Faithful to a Fault by K. J. Reed Page B

disappeared as well. With everyone preoccupied, it was a good time to slip out himself. He leaned over the sofa to whisper in Ariel’s ear he was tired and heading to bed. Thanks to the movie, she didn’t put up a fuss, but he could see the disappointment in her eyes. He’d make it up to her.
    He walked toward the bunk he knew Sarah was staying in. His boots didn’t make a sound on the path. Though it wasn’t late, darkness had already swallowed the camp thanks to the short winter days. The quiet of the night was overwhelming. Over a hundred yards from the rec room, isolated from other homes or businesses by woods, he felt well and truly alone. Though there was no light on, he heard faint sounds in the cabin, enough to tell him she was likely still awake.
    Pete knocked loudly and waited. Yellow light flooded beneath the crack of the door and more sounds told him she was moving around inside.
    Sarah opened the door her hair a little disheveled, a smile tilting her lips.
    “Pete. Hey.” The smile morphed into a satisfied grin.
    “We need to talk.”
    She stared at him a moment, then swung the door wide to allow him in. Inside, one bedside lamp was on, but nothing more. Pete took stock of Sarah, standing there in her baggy sweatpants, long-sleeve t-shirt and thick socks, thanks to the cold. As she closed the door behind him, she walked toward the bed.
    “Pete, I think—”
    “No. You can talk later. My turn to talk now.” Pete crossed his arms and leaned against the door. He was going to fight like hell to fix every problem he’d created. Then she could have her say.
    “I was stuck with a choice between bad and worse when I realized you were the sister Trav’s been looking for for over a year. I knew telling him where you were would screw up whatever chance we had at anything more. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t not say a word. Trav is the closest thing to a brother—family—that I have ever had.” He looked at her steadily. “Can you understand where I’m coming from?”
    Sarah nodded. “I was so mad at you for what you did. I was frustrated, and annoyed, and hurt that you went to Trav and never let me know it.” He started to speak but she held up a hand. “No, let me get this out now. I was angry. And I think I earned the right. I’m allowed my feelings. But then I thought about it more. And I see why your loyalty would swing to Trav. Your faithfulness. We’d known each other a week at that point. You’ve known him for ten years, which probably seems longer given what you have gone through together.”
    Pete couldn’t speak. It was like she read his mind. She understood the struggle and didn’t blame him for it.
    It couldn’t be that easy.
    “So where does that leave us?”
    “I’m glad you asked,” Sarah said, moving back toward him. “Because if you want to know, that means you care. Right?” She stopped in front of him, only inches separated them.
    “I care,” he said hoarsely.
     
    She reached him, tentatively putting a hand on his chest. And that was all it took to snap the last of his composure. He dragged her up on her toes, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down for a bruising kiss.
    It wasn’t sweet. It wasn’t chaste. It was harsh and brutal and primitive. An animal who’d been separated from his mate too long. She groaned, giving back what he put into the kiss. He used his tongue to thrust inside, to mimic the act his cock was desperate for. Hands on her waist, he whipped her around until her back slammed into the door.
    She gasped, breaking the kiss.
    Pete stared down at her. “Are you—”
    His question was cut off with another assault, this time from Sarah. Her hands skimmed under his shirt, flicking his nipples, drifting down to glide around the waistband of his jeans, to tug on his belt.
    “Sarah. Sarah stop,” he managed between pants for breath. “We can’t.”
    “Any particular reason?” she asked while taking not-so-gentle bites on his jaw, his neck,