The trail is beautiful. Too wide to call it a hiking trail but too narrow to be a road, I guess it was originally made for dirt bikes and ATVs.

Either way, it’s just another amazing sight after a whole day and a half of amazing sights.

Like Aubrey sweating in the sun and the feel of his cock pressed against me.

I stumble a little, frustrated at my lack of control over my thoughts. The fact is, though, that since yesterday morning’s little ‘conversation’ with Aubrey, I’ve been having a hard time concentrating on anything.

I take that back. I have been concentrating . . . but all I’ve been able to focus on is Aubrey. The way he looked in the sun, the smirk on his face, even the low, gravelly growl of his voice. All of it is the stuff of distraction.

That doesn’t even begin to address what his words did to me. I want to be angry. I want to tell him to take whatever excuse he has for running off and shove it straight up his ass. I want to know why—of course I do—but I’m scared to hear it too. There’s nothing he can say that will make what he did to me okay, and at least if I don’t know, I can fool myself into thinking he didn’t have a choice. Like maybe his family got swept into witness protection or something huge like that. Because I’m pretty sure it’s nothing that noteworthy. More likely, he was just done with me, and I don’t think I can handle hearing that the boy who held my entire heart in his hand just decided he didn’t want it anymore. It took me a long time to get over us, and seeing him brings up old anger, old pain, old insecurities.

But it brings up old heat too, embers I didn’t know were still smoldering and have quickly and easily been fanned into flames. I want him, even if it’s just physical. Actually, if I did give in, it’d have to be purely physical. I don’t think my heart could take being broken again, but God help me, his touch on my body and the feeling of his lips being so close to my skin yesterday have left me needy and wanting, unable to do anything about it.

Okay, I could do something about it. I could go over to Aubrey’s cabin and get fucked three ways from Sunday. I heard it in his voice, saw it in his eyes. It’s what he really wanted. Sure, maybe he’d try to explain things, smooth it over with me in an attempt to assuage his conscience and get in my pants, but his real goal would be to bend me over and pound me into submission. And it would be fucking glorious . . . as long as no old feelings rose up with the heat surrounding us. But something tells me a deep dose of Aubrey’s huge cock and massive body isn’t going to help on that side of things. That could get . . . addicting.

“Hey, Ana, you getting winded?” Trey asks, pulling me out of my thoughts. “You’re slowing down.”

“I’m fine. I’m just enjoying the scenery,” I quickly lie, because even though the scenery is fucking amazing, I’ve barely noticed a thing. “Remember, I’m here to relax, not train for a triathlon.”

Trey chuckles, slowing down. Brad follows suit, although he can’t help but put a little dig in by pumping his arms exaggeratedly and swinging his hips like he’s speed walking. “Let’s see those elbows, ladies!”

“Okay, I hear ya,” Trey says, dropping back next to me. “Listen, I don’t want to sound like a broken record here, but you’re going to be fine on your own, right?”

“Why not?” I ask, wiping my forehead. “You guys damn-near filled the house with food. I’m not going to starve.” I’m hoping against hope that he’ll take the bait and let it go. The last thing I need to do is talk about my love life with my brother. I’ve done more than I care to already.

“You’re already starving,” Brad quips. “And there’s a whole sausage buffet right next door.”

Trey growls at Brad, who giggles and sprints ahead, leaving us alone. “Seriously, I’d at least like to know you and Aubrey have your boundaries set before we leave. There’s a lot of . . . tension between you two.”

I snort, glad that I didn’t tell Trey and Brad the details of my encounter with Aubrey while they were out hiking yesterday. They only saw my frustration when they got back, and I’d mumbled something about Aubrey being a stubborn pain in the ass. “Tension?”

Brad, who has some of the sharpest ears I’ve ever encountered, turns around up ahead and calls back, “Damn right, tension! You two are so ready to fuck each other's brains out I can practically smell the pheromones.”

“That’s disgusting!” I laugh as we catch up to Brad. “But trust me, there’s no sexual tension between us. No way. Just anger and an ugly past.”

“Please, honey. Keep telling yourself that,” Brad jokes. “But I saw him, and I know you. More importantly, I know just how long it’s been since you’ve gotten any.” He nods his head like my fucking Aubrey is a foregone conclusion, and I’m instantly pissy.

“Give it a rest already. I said there’s nothing between us.” My voice is snappish, way harsher than I’d intended, but his words reminded me of the exceedingly long dry spell that I’m suddenly feeling oh, so ready to break.

Brad stops, looking at me with more curiosity than hurt on his face. But I feel bad for speaking sharply. “Sorry. I just don’t want to talk or think about Aubrey anymore. I just want to leave the past in the past and have a decent vacation.”

I start walking again, hoping they’ll let the matter lie. But I see the look that passes between them. I’m not fooling myself, and I’m definitely not fooling them.

I stop, frozen as I open the door to the cabin. Aubrey’s standing at the table, dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and a clean black denim shirt. He’s laid out a lunch for us on the table, and from the looks of it, he’s been going at it for a while.

“What the hell are you doing in here?”

Before Aubrey can say anything, Brad speaks up, sounding more than a little guilty. “Uhm, I kind of invited him to lunch.”

I turn to Brad, lifting an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Just wanted to get to know the big beast before we leave. To ease Trey’s mind that Bigfoot here isn’t going to drag you off in the woods and we’ll never see you again.”

He’s joking, but both Aubrey and I narrow our eyes at him, and I grit my teeth.

Trey clears his throat, and I realize this wasn’t all Brad’s idea. I sigh, and I glance at Aubrey, who hasn’t said a word but his eyes still burn with intensity. I can feel the trickle of sweat going down my neck, and I know his eyes are following it, wanting to trace my skin with the tip of his tongue. Or that’s just what I want him to be thinking . . . what I want him to do.

