Maddy surveyed her overflowing suitcase. She always had this overpacking problem. She liked being prepared for everything, which meant everything.

Peaches, her orange tabby, jumped onto the bed, sniffing her suitcase in interest.

“Don’t even think about it,” Maddy ordered, going into her bathroom and grabbing her (also overstuffed) toiletry bag. “Okay. Clothes. Shoes. Toiletries. Laptop. Phone. Chargers. Umbrella. Coat. What am I missing, Peaches?”

Peaches stared at her, predictably saying nothing and obviously annoyed she wasn’t letting him jump into her luggage. She was turning into a muttering old cat lady. This was her fate as she faced down her thirties.

“At least you’re cute,” she told the cat.

Peaches yawned, setting his chin on his paws as if he agreed.

Maddy went through her mental checklist again. What was she missing? She looked around her bedroom, her eyes fell on her nightstand drawer, and her thoughts fell to the contents of said drawer.

She really shouldn’t…

But it was going to be three whole days. In close proximity to Carter. Possibly Carter doing outdoorsy things. If he wore plaid, she might spontaneously combust, then and there, while beholding the glorious sight.

“What the hell,” she said, going over to her nightstand drawer and opening it.

Inside, a slim silver case rested. Maddy grabbed it, flipping it open to reveal her three favorite Purely Pleasure toys.

It was probably some kind of kink that she now couldn’t think of anything else but the fact that Carter had created these. His mind had thought these up. It was just so sexy to think about. Was it a smart guy kink? A geek kink?

Or maybe she just had a Carter kink.

“I’m in such trouble, Peaches,” she told the cat, who didn’t even bother to look away from his true love, the suitcase, when she spoke.

She plucked the little bullet vibrator from the Pearl line from the case. It had sensors that learned which patterns of vibration got you off the fastest, hardest, or slowest, and you could set accordingly. Plus, it was cute and portable. She popped it in a little velvet drawstring bag and tucked it in a corner of her suitcase, telling herself she probably wouldn’t have time to use it anyway.

She finished up her packing and when she finally got Peaches settled in his own bed and fell asleep, she slept deep, falling into dreams almost immediately.

She was giggling, running through a forest like a maiden in a fairy tale, complete with long dress and ribbons in her hair. There was a thrilling feeling in her stomach, a giddy, lusty happiness that grew with each step.

She was being chased.

“I’m gonna get you!” she heard a rollicking call, a male voice that sent delighted shivers through her as she continued to run—but not too fast.

She wanted him to catch her, after all. Just not yet. She couldn’t make it too easy for him.

Maddy caught a glimpse of him over her shoulder as she glanced back, a blur of light brown hair and tanned skin. He’d stripped his shirt off sometime during the chase.

Smiling smugly, she hurried on. She loved making him work up a sweat.

The moss on the forest floor was soft against her bare feet and she hiked her skirts higher, to her knees, as she raced down a slope. The smell of pine and morning dew was sharp in the air, filling her senses as her breath quickened. The rustle in the underbrush was getting closer.

She stopped at the bottom of the slope, like a deer caught in a hunter’s view, and turned, looking up.

Carter stood at the top of the hill, lit by the brilliant sun. All he had on was jeans, ripped in places, well worn and soft looking, clinging to his ass in a very distracting way.

She bit her lip, rocking back and forth on her heels, trying to decide if she should prolong the game.

“Found you,” he said, and even this far away, she could see the smile in his green eyes.

“You haven’t caught me yet,” she called back, shrieking with laughter as she bolted away across the moss covered forest-floor and he raced down the slope, trying to catch her.

Her legs were long, but his were longer. As she whipped through the trees, she could hear him drawing closer. Their chase was almost coming to an end—but the game was just beginning. Anticipation rising inside her, she hurried through the trees, breathless with the need thrumming through her like a second heartbeat.

As she passed by a thick oak tree, strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against a solid chest. He must’ve dashed ahead and then doubled back to catch her. She yelped in surprise, the sound dissolving into quieter moan as he lifted her hair off her neck and drew his fingers along the line of her throat.

“I win,” he whispered against her ear, his hands traveling down over the front of her dress, tracing the curve of her breasts, circling around her peaking nipples as she took in a quick breath, quivering against his gentle touch.

She couldn’t stand it—she whirled around, her arms wrapped around his neck, and as she kissed him, she hitched herself up against him. He palmed her ass, bringing her close so she could grind in slow circles against his cock. She let out a little moan when she felt how big he was, how hot he felt even through the layers of clothing. She wriggled in his arms, unable to slow down now that he’d finally caught her.

She needed him. Now.

He seemed to find her urgency amusing, because he chuckled against her skin, situating them so her shoulders were pressed against the thick trunk of the tree.

“You get all worked up playing our little game?” he asked, his fingers sliding her skirt up her thigh, hand dipping to palm her pussy. She whimpered at the pressure as he pressed the heel of his palm against her clit. This was just what she needed.

But his hands were just the beginning of what she wanted.

She writhed in his arms, her fingers plucking at the button of his Levis, hands sliding into the loosened material as she gripped his cock for the first time in their little game. He groaned, his forehead resting against hers, his hips moving in little restless circles as she jacked him, fucking into her fist like he couldn’t help himself, like her touch just undid him.

His cock was perfect, smooth and thick and so hot against her own skin. Her fingers traced over the flared head, catching over the delicious ridge of the underside, making him clutch her hair and kiss her hard, his tongue tangling with hers.

When they parted, she drew his head toward hers, her lips brushing against his ear. “Aren’t you going to fuck me?” she whispered, as she guided the head of his cock to rest against her pussy, slicking through the drenched folds, tapping against her clit, making her eyes roll back. “Isn’t that why you caught me? To finally show me who’s boss?”

He groaned as his erection came to rest against her entrance. Just one little movement, and his thick cock would be sliding into her.

“Oh, baby,” he muttered against her ear. “We both know who’s the real boss here.”

She trembled in his arms, with love, with laughter, with lust, as her hips tilted against his and he slid into her, her inner muscles fluttering at the stretch as every nerve in her body lit up like a sparkler.

This is what she needed

This is what she wanted.

He was what she craved.

A knocking noise jerked Maddy out of sleep, and she sat bolt upright. Peaches, who had been sleeping on her chest, yowled and jumped off her. She squinted in the stream of light falling across her bed, her eyes widening in horror when she caught sight of the time on her phone.

10 a.m.? But she and Nat were supposed to leave right now!

More pounding. She grabbed her robe, uncomfortably aware of how damp her panties were—damn her sexy dreams!—and was still tying it around her waist as she opened the door.

Nat was standing there, looking bright and chipper.

And so was Carter.

At least I didn’t answer the door naked, Maddy thought.