He wasn’t a man known for rushing his fences, and he wasn’t going to start now. He’d much rather see her vague and smiling, making up fairy tales, than see that wall of hurt rising around her. Yet another thing he hadn’t recognized. How much he’d come to rely on her hiding to shield herself from hurt. He rubbed his wrist, breath hissing in as he reopened the tears from the rope. It was going to take some getting used to the fact that Maddie didn’t run away anymore, that she stood her ground and hurt just like the rest of them. He’d have to be more careful. Hell. He ran his fingers through his hair, feeling the mud and leaves clinging to it. Grimacing, he shook his head. For a man who came to the swimming hole to cool off, he’d ended up a whole lot more hot and bothered. He shucked out of his wet pants. His cock fell hard and hungry into his hand, so sensitive the warm air in itself felt like a caress. Stroking his thumb across the tip, he imagined the kiss of Maddie’s sweet pussy and shivered.