“Fine. Let’s have lunch,” I declare. “Give me two minutes to change shirts.”

I go into my room and pull my top and sports bra off, ignoring the tight tingling in my nipples as I pull on a comfy bra and a casual T-shirt. Emerging, I find the boys sitting politely at the table, each of them with a glass of water in front of them. Aubrey rises, slightly old-fashioned, and I notice the only open seat is next to him.

Fuck it. Taking a steadying breath, I come over and sit down, looking at the spread. “This is impressive.”

“One of the things I can cook,” Aubrey grunts, opening the big pot of stew. The smell’s rich and heady, and while I’ve never been much for stew, this smells like it’s better than anything I’ve ever eaten.

“What’s in this?” Trey asks as he takes a big bowl from Aubrey and sniffs. “It smells great.”

“Deer, mostly,” Aubrey says, spooning up another bowl for Brad. “Some potatoes, they’re easy to grow, and a few other vegetables.”

“Yeah, well, smells delicious,” Brad exclaims, taking a bite. “And tastes good too. So . . . what has you living out here? And where’d you get deer?”

“I hunt, try to be as self-sufficient as I can,” Aubrey says, his voice polite but still short on his words. Next to him, I feel dwarfed, and I’m constantly distracted as Aubrey and the guys talk. Instead of the stew or the conversation, I’m tuned into Aubrey’s every move . . . the bounce of his knee when he gets a bit nervous, the way his eyes keep cutting to me as if making sure I’m really there, and the nuance of every expression that crosses his face. Aubrey’s presence is like a burning stove next to me, making me feel feverish.

“You like it up here?” Trey asks. I can sense what he’s doing. He wants to ask the same question Brad did again since Aubrey avoided it, but he's coming at it from a different angle. “I remember you liked the outdoors, but I didn’t think it was enough to live out here by yourself.”

“I like the peace and quiet,” Aubrey replies. “The land was a good bargain, and I have an agreement with a few local stores.”

“What’s that?” I ask, curious.

“I clear trees on the property and sell the firewood. It’s just me, so it’s not a lot, but I don’t need much cash . . . enough for the taxes on this place. Which is what the cabin rental profits are for now.”

I can see Aubrey’s on to Trey’s game, but Trey pushes on, not quite satisfied. “You don’t need money for anything else?”

“I hunt for food and grow the rest,” Aubrey replies. “I use a bow, so supplies are cheap.” He turns to me, changing the topic off himself. His leg presses against mine and makes my body rev into overdrive almost instantly. “What about you, Ana? How are you enjoying being a nurse?”

“I love it,” I reply, trying to keep my mind on anything other than the feeling of Aubrey pressed against my thigh. It’s narcotic, my head swimming as I find myself unable to think of anything other than the intense desire building inside of me and the hunger to feel the hard ‘third leg’ of his with my hand. If Brad and Trey weren’t here, I’d just be able to slide my hand . . . “I like helping people.”

“She’s the best damn nurse in the hospital,” Trey brags, and Aubrey smiles a little, making my stomach flutter. His leg presses harder, and I glance down to see the swelling bulge in his jeans. He’s not hiding it, knowing the thick plank table isn’t going to let the guys on the other side of the table see, but I see, and my mouth goes dry.

God, could I even fit that in my mouth? Aubrey would love that, and his eyes twinkle as he sees my dilemma. “I bet. You’re a natural for it, I’m sure. And by the way, my ankle does feel a bit better. The boot helps some too.”

“What did you do?” I ask, and Aubrey slides away just enough to show me the boot he’s wearing, a high all-leather boot that’s tightly laced. It also gives me a view of his cock pressed against the denim of his jeans, but I’m able to restrain myself enough not to slide under the table and start nuzzling him. “That’ll help . . . but you still need rest.”

“Maybe,” Aubrey admits. “But stuff’s got to get done.”

I see Trey trying to catch my eye, but it’s okay. I’ll be fine. I’m not going to have a nervous meltdown up here alone with Aubrey. “Well, if you can behave better than a caveman, I might give it a look and make sure your foot isn’t going to rot off.”

We wrap up lunch, and Aubrey stays more or less silent as he cleans up the dishes while Trey and Brad get their bags together. “You sure you’ll be okay?” Trey whispers quietly after they’ve packed the rental SUV. “You know I—”

“Will be back to pick me up,” I reply with a smile. “I’ve still got my phone, and Aubrey’s got an ATV if I need it. Now chill out. This was my vacation, remember? I didn’t ask you to tag along, but I know you mean well.”

I give Trey and Brad hugs, watching with amusement as my brother and Aubrey square off with each other. I’ve always thought Trey was a pretty muscled-up guy—he’s a personal trainer, after all—but seeing him next to Aubrey puts things in perspective. Like just how big Aubrey is.

Trey offers his hand, and Aubrey takes it, shaking. Both of them are squeezing hard enough that their forearm muscles look like a bundle of cords for a moment before they both relent. Trey nods. “Thanks for the good stew. Have a good couple of weeks.”

Aubrey nods and steps off the porch, pausing to watch Trey and Brad get into the SUV and drive off. When they’re gone, he turns and looks at me, his eyes still glowing with that heat I felt all during lunch. I’m already expecting him to attack me, knowing I’m weak and want his kiss, his body. What I’m not expecting are his words. “I’ll see you around.”

Any other time, I might think it sounds distant. Like, maybe I’ll see you next year. But this is a promise, and as I watch him slowly walk away, I find myself looking forward to it.