Camp Hardwood by Alexa Riley

Chapter Five

Tia

All the blood drains from my face as I stare at Jack. He looks horrified seeing my hands bound with rope and I wonder how he can be so judgmental with the way he’s always running his mouth. He’s the last person who should be giving anyone a look of disgust.

Van frees my hands but doesn't let them go. His thumb rubs over the place where the ropes dug into my wrists and I love the feel of his mark on my skin. Too bad I can’t enjoy it with Jack standing there clutching his pearls. He’s ruining a moment that to others might not look so sweet but is actually really intimate. Van and I shared something from deep inside of us and to me it was only meant for the two of us to witness.

I hide behind Van and rest my forehead on his back as I try to get my emotions under control. The high of the orgasm is fading and though I’m not embarrassed, I also know I don’t want Jack or anyone else to see Van and me like this.

“Get the fuck out!” Van shouts at Jack, then mumbles a curse when one of the horses makes a sound in the next stall over.

I’m not used to hearing Van’s voice so cold, but right now every line of his body is stiff. I run my hands up his back, trying to soothe him, but it’s no use.

“You okay, Tia?” Jack asks, ignoring Van.

Van tries to move toward Jack, and I know this won’t play out well. I dig my fingers into Van’s shirt with one hand while I put my other around his waist. He doesn't fight my hold but we both know he could if I wasn’t silently asking him not to.

“Don’t talk to her,” Van spits out, and I know it shouldn't be sweet but it is. I know Van doesn’t mean for that to sound adorable but I love how protective he is.

“I’m telling Honey and Ford,” Jack says, like a five-year-old.

Van is a grown man and I don’t think he cares if Jack tattles.

“You do that and be sure and call my mom Honey while you’re at it; see where that gets you. I’ll be more than happy to match the black eye my dad gives you afterwards.”

“Fuck you, man,” Jack throws back.

My arm on Van tightens but he makes no move to go for Jack. I see Jack take a step back and he almost trips over a bucket of feed in the process. He’s all talk and no action, but that doesn’t surprise me.

“I’m not telling you to get the fuck out of here again. You’re pissing me off and upsetting not only my girl but the horses.” This time Van’s tone is calm but the warning rings clear.

The horse in the next stall starts to settle and I think they feed off his energy. Now that I’ve been this close to Van and really felt his hands on my skin, there’s an underlying dominance that’s undeniable. He only brings it to the surface when he needs to but it’s simmering all the time. How did I miss it before? Maybe I didn’t and that’s why I’ve been drawn to him from the very start. I see something in him I need.

I watch as Jack turns and nearly runs out of the barn.

“I can’t stand him,” Van mutters to himself as he turns to look down at me. “I’m sorry, darling girl. I shouldn't have let him see you like that.” His hands go back to my wrist and he traces the indentation of the rope.

“It’s fine,” I try to reassure both Van and myself.

I’m not sure how I feel about Jack running his mouth to everyone about Van and me, and I wonder what Honey will think. I love Mrs. Cyprus and I’m the only one she lets call her Honey, mostly because her husband lets me do it. I always thought she gave me a little more attention than some of the other girls and she once told me I was like the daughter she never had. I wonder how she’d feel about Van and me. I know she overheard him say I was his and she smirked when I smacked his hand away from me. I think she thought he was playing me too and now I worry I’ve somehow let her down.

“You don’t look fine,” he says, his eyes searching my face.

I don’t know what I feel and my emotions are all over the place. I want this so badly, but what if we just got caught up in this moment?

“I see that pretty little mind of yours working,” he says, and it is. “I’ve been watching you, Tia, and I know you.”

“I just—” I begin to say, but he cuts me off by kissing me. I close my eyes and for a moment I get lost in him. In us.

“I know, darling girl,” he says softly, kissing my forehead. “Go back to the kitchen and I’ll be there in a minute,” he tells me. “You need to let this settle inside you for a bit.” He slides his hand down my neck and places it over my heart. “Besides, I’ve gotta handle something.”

