ventured into the world, he would adeptly figure out modern-day society in a matter of weeks. As they read, he brought up questions that were both sophisticated—considering how he’d lived—and extremely insightful. He was a complete dichotomy—wild and sensitive, uneducated and astute, and he fascinated her to no end.
Her skin flushed when she thought about what they’d done, the lust that had taken over when they’d kissed in a way lust had never controlled her before. Since she’d graduated from high school, she’d had this idea that experiencing sex with partners of her choosing, and then controlling those relationships, was the key to her healing. She’d take back her power, she thought. And yet . . . she’d always felt . . . removed from her partners. Emotionally disappointed in the aftermath. As alone as ever. So, for the last couple of years, she’d abandoned sex entirely. She knew why she had sexual hang-ups, of course, but the knowing had never altered her reaction to a man touching her. Until now.
Something about it had felt so . . . decadent. It was funny that that particular word would come to mind in a sparse wood cabin in the middle of the forest, not a scrap of luxury to be found. But yes, that description felt right. Lying there with him, touching each other’s skin in the golden light of afternoon had felt like the most decadent thing she’d ever experienced. Their bodies were decadent, she realized. They were made to feel that way. It was a revelation.
She liked his uninhibited joy at touching her. She liked his frank questions. They aroused her. Excited her.
Jak was obviously inexperienced, but there was something amazingly erotic about watching him follow his instincts when it came to sex, to touching her body, to taking pleasure for himself. I could fall in love with this man, she thought, but pushed the notion aside. There were too many questions, too many uncertainties when it came to how a relationship with him might work. And somehow it felt . . . unfair to think too much about her own desires when it came to him. He had lived a life of strife and struggle, and he had so many more—albeit of a different kind—in front of him. It was going to be challenging, to say the least, to learn the many things his life thus far had not taught him.
But for the moment, those were topics too vast and removed to think about. For right then, there was Jak, his head bent toward hers, his forehead wrinkled in concentration, his beautiful lips mouthing a word he’d never said before. There was the warmth of the fire and the bright, shiny, icy world outside the window. Frozen. Just like time seemed to be that day. There was the achingly sweet way he smiled so shyly at her when she caught him staring. The way canned pears made him lick his lips with delight, and the way his kisses became more bold, more practiced, more toe-curlingly delicious as the day wore on.
They trekked the few miles to the old logging road, unobscured by the thickness of forest, and Harper was able to get a signal. She called the group home and explained why she hadn’t made her shift, and then she called Rylee and left her a message when she didn’t answer. She thought about calling Agent Gallagher, but he hadn’t left a message for her, and she knew he would have if he had any new information about her parents.
A bird called out, a beautiful warbling sound that echoed through the trees and Harper smiled. Jak caught her eye