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Prologue

September – Bucks County, PA

Six people out in the woods … Hoould I do hiined a few different scenarios to areat setting for a ht My friends, Jess and Cameron, were done with their happy couple sex in the bedroo at the ceiling It’s not that the bed wasn’t comfy or the room cozy The sheets were soft and the down comforter arm The whole place smelled like pine trees and apples It was his fault I couldn’t sleep

Braden, one of his closest friends, and Gabrielle, one ofto be stuck with each other until death did us part, and it just ht be a violent death for one of us It wasn’t our h, but rather soin to fathom, since the summer, I had actually been intensely, physically attracted to the bastard, and sensing it like only a seasoned player could, he had decided to amuse himself with me

I sat up and punchedon to one side and then the other, kicking the sheets and blankets around restlessly One thing I did knoas that I was never going to fall asleep just lying here thinking, so I decided to get up and go look for a book in the living room There was a shelf full of the to distract myself

I had forgotten to pack a robe, and I was only wearing a short satin button-down nightshirt, but I figured everyone was asleep by this time anyway I just slid on my slippers and crept down the hall It was a little chillier out there, and I wrapped ht ahead and heard a crackle and snap As I entered the room I smelled the wood s The rooh illumination for , when a voice froave me adrenaline-induced pins and needles down the back of my neck

“Couldn’t stay away fro a little drunk I spun around and saw hi in the selass of scotch in his hand My sto to pound

“Jesus! You scaredup?” I asked in a shaky voice, expelling a heavy breath and pulling another one in I hugged hter

“It’s no fun listening to Braden get laid” His voice was s like the sarcastic tone he usually adopted when speaking to me

“Yeah, Cah they’re finally done” I turned back toward the shelf, trying to ignore the powerful desire to go over and touch him I wanted to touch him all the time nohen I saw him, and I had never been a touchy-feely person

“I guess that just leaves us, Adler,” he said in a sultry voice and I turned back around slowly, giving him an incredulous look

“You , Roth We can barely tolerate each other”

“We had a moment this summer”

“After drinking tooin the sun”

He got up froan walking toward me slowly My sto in my chest but I stood still and didn’t look away He stopped inches away, and leaned an arainst the bookshelf behind me I sed hard He was so close I could feel the heat from his body

“The way I re in for a nap and a few minutes later, you came inside too My door was open and I saw you in the hall You earing that sexy little pink bikini and your hair was still damp” His eyes dropped to my body and traveled slowly doard