Page 43 of Dotted Lines (Runaway 5)

“Come back tonight.”

We spoke in unison.

“Okay,” I agreed. Tonight, I’d ask him again tonight. I’d beg if I had to. But he had to come with us.

With my fingertips pressed to my lips, I returned to the truck, where I sat on my bed and did my best to look normal by the time Aria arrived from her shower. Then we busied ourselves by dividing up the books, each deciding which three we’d bring along.

I loved time with my sister, but every minute dragged until finally, she yawned as darkness crept over the junkyard.

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nbsp; “I’m going to bed.”

A wave of excitement stirred in my belly. “Oh. Already? I’m not tired.”

She stripped off her jeans and pulled on the ratty sleep shorts she’d had for years. It was a good thing neither of us had bloomed early. Though my pants were snug in the hips and shirts stretched across my breasts, our bodies hadn’t changed so much that we’d had to buy completely new clothes over the years.

But someday. Someday I would wear clothing without a single tear or frayed hem.

“Are you going to read?” She yawned again as she climbed into her sleeping bag.

“Actually, I might see if Karson wants to play cards or something. We were in a poker game last night.”

“Okay.” She snuggled with her pillow.

“I’ll close this door. In case I just crash there again. In Katherine’s room.” Before Aria could say anything else, I scurried from the truck, closing the back so she was safe inside.

Karson was outside the tent, standing with his face turned toward the stars.

“Hey,” I said, slowing my footsteps even though my heart was pounding.

He looked down and the wide smile he gave me caused tingles to skate across my skin. “Hey.”

“What are you looking at?” I searched the sky but there weren’t many stars out yet.

“Nothing. Just waiting for you.”

“So, um, what do you want to do? Play cards?”

He shook his head.

“Talk?”

He shook his head again, and in one stride he was in my space. His hands came to my face, tilting my chin so he could smash his lips on mine.

I let out a mewl as his arms banded around me, pulling me flush against the hard lines of his tall body. Then he swept me off my feet, my toes skimming across the dirt as he carried me to the tent.

Karson ducked inside, breaking away from my mouth, but his arms never loosened their hold until we were both on our knees in the center of the room.

Our lips were fused together. Our tongues glided and stroked and dived in for more. His hands skimmed over my ribs and down my hips. Then he cupped my breasts and the intimate touch startled a gasp.

“You okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“Did I go too far?”

“No.” I leaned into his touch, my nipples hardening. “It’s okay.”