Forbidden Heat In The Tent

HAPTER 4: JEALOUSY

JOANNA POV

The next morning came too fast. Sunlight pierced the thin tent walls, bathing everything in a warm, golden glow that felt almost mocking—like the night before had been erased, scrubbed clean by the innocent light of day. I lay there, pretending to sleep while I listened to Mom and Knox laughing outside. listening to the low murmur of Mom and Knox’s voices outside. He said something soft, teasing; she laughed in that light, girlish way that made my chest tighten. How could he sound so normal? So unaffected as if he hadn't the one buried deep inside me, filling me with his cum. And now he was back to playing the devoted husband without missing a beat.

I hated how deeply it stung. Why did it feel like he belonged to me now? One reckless night, and suddenly I felt possessive—like he was mine now. It was stupid. He was her husband. I was the intruder.

Eventually I dragged myself out of the tent, hair messy, eyes still puffy from barely sleeping.

Mom spotted me immediately and beamed.

Morning, sleepyhead,” she said, patting the spot beside her. “Come sit. Eat something.”

“Morning,” I muttered, sliding onto the seat and avoiding Knox’s gaze as I reached for a pancake.

He pushed a small plate toward me without looking up. “Extra syrup for you, Joanna. Just how you like it.”

His voice was casual, warm—like a normal stepdad. Nothing like the rough, desperate voice that had called me his good girl while he came deep inside me.

“Thanks,” I said, barely above a whisper.

Mom didn’t notice the tension. “All right, family—hiking time! Joanna, grab your water bottle.”

I shrugged, poking at my food. “I’m still wiped out, Mom. Can I just stay here?”

She frowned. “Joanna, we planned this as family time. Fresh air will do you good—clear your head after your late-night adventure with that boy.”

Knox kept his eyes on his coffee, but I felt the brief flick of his glance in my direction. Heat flooded my cheeks.

“Come on,” Mom pressed. “You’ll feel better once we’re moving. Knox even packed the good snacks.”

Knox finally met my eyes for half a second. Something flickered there—regret? hunger? Then it was gone. “Come on, kiddo,” he said lightly. “It’ll be fun.”

Kiddo. The word stung worse than anything.

After we finished our breakfast, I changed quickly, pulling on a loose, short sundress— cotton that fluttered against my thighs, no bra because the heat was already rising. Simple sneakers, hair in a messy ponytail. I looked like any carefree eighteen-year-old on a wholesome camping trip.

Mom led us, chattering happily about wildflowers and how we all needed more weekends like this. Knox walked beside her, his hand occasionally brushing hers

I lagged behind, pretending to snap photos with my phone while really studying the way his hiking shorts hugged his ass, remembering how those hips had snapped against mine from behind. Jealousy coiled hot and ugly in my stomach. He wasn’t mine. He never would be. But my body hadn’t gotten the message—it thrummedwith the memory of his mouth, his fingers, the thick, relentless stretch of him inside me.

Halfway up, we crossed paths with another family coming down—parents and two young kids. Everyone stopped to exchange pleasantries.

As the adults chatted, I spotted Kevin—the guy Mom assumed I’d hooked up with—leaning against a tree farther down the trail, making out with some blonde. His hands were already under her shirt. Mom noticed too.

She nudged me as we passed. “See? Told you. That boy’s moved on already.”

But Kevin barely registered. My mind was on Knox—how he was acting like nothing had happened, how I despised myself for craving just one real look from him, the kind he gave her.

The path narrowed and steepened. My thighs burned from the climb—and from the deeper, insistent ache of memory. I slowed, breath ragged, sweat trickling down my spine.

“Mom… I’m really not feeling great,” I called ahead. “Mind if I head back? I just need to rest.”

She turned, concern creasing her face. “You okay, honey? You do look flushed.”

“Just exhausted. Stomach’s off. Probably from lack of sleep.”

Knox’s gaze landed on me then—fully, for the first time that morning. Dark, heavy, impossible to read. It pinned me in place for a breathless second before I tore my gaze away.

Mom sighed. “Fine. Go rest. We’ll finish the loop and be back in a couple hours. Text if you need anything.”

“I will. Thanks.”

I turned and started downhill alone, each step jarring loose memories I couldn’t shake: the thick drag of his cock, the filthy praise in my ear, the way he’d tasted when I’d dropped to my knees. Pain and raw desire tangled until they felt like the same thing.

He doesn’t want me anymore. It was nothing to him—just a reckless fuck, then straight back to devoted husband. I betrayed Mom for a man who won't even acknowledge me.