Page 99 of Wilds of the Heart

The moment the driver let me off at Emily’s cabin, my heart literally started racing. I couldn’t believe I was finally here. We’d managed to schedule several phone dates, but all I wanted was to hold her in my arms, smell the sweetness of her hair, and hear her voice.

Emily swung open the green door to the cabin and held her arms up as I dashed over, tossed my bag on the ground, and picked her up, swinging her in my arms.

Her lips crashed to mine, and it felt like the weight of the world had finally lifted. Her lips tasted as sweet as I remembered, her smell was as intoxicating as last time, and hearing the little moan of her voice sent me over the edge.

We held each other for a long few minutes, memorizing this moment and hoping it would get us through until next time.

I finally let Emily down, and she smiled wider. “You look extremely handsome.”

“I shaved,” I said, running my fingers over my face.

“Come on in,” she said as I picked up my bag and followed her inside.

I glanced around and set my stuff down. “The tour you gave me on the phone certainly made this place look more spacious.”

She laughed and nodded. “It’s like a shoebox, but I am extremely grateful for the washer and dryer. There’s no dishwasher, but it’s just me.”

I laughed. “I’d hope it’s just you.”

She giggled, and the sound made me crave her even more, but I knew we didn’t have time for that.

Emily’s reading was in an hour, and she’d told me Nadia would be picking us both up and heading down to the local bookshop any second. My flight landed late, so I was worried I wouldn’t even get here in time.

“Are you nervous?”

“Kind of, but I realized the worst that happens is I stumble over my words.” She grinned. “I mean, I’ve already come to realize that some people will pick apart my poetry for a good cause and then others… not so much.”

I laughed. “You’re braver than me.”

“I doubt that.”

“Did you want anything to drink?” she asked. “I have water, water, and more water.”

“You know what?” I’ll take some water.”

She chuckled and filled up a glass and brought it over to me as we both sat on the couch.

“I kind of feel bad,” I confessed, turning to look at her.

“For what?”

I laughed. “I thought you had it better than you do.”

“Thanks.” She shook her head and let out a yawn. “The sleeping situation isn’t getting any better. I know there are things in the woods at night. The problem is that I don’t know what they are or if they respond to a name like Bob.”

I took a sip of water. “Yeah, that’s not exactly a great thing to think about.”

“There are times when I think about just calling a rideshare and heading into a town to stay at a hotel for a night or two.”

“What stops you?”

She stretched her legs in front of her as she slid onto the couch more. “I don’t want to look likethat girl.” She used quotes and sighed. “I’m already older than most of the people I’m around. I don’t want to be high-maintenance.”

“I don’t think wanting to feel safe is exactly high-maintenance.”

“The thing is that I know I’m safe out here. It’s just my imagination and the fact that I’d rather be someplace else.”

My eyes locked on hers. “You would?”