She’s strong but she’s also incredibly fragile. I understand that feeling of not wanting to get hurt, and it’s not like I’ve given her any indication that I’d be ready and willing to be in a relationship. Hell, I don’t even know where I stand with all that.

I do know that I like Scottie. A lot. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. She intrigues me. She keeps my attention. She challenges me. She makes me laugh. She’s fucking fun to be around, and if that wasn’t enough, she drives me fucking wild with need, and I’ve never felt that before. I’ve never felt this unfiltered urge to claim someone, to make them mine. But the second her lips met mine, there was something inside me that snapped, popped, that woke me the fuck up and told me to pay attention.

And now that I am paying attention, I know one thing for certain: I don’t think I want this to end in a few days. I want to keep seeing her, but given the doubt she carries in her chest thanks to her ex, I don’t think me coming out and saying I want to try things out with her will go over well. I know that doubt would creep in, especially after I told her I wasn’t ready for a relationship. So maybe I need to handle this a little differently.

“I respect that,” I say. “But I need you to know something, Scottie.” I smooth my palm over her stomach. “I have no intention of hurting you. Ever.”

“I know that. I’ve found that out quickly while being here with you.”

“And I like you…a lot. Okay. And I don’t need you to respond or really say anything about what life is going to look like after we leave camp, but I do need you to sit on those two facts. I would never hurt you. And I like you. Can you do that for me?”

She nods her head. “Yes, I can do that.”

“Good,” I answer and then bring my hand down to the waistband of her shorts. “Now, spread your legs.”

“What?” she asks.

I lean in close to her ear and whisper, “Spread your legs.” I undo the button and zipper on her jean shorts and then pull her shirt up and over her head, leaving her in just her bra.

“Wilder,” she says in shock.