Page 157 of Surprisingly Us

“I thought you were poking fun at me or teasing me, like I’m soft or super girlie.”

He shakes his head. “Quite the opposite.”

“Oh.” That’s all I can manage as I process Rhys’s far more eloquent words.

I slink back under the covers, embarrassed at my outburst, while Rhys turns back to reading.

It doesn’t feel like that’s what should be happening after that passionate speech, but I’m not sure what else I can do but lie here and pretend like I’m not dying for him to touch me.

An eternity later, Rhys turns out the light, but I’m still wide awake. I won’t sleep a wink under this kind of duress.

I roll over for the millionth time, putting my back to Rhys again. A second later, his strong forearm wraps around my waist and pulls my back to his front.

“You’re more keyed up than Mo when I get the laser pointer out.”

“Maybe that’s what I need. To chase a red dot around the room.”

“Why can’t you sleep?” he asks. His words are warm against my ear as his palm splays out against my belly.

“I’m not tired. I thought I would be after the emotional day we’ve had, but I—I can’t fall asleep.”

He presses his nose into my hair. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

I press back into him, closing the millimeter of space that was between us. I feel it there now. Rhys’s erection pressing against my cheeks. The fresh wave of lust pooling between my thighs makes me dizzy. I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping it will stop the head rush.

“Touch me.” My words are spoken so softly, I’m second-guessing if I said them aloud. I’m also wondering if he heard me.

A moment later, his fingers dip under my shirt, those warm finger pads grazing under the swell of my breast. “I am touching you.”

I bite my lip in frustration, fighting a low moan that’s being slowly drawn out of my throat by the way Rhys’s thumb is tracing circles around my belly button.

Is he really going to make me say it?

He confirms as much when he whispers against my ear. “How should I touch you?”

I’m an anxious ball of need, so I skip all pretense when I tell him, “I want your mouth on my clit and your fingers inside me.”

He smiles against the back of my neck before placing a kiss there. Then his hand moves lower until it’s cupping me over my sleep shorts.

“Is this what you want, Princess? You want me to take care of you tonight?”

I arch into his touch, my ass pressing farther back into his erection before I simply answer, “Yes.”

As quick as a shot of lightning, Rhys flips me onto my back.

“Lettie—” he starts, but I cut him off with a kiss. I don’t know what Rhys was going to say, and right now, I don’t care. All I want is to feel. His tongue on mine, his hands all over me. I want to forget what is happening with my parents and the fact that tomorrow when we walk out the front door, my memories at Lake George, in this house with my family, will be just that.

Above me, Rhys’s hard body presses me into the mattress. My frantic hands reach for his waistband, but he pins them over my head.

“This is about you, Princess.” He yanks my shirt up, then kisses down my stomach. With his free hand, he works my sleep shorts and underwear down my legs.

Once they’re free, I bend my knees and spread my legs for him.

“Fuck,” he groans, pressing his thumb against my already swollen clit, before dragging it through my center.

“I need more,” I tell him.

Lifting my legs over his shoulders, Rhys settles between them.