Lost in You Read Free Page A

of water trailed his nicely defined pecs and followed the lines of his six-pack, disappearing into the waistband of the wet cargo shorts that hung dangerously low on his lean hips.  
    He was a glorious, gorgeous male animal.  
    A punch of lust knocked the breath from her lungs. She’d never wanted a man on such an elemental level. Never. No talking. No foreplay. Just an animalistic mating. Hard, fast, sweaty, dirty raw sex. Him pounding into her until she screamed her pleasure, shattering the woodland silence.  
    Oblivious, Becker bent down and splashed water on his face. Raked his hands through his hair. Droplets of water clung to his dark stubble and glistened on his eyelashes. His nipples were tight.  
    Lacy ached to feel those rigid points with her tongue. Longed to trace the water’s path down his river-cooled body with her hot mouth.  
    He stiffened. Seemed to look right at her. Then went on cleaning himself. Thoroughly.  
    Did Becker realize he was tormenting her as his wet bandana wiped every inch of his amazing body?  
    Probably.  
    Still, she leered until he returned to camp.  
    The narrow stream tumbled over a rock-lined bed. In several spots along the grassy edge, water pooled deep. Lacy plunged her hands into the icy coldness, scrubbing with a small stone until her fingers turned pink.  
    Satisfied all traces of snake oil were gone, she whipped off her tank top and rinsed it. Felt strangely freeing to flaunt her naked breasts and cup the cool, clear liquid, letting it flow down her body like an invisible lover’s caress.  
    Was Becker lurking? Feeling that same inexplicable desire she’d experienced watching him?  
    She stayed bare-chested until her shirt dried, just in case.  
    Lacy sat on a bed of moss, hypnotized by the transformation of day into night. Twilight turned the sky a majestic purple. Stars twinkled. A soft breeze wafted by, stirring the hair stuck to her nape. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d existed in such peace. No agenda. No people criticizing her. The scent of pine and the underlying earthy aroma of the forest filled her lungs.  
    When a rank smell replaced the sweetness of the night air, Lacy immediately scrambled to her feet.  
    Was there a dead animal close by? Or just a stinky, hungry creature hunting for a meal? She started to run, but stopped when she remembered the Discovery Channel warning that predators liked prey to run. In the near dark she staggered through the meadow, the stench increasing with every step.  
    She stopped. A fire lit the darkness surrounding the campsite and smoke drifted toward her.  
    It appeared that awful smell was dinner.  

Chapter Three  

    It looked worse than it smelled.  
    Becker eyed the crispy chunk of meat on the end of the stick. Screw this. He didn’t have to demonstrate his stubborn streak to her. He’d rather starve than eat barbequed snake.  
    Lacy limped into view, smile pasted on her freshly-scrubbed face.  
    “What’s that delicious odor?”  
    Odor. Not aroma. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for his culinary skills. He scowled at the red-hot coals. Time to call a halt to this juvenile, I’ll-eat-it-if-you-will game.  
    When she stopped—downwind from the campfire smoke—he glanced up.  
    The dancing firelight bathed her in an ethereal glow. She looked half-angel, half-temptress. Which one was the real Lacy? How could he find out firsthand?  
    He was tired of baiting her. Since they were stuck with each other for the rest of the hike, they might as well make the most of it.  
    Becker mustered his most charming smile. “That stench is dinner. And you’re more than welcome to eat my share because I sure as hell am not touching it.”  
    Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Really?”  
    “Scouts honor. I’d rather chomp on pine needles.”  
    She plopped beside him on the log. “Thank God. Honestly, I didn’t know if I could—Hey! Wait a minute!” She whapped him on the arm.