He helps me down and I stand there, not really wanting to go anywhere. But maybe I could use a second alone to collect my thoughts.

“Now,” he tells me and smacks my ass.

It’s both playful and stern at the same time and I let out a small squeal of surprise before I do as I’m told. My nipples tighten at not only the sting in my bottom but the tone in his voice. I like to think of this as the Van Effect. It’s a mixture of no messing around and playful at the same time and only he can pull it off.

I make my way back toward the staff kitchen and wonder what Van has to handle. I’m guessing he’s going after Jack, and though I should probably stop him, I don’t think Van is someone who’s stopped once he gets his mind set on something. He didn’t move when I put my hands on him and I wonder if I have the same effect on him as he does on me.

I’m not surprised when I see Piper sitting at the table. Her head is down as she talks to her small baby bump and she looks worried. I can’t hear what she’s saying but I don’t care for the sad look in her eyes. She’s normally all smiles but this is different.

“Hey.” Her head snaps up at my voice and she pulls on her shirt to hide the bump.

One day I’m going to get her to tell me all about this but it’s not as if I have much room to talk. I haven't told her much about myself either, but there’s not much to say. Growing up in a carnival was weirdly normal. Well, it’s what I thought of as normal. It’s where I learned to cook so it wasn’t like the time was a total waste. Sometimes when Piper is in the kitchen with me I tell her stories that I know will make her laugh.

I’ve been cooking for as long as I can remember. At first I did it for my parents in our small RV and then later for the carnival. Everyone has to earn their keep so I used my skill the best I could. That was until we landed in the town next to Camp Hardwood and I decided to stay.

When Honey offered me a job cooking, I snatched it up. Not only would I have somewhere to stay but a paycheck to make ends meet. I never got paid when I worked for the carnival since my parents always took it.

Here I thought I could settle in and that’s something I’ve never done in my whole life. We were always moving around so it’s nice to be in one place. I’d hate to have to leave because I messed things up here between Honey and me. I’d never go back to the carnival life because I didn't fit in there. I was always the odd one out and I don’t know why. It was a freaking carnival but I never felt as though I belonged with anyone there.

“Hey.” Piper sits up a little straighter and smiles. “Whatcha gonna cook?”

“Whatever you want.”

I’ve always been good at cooking and it does the trick to make people smile, myself included. I have this inner need to make people happy and I’m sure someone would say it has something to do with my upbringing. But if wanting to make people happy is a terrible habit then I’ve fallen into the wrong hands.

Piper licks her lips. “Pasta.”

She says it like it’s the best idea she’s ever had. When I tell her I’ll make meatballs I look up to see her eyes widen. I think it’s because of the food, but then I see her staring down at my wrists. They’ve gotten a little worse since I left the stables and now they’re red and marked all around them. My breath catches but the sight is erotic. My sex clenches thinking about everything Van did to me and how I got them.

“What happened?”

I’m broken from my dirty thoughts when Piper touches one of the marks. I jerk my hand back because it feels wrong to let her touch them. They belong to Van.

“Sorry. Does it hurt?” Her voice and eyes are filled with concern.

“No,” I tell her and take a step back.

I see my backpack hanging on its hook and I walk over to fish out a long-sleeved shirt. It’s one Honey gave me and I keep it in there for when it gets cool at night.

“You’re not going to tell me, are you?” Piper asks, raising one eyebrow.

I shake my head no and her shoulders drop.

“Tell me you’re fine and I’ll leave it alone.”

“I’m fine,” I say with a small laugh.

My body is more than fine. It’s not just the marks that have me out of sorts, it’s knowing who put them there. I want to see Van again and find out what other kinds of pleasure he can give me.

“Okay then.” She holds her hands up. “I’ll help you cook.” She grabs an apron and I shake my head.

“You’re terrible at cooking,” I remind her.

“I’ll clean,” she offers, scrunching her nose.

“Deal,” I agree. I know Piper isn't going to push for more information because I’ve given her the same space I’m silently asking for now. It’s not that I don’t want to tell her. I’m just not sure this is a part of me I want to share with anyone besides Van.