Forbidden Heat In The Tent

CHAPTER 3: WE'RE SCREWED

JOANNA POV

Knox pulled out swiftly, and I swallowed hard as we dropped low behind the large big, his body pressed tense against mine. Thank God for this rock—it shielded us from the tent’s direct line of sight, at least partially.

“What do we do?” I whispered, my voice shaking so bad it barely came out. “She’s gonna catch us. Oh God, Daddy, we’re screwed.”

“Shh, stay quiet” he hissed back, his hand still on my arm. He looked scared—really scared—for the first time. Not the confident man who’d just fucked me senseless. “Just… don’t move. She might go back in.”

“But she called our names! She knows we’re out here somewhere.” I hissed, tears stinging my eyes. Fear clawed at my chest. What if she saw us? We’re ruined. Mom’s gonna hate me forever.”

He squeezed my arm, trying to calm me, but his grip was shaky too. “Baby girl, breathe. Trust me when I say when she might go back in.”

We huddled there, listening. Footsteps crunched closer. “Knox? Joanna? You out here?”

My whole body trembled. “Daddy, please... what if she finds us like this? I'm naked from the waist down, and you're... you're..."

"I know," he murmured. "Fuck, I didn't think... This wasn’t supposed to happen like this... I’ll figure something out.”

“How? She’s out here already!” I hissed, my heart pounded so hard I thought it’d burst as her footsteps crunched closer.

Knox cursed under his breath, yanking up his pants fast. He snatched his balled-up shirt from the ground where I'd dropped it. "I gotta go," he whispered urgently. "She can't find us together."

"Wait—" I started, but he was already moving, darting low into the shadows toward the woods on the other side.

I stared after him, heart sinking. He just... ran? Left me here alone to deal with this? Anger mixed with the fear—how could he abandon me like that? I understood the panic, but a word, a plan, something...

"Who was that?" Mom's voice came sharper now, right around the rock.

I scrambled, pulling on my panties and shorts with shaking hands, praying she wouldn't circle around before I was decent. My tank top was twisted, but I fixed it quick.

My hair was a mess from his grip, so I smoothed it down, praying Mom wouldn’t notice how flushed I was, how my lips were swollen from kissing and... more.

“Who was that?” Mom repeated, her voice sharp and confused. She stepped around, her flashlight beam swinging around. It caught me as I stood up.

I turned to face her, heart thundering so violently I thought it might explode. I’d destroyed everything. Betrayed the woman who’d raised me, loved me unconditionally. I deserved whatever came next—her rage, her disgust, disownment. Anything

“Joanna?” She lowered the beam slightly, frowning in confusion. “What are you doing out here alone?”

I forced a smile, praying it didn’t look as brittle as it felt. “Uh, nothing, Mom. Just… couldn’t sleep. Needed some fresh air.”

She tilted her head, scanning the darkness. “In the middle of the night? And where’s Knox? I woke up and you both were gone.”

“I don’t know,” I lied, surprised at how steady my voice sounded. “I left him asleep in the tent.”

Her flashlight swept the treeline again. “I thought I heard voices. And… I saw someone run into the woods over there.”

My blood turned to ice. She’d seen him. I had to think fast. “Oh, that? It was… Kevin. The guy I met earlier, at check-in.”

I tried to keep my face calm, no fear showing. But inside, I was screaming. Please buy it. Please don’t push.

She raised an eyebrow. “The curly-haired one you were talking to?”

“Yeah, it's him” I nodded, forcing enthusiasm into my voice while terror twisted my gut. “We were just… chatting. Hanging out.”

She crossed her arms, expression shifting to concern laced with annoyance. “Chatting? At this hour? Joanna, you just met him. Sneaking out here in the dark—what were you two really doing?”

I looked down, shuffling my feet like a scolded kid. “Nothing big. Just talking.”

She sighed, shaking her head. "Don't tell me you had sex with him already."

I stared up at her, heat rushing to my face. “Mom!”

“I’m not naïve, honey. I know you’re eighteen, and you’re an adult now,” she said gently, but with that familiar edge of worry. But... he’s just some guy. You barely know him. Boys like that—they’re after one thing.”

I felt my face burn. If only she knew the truth. “I... we didn’t. Not really. I mean...”

She held up a hand. “Hey, I’m not judging. Much. But be careful. Men can be sweet at first, then they change. Promise things they don’t mean. You deserve someone who treats you right, not some quick fling in the woods.”

“I’m sorry, Mom,” I said, my voice small. It wasn't even about the fake guy—it was about Knox. But the words fit.

She softened a bit, putting a hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay. Just... think before you act. And good thing I made you get those birth control shots before this trip. Better safe than sorry.”

“Yeah,” I mumbled into her shoulder. “Thanks.”

She pulled me into a hug. "Just promise me you’ll use your head with guys, okay? They’re not all like Knox—some just want one thing.”

“I promise,” I said into her shoulder, voice breaking slightly as guilt clawed deeper. If only she knew the man who’d just been inside me was the one she trusted most.

She pulled back, offering a small smile. “If you really like this Kevin kid, take it slow. Get to know him. Don’t let hormones decide for you. I’ve been there—trust me.”

I nodded, forcing one last smile. “I will. Promise.”

She glanced around again. “You really didn’t see Knox at all? He’s not out here somewhere?”

“No,” I lied again, shaking my head. “Haven’t seen him since we went to bed.”

She glanced around again, looking worried. “Weird. Where could he be? It’s too dark for a walk alone.”

As we started walking back toward the tent, she kept talking. “I hope he’s okay. The woods can be tricky at night. Bears, or whatever. Though Knox is tough. He’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, probably,” I said, glancing back over my shoulder toward the woods where he’d run. The dark trees swallowed everything. No sign of him.

Inside, I felt betrayed. Knox ran away like a coward, leaving me to face Mom alone. I understood the panic—we both were scared out of our minds. But he shouldn’t have just bolted without a word, without a plan. What if Mom had caught me mid-lie? What if she pushed harder? He was the adult here, my stepdad. He should’ve protected me. Instead, I was the one spinning stories, heart in my throat. It hurt, like a fresh wound on top of the guilt.

When we reached the tent, Mom stopped. “Go on in, Joanna. Get some sleep. I’ll stay out here a bit, wait for Knox. Maybe he’ll show up soon.”

“You sure?” I asked, hesitating. Part of me wanted to stay, see if he came back.

“Yeah. I’m wide awake now anyway.” She gave me a small smile. “Night, sweetie. Love you.”

“Love you too,” I whispered.

I crawled inside and curled up in my sleeping bag. But sleep didn't come. My body still buzzed from what we'd done. But the fear lingered. What if Mom didn’t buy my story fully? What if Knox got lost out there?

I touched my lips, still tasting him, and wondered if we could ever go back.