Divorce With Benefits: A Second Chance At Love
Chapter 102: Under The Fading Glow

Chapter 102: Under The Fading Glow

Jared didn’t look at the sunset for long. Instead, his gaze lingered on Jerica. The golden light illuminated her features, her slightly furrowed brows relaxed, her lips curved in a faint smile, and her eyes reflecting the brilliance of the scene before them.

Without her glasses, she looked serene, breathtakingly so, and completely unaware of how much space she took up in his thoughts.

He stepped closer, closing the small distance between them. "You’re beautiful," he murmured, his voice low, intimate.

Jerica turned her head toward him, startled by the raw honesty in his tone. Her eyes locked onto his. The way he looked at her—like she was the only thing that mattered—sent a warm flush through her body.

"Jared..." she began, but her voice faltered as he reached up, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. His fingers lingered on her cheek, his touch gentle yet charged with intent.

"I mean it," he said, his thumb tracing her jawline. "You’re absolutely stunning right now."

The intensity of his gaze made her breath hitch, and she found herself leaning ever so slightly into his touch. Her heart was pounding, each beat echoing in her chest as if it was trying to leap toward him.

Jared dipped his head closer, his lips hovering just above hers as his breath warmed her skin. Jerica closed the gap, pressing her lips to his in a kiss that started soft but quickly ignited into something more.

Jared’s hand slid to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair as he deepened the kiss. The world around them melted away—there was no sunset, no distant chatter from the campsite, no chill in the evening air. There was only the heat building between them, the electric connection of their bodies pressed together.

Jerica’s hands found their way to his chest, feeling the firm muscle beneath his shirt. She clutched at him, pulling him closer, her breaths coming faster as his other hand found the curve of her waist, steadying her as their kiss grew more fervent.

Jared groaned softly, a low sound that sent shivers down her spine. He broke the kiss just long enough to catch his breath, his forehead resting against hers as he looked into her eyes. "You have no idea what you do to me," he murmured, his voice rough with desire.

Her lips parted to reply, but he captured them again, this time with a sense of urgency that made her knees weak. His hand slid from her waist to the small of her back, pressing her even closer, as if he couldn’t bear to let her go.

Jerica’s mind spun, every coherent thought drowned out by the way he kissed her—hungry, passionate, and utterly consuming. She felt the heat of his body against hers, his breath mingling with hers, and it was all too much and yet not enough.

When they finally pulled apart, their breaths came in ragged gasps, and her cheeks were flushed with a mix of desire and the cool evening air. Jared looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered, his hands still holding her as if he was afraid she’d disappear.

"Worth missing the sunset for," he said with a crooked smile, his voice still thick with emotion.

Jerica blinked, dazed, before a small, breathless laugh escaped her. "You’re impossible," she murmured, though her tone lacked any real bite.

"And you’re irresistible," he replied, his lips brushing against hers once more, softer this time but no less intoxicating.

In that moment, under the fading glow of the sunset and the rising light of the moon, they existed only for each other, the rest of the world forgotten.

After what felt like both an eternity and a blink, they finally turned back toward the campsite. The stillness and beauty of the moment lingered in Jerica’s mind, but the noise and activity of the campsite quickly soured her mood. Her lips gradually turned into a pout as the tranquility was replaced by the sounds of chatter and laughter.

Jared noticed, his lips curling into a knowing smile. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, not letting go as they walked into the bustle of camp life. Despite the noise, the glow of their shared moment still lingered in his heart, and he silently vowed to create more moments like that—for her, for them, for always.

The campsite was alive with the crackling of a roaring bonfire, the warm glow casting flickering shadows across the faces gathered around it. Harold had claimed a prime spot, lounging like a king with an open beer can in his hand and a few crushed cans already littering the ground around him. His booming laughter and animated storytelling filled the space, drawing chuckles and cheers from the group.

Jerica couldn’t help but smile faintly, watching him thrive in his element. Harold’s natural extroversion was a stark contrast to her own quieter disposition, but there was something infectious about the way he commanded attention and brought energy to the gathering.

Her gaze shifted as she noticed a group of women heading toward the far end of the campsite. The area seemed oddly brighter, and as she squinted, she realized why—port-a-potties. Her eyes widened as she processed what she was seeing.

"You!" she snapped, turning sharply to glare at Jared.

He looked up from where he’d been poking at the fire with a long stick, his expression morphing from curiosity to mild alarm as she stormed toward him.

"You told me we had to do it out in the open like... like animals!" she fumed, her cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment.

Jared opened his mouth, likely to come up with a half-hearted excuse or a teasing remark, but she didn’t give him the chance.

"Was it that hard for you to clean a toilet for me?" she shouted, punctuating her words with a swift kick to his shin.

"Ow!" Jared exclaimed, wincing as he grabbed his leg. But even as she stormed off, he couldn’t help the amused grin that crept across his face. Watching her stomp away, muttering under her breath and heading toward Lila’s tent, was oddly endearing.

Jerica, meanwhile, was still fuming. The audacity of that man! She would never let him live this down.

The evening progressed with group exercises that Jerica found utterly pointless. She couldn’t understand the enthusiasm others seemed to have for these games and activities. Jared, to his credit, didn’t look particularly engaged either, but she caught him sneaking glances her way, his expression amused as if her irritation alone made the whole ordeal worth it for him.

When it was finally time to prepare dinner, Jerica perked up slightly at the smell of sizzling barbecue. Jared, as always, was attentive in his own subtle way, managing to pass her the best-cooked portions of meat. She didn’t miss his efforts, but she wasn’t about to admit it aloud—not when she was still mad about the port-a-potty debacle.

After dinner, the group gathered back around the campfire. Conversations meandered from lighthearted jokes to more serious storytelling, with occasional bursts of laughter filling the night. They played games, shared stories, and simply enjoyed the warm glow of the fire and each other’s company.

Jerica made a point of avoiding Jared, still annoyed and determined to make him feel the sting of her displeasure. To drive the point home, she deliberately sat beside Harold.

Jared’s gaze followed her, his brow lifting slightly as she plopped down beside Harold, who was still in his party-animal zone. The corner of Jared’s mouth twitched with amusement. If she thought this would bother him, she was mistaken.

Jerica, however, quickly regretted her decision. Harold was on his fifth—or was it sixth?—beer, and his tales from his wild frat-boy days were getting louder and more incoherent. Lila, sitting nearby, seemed completely enchanted.

Jerica observed Lila through the dancing firelight. The way her eyes glistened as she watched Harold, her lips slightly parted in awe—it was like a scene out of a romantic painting. Despite Lila’s claims that she wasn’t interested in dating Harold, her expression told a different story. This wasn’t just casual attraction; there was something deeper in the way she looked at him, something that made Jerica wonder if Lila was lying to herself more than anyone else.

Jerica sighed, feeling a strange mix of irritation and exhaustion. The fire crackled, its warmth doing little to stave off her growing desire to retreat to bed. She glanced around and noticed that the group was starting to thin out, one by one heading to their tents for the night.

Except Harold.

He was still going strong, recounting yet another story, gesturing wildly, while Lila hung on his every word. Jerica groaned inwardly. If Harold kept this up, she’d never get the peace she craved.

Jerica’s eyes flitted back to the campfire, where Jared still lounged, his casual demeanor contrasting sharply with the sharp smirk he shot her way. It was that knowing smirk—the one that teased her, dared her to react, and infuriated her because, deep down, she knew he enjoyed how easily he could rile her up. She huffed, her lips pressing into a pout as she crossed her arms, sinking further into her seat.