Stroke Of Fear

chance. If I go any further I’m not going to be able to stop.”

   I’m gasping against him, and he’s not even doing anything but staring down at me. His strong jaw is tense, his gray eyes wide with need. “I’m ready. Please, I don’t want you to stop. I won’t ask either. I promise.”

   Dragging one hand away from my wrist, he touches me again…there. Jesus, I’m going to explode before we even start. “You sure you want me inside you, darlin’?”

   “Yes,” I whimper helplessly. Just fucking do it!

His one hand stops stroking me and moves to my hip, so he can balance himself between my legs. I feel his erection against me and my body rocks with need. He doesn’t enter at first, but allows me to see what he’s got. And I’m nervous. Our gazes are desperate. His lips parted, a soft growl leaves them as he rubs against me. We’re panting against each other, the need overtaking us. Raising my hips, he closes his eyes and rests his forehead against mine. When he opens them, his gray eyes are stormy. “I can’t take my eyes off you, darlin’.” He’s still holding me prisoner with one hand and teasing me with the other. I send a silent plea his way, and I know he sees it. A small smile forms on the right side of his mouth and his dimple dents his skin. How can one person be this beautiful? I want to touch the scruff of hair on his jaw, but my hands are tied. But, I don’t feel forced. I don’t feel tortured. I feel alive.

   Gray eyes watch me closely for a few short minutes. I hear him repositions himself to roll the condom down his length, it excites me. Then he’s in me. He fills me slowly but deliberately. He’s wide, hard and all the man one person can stand. My shoulders shudder and my sex muscles grip him. A painfully amazing whimper releases from my throat. I’ve never made that sound before.

   “Goddamn, Aubrey…” He screws his eyes shut. He releases my hands, and I fling them at his neck, pulling him closer. I need to feel his warmth against me. He begins to pulse fiercely in and out; his breath hard, his chest moving in powerful jabs. I’m delirious. Black swarms my vision in the best possible way. My body aches when he slides his tongue against my neck, coming up to take my ear between his teeth.

   A shudder is fevered in me and with each thrust of his hip, I unravel. “Tanner,” I whisper against his ear. My thighs wrap harder around his waist, and I lift my pelvis to give him better access. It sends flames through me and my eyes roll back in my head.

   I’m on the verge of undoing. The verge of letting myself go completely with him. “Move. Harder,” I gasp out. My voice doesn’t sound like my own. He growls and starts kissing me like he’ll never see me again.

   His hands grip each hip as he moves faster, harder. I feel every fucking lovely inch of him, and I’m shuddering now. My body is literally shaking beneath him. Lifting my hips with his hands, he slams harder into me. The warmth of every pulse consumes me, bringing me to an ultimate high. I’ve never had sex like this. I’ve never felt this…connection. This need. I never want to go without it again. Tremors crash over me. My body comes down, clutching him in every way. I let out a glorious scream, my entire being losing control around him. With his mouth partly opened, he watches me closely. His teeth dig into his bottom lip. “Goddamn, you’re so sexy, Aubrey.” His eyes are still on me, his body jerking as he pumps into me a few more times. He growls out and shudders against me. An almost silent fuck is whispered into my ear.

   He lifts off of me, disposing of the condom. Grabbing my indolent body he positions me right above him. His legs are spread wide, my body lying between them. His fingers span over the lower part of my back, his lips trailing kisses along my jaw, my neck, the side of my mouth. “What are you thinkin’?” he asks, breaking the silence.

   “For the first time in my life, nothing. I’m relaxed. I’ve never felt better than I do right this second.”

   Tanner trails his finger down my body to cup me. He closes his eyes and smiles to himself. “You felt so good, Aubrey. I never wanted it to end.”

   “It doesn’t have to. I’m here. And sure as hell not going anywhere.”

   Tanner pulls me down so he can kiss my mouth. “No, because you’re mine now. Always.”

* * *

   My body hurts. I’m so sore. The bright sun is shining down on us, but it’s not too high in the sky yet. It’s still early. The warmth settles on my naked skin. God, I’m naked. Even the word sets the images of last night in my head. A tickle of delight spread through me like poison. I remember his hands, his mouth. Every inch of him torments me. I never want it to stop. My gaze lands on his body beside me. He’s lying on his stomach, hands outstretched beside him. The blankets cover his ass and that’s it. The muscles in his back are tight. I run a finger along them all the way down to his butt. I almost giggle like a school girl, but I hold my tongue.

   Shifting, I remember the soreness. It travels up my thighs and settles between my legs, reminding me of everything we did last night. Sliding the covers off me, I grab Tanner’s shirt he wore before our swim yesterday. It smells like him and it envelopes me. I snuggle into it for a few seconds, before scooting out of the back of the truck. The dew drenches my bare feet and the weeds stick to my heels.

   The cab door to his truck is opened, so I grab my cell out of the cup holder. 7:00 a.m. We need to leave soon. We both have activities set for the day. Digging for my jeans, I slide into them and button myself up. It isn’t until I shut the door that I notice something whipping in the wind underneath his windshield wipers.

   Tip-toeing over, I grab what appears to be the back of a newspaper. There’s something on it in small writing with a permanent marker.

   I see you.

   I drop the paper and cover my mouth with my hands. Is this a sick joke? Who would do this? Cassie knows I’m here, but no one else. Eric, maybe? No. Cassie would never do this or let Eric.

   Grabbing the note from the ground, I crawl back into the bed of the truck. “Tanner,” I whisper.

   He moans, stretches and sits up rubbing his eyes. If this were any other moment, I’d be turned on. He has sex hair, mashed against his head. Not to mention the sloppy we-had-sex-last-night grin. “Good mornin’.”

   “Read this,” I say before shoving the note at him.

   He looks down and then looks back up. “Where did you find it?”

   “On the hood of your truck. Who do you think did it?”

   Tanner’s serious now. He sits all the way up and looks over it again. “I’m not sure. It could be a fuckin’ sick joke. But, I’m thinking it’s the person stalking around the camp. No one knows besides us and Cassie. Cassie wouldn’t do this, Aubrey.”

   “I know,” I whisper out. “That means he’s watching us.”

   Tanner nods, wraps his fingers over the back of my neck, and kisses my forehead. “That’s exactly what it means. And it’s gonna stop now.”

   “What are you going to do?”

   Tanner stands up and pulls on his swimming shorts from yesterday. He doesn’t bother looking for a shirt, before he helps me out of the back of his truck. “Tanner what are you going to do?” I ask, getting into the passenger seat.

   He puts the truck in reverse and spins his tires. I haven’t seen him this pissed before. His locks his jaw and starts toward the camp. “Tanner,” I snap. “What are we going to do?”

   He swallows, his jaw clenching. “I’m going to kill him.”

Chapter Eighteen

Tanner

“Wait, so I have to come, too?” Eric is staring at me like I’m an idiot. I shake my head and start to lace up my shoes.

   “Yes, he’s been stalking the camp. There are kids here. The police won’t help, so I’m going to find him.”

   Eric laughs and slaps his knees. “You’re joking with me, right? What do you country folks call it? Picking