Does that sound too serial killer?” she asked.

Addy pointed to the first highway sign for food that they passed after spelunking.

“Noah’s Ark Burgers and More? No, not at all,” Jack said.

She was exhausted. Addy leaned the seat back and pressed her palms against her thighs. There was a dull burn where the belt had dug into her skin. Still, it had been worth it.

She’d never felt so alive in her life. And being with Jack in the dark, the sexual tension between them, the way she’d felt his eyes on her ass every time she was in front of him—it had been intoxicating.

Addy kept waiting for him to kiss her, to throw her against the wall, to do anything at all, but he’d behaved the entire time.

It wasn’t just the spelunking that had exhausted her. Waiting, maddeningly so, for him to make a move was even worse. She thought she’d explode by the time they’d reached the exit.

What, does he think I didn’t notice him checking me out all day? Does he think I didn’t do the same every time he looked away?

She shook her head and stared out where her window should have been as Jack exited toward the macabrely named burger joint.

You need to get it together, she told herself.

What did she expect? For him to slam her against a cave wall and fuck her wildly in the dark?

Well, maybe, she thought. Even the idea of it got her wet and she squirmed in the seat. But he’s such a classic bad boy. And such a bad life decision.

The little restaurant was decorated with a huge mural of an ark. Happy animals, two by two, climbed onboard.

“What are they so happy about?” Jack murmured. “Cows, pigs… all the animals they probably serve in there on a bun.”

“No penguin, I hope,” Addy said.

She pointed to the black and white cartoon animals. He chuckled, but it wasn’t enough to cut the tension between them.

Fortunately, the menu was pretty all-American basic. They ordered two cheeseburgers with a basket of tater tots to share. Ice cold beers arrived with the made-to-order lunch and Addy pounced on it, famished.

At least I can feed one kind of hunger, she thought. The cheese melted onto her fingers. She sucked it off greedily.

“Hey,” Jack whispered.

“Don’t give me any crap,” she murmured. Addy didn’t take her eyes off the burger. “I’m hungry, okay?”

“No, not that. Look.”

Addy looked up and Jack gestured with his eyes toward the other side of the restaurant. “What?”

“See that old couple? They’ve been staring at us. Maybe this is one of those serial killer towns,” he stage whispered.

Addy realized it was an old couple from her hometown. The two who were always in the soda shop for the early bird breakfast special. She couldn’t recall their names, but she knew they were huge gossips. It was all they had to do.

“Oh, God,” she said. Addy dropped the burger and buried her head in her hands.

“What? Hey, watch it. You’re going to get cheese in your hair.” Jack leaned across the table and swatted her hands away from her face.

“I know them,” she said.

“You do?”

“Well, not really. They’re the town gossips. I’m sure they’re taking notes, ready to report back everything they see.”

“Oh. Well, then let’s give them something to talk about.”

Quickly, Jack moved to her side of the booth and wrapped his arm around her. He brushed his lips against her ear and instant goosebumps spread across her skin.

He cupped her chin in his hand and forced her face upward. Limp in his arms, she opened her mouth slightly for his kiss. It was warm, pillowy, and simultaneously familiar and exotic.

Addy melted into it, even though she was aware it was for show. But she couldn’t help herself. She wanted more. She clutched at his shirt and pulled him closer, opened her mouth to welcome his tongue against hers.

Jack obliged and explored her mouth. He moved to her jawline and inched toward her neck. As she started to make those little animal noises in his ear, he felt his cock stiffen.

She felt his hand graze against her breast while her nipple hardened to attention. There was almost nothing between her nipple, which begged for his kisses, and his fingers. Just two flimsy pieces of fabric.

She wanted more than anything to press herself against his touch. To encourage his hands to roam freely. Open her legs so he could feel how she’d started to soak through those yoga pants at his touch.

But Addy fluttered her eyes open and saw that the old couple had already left.

Should I tell him? No, she thought. Just one more minute. Just give me one more minute…

Addy closed her eyes and let herself respond to his touch. He was buried in her neck, and as she pressed her breast against his hand she felt a sting as he started to suck her skin.

Already, she knew he’d leave a mark. It made her wetter, knowing she’d be branded as his.

Through her t-shirt, he pinched her nipple lightly. She responded with a moan loud enough that it broke through her consciousness. Addy didn’t care, pushed closer against him.

He pulled at her nipple through the material and she parted her legs. But Jack’s hand stayed at her breast. Frustrated, she reached for his crotch. He was swollen, hard, about to burst through the fabric.

The feel of it shot her into a frenzy. She wanted him, needed him, right then.

Who gives a damn if it’s the middle of a restaurant?

“Hey,” he said suddenly. “Whoa.”

She opened her eyes to see him pulled back. He panted slightly, flushed, but at least he had the wherewithal to keep both of them in check.

“Uh, sorry,” she said. Reluctantly, she pulled away. “I guess I just… got carried away with the whole thing.”

“It’s okay,” he said.

The waitress promptly arrived with the bill and gave them both a hard look.

Shit. Noah’s Ark. This is probably a super-Christian mom and pop place.

Addy shifted her weight awkwardly while Jack paid the bill.

“Ready?” he asked.

She nodded silently and followed him to the car, head down like a child caught doing something naughty.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as they merged back onto the highway.

“What’s wrong? You know, we don’t need to touch each other or act all cutesy unless Rosalie or Jeremy are around.”

“What the hell?” his voice trailed off. She watched a dark cloud settle across his face. “Fine,” he said. “You’re right.”

He stared out the windshield and Addy discreetly inched away so her back faced him. The drive home was long and silent.

She commanded herself not to squirm, no matter how uncomfortable the sticky wetness between her thighs had become.