Page 55 of I'll Keep Her Safe

“Yes. I need it… I need it there.” I think we both know I’m not talking about the sunscreen at this point.

He grunts, thumbs sweeping higher still, and just when I think he’s about to brush my clit, he swerves away, massaging up toward my hips. Disappointment flickers briefly in my chest, until I feel his thumbs softly caress my bare ass cheeks.

“Here?” he asks roughly, checking again.

“Yes,” I pant.God, touch me everywhere.

Again his thumbs slide across my skin, kneading the flesh of my ass. My breath shudders out and he shuffles closer, until he’s pressed into my side. Something hard digs into my hip, and when I realize what it is, I moan, which only urges his hands on.

Holy hell. Mr. Mathers is touching my ass, and I’m so wet and horny I might just jump his fucking bones. My thighs press together, seeking friction, and I glance at him. His eyes lock with mine, glinting with heat, and as I’m about to sit up and kiss him, a sound from the house makes us both freeze.

“Hey, guys!” Bailey calls from the doorway.

Wyatt’s hands leave my skin in a flash. I roll away, almost falling off the lounger. My pulse scatters, and I whip my wrap over myself, sitting up awkwardly.

“Hi!” I say in a sing-song tone that hopefully covers my clanging heart. “You made it!”

“Hey, kiddo.” Wyatt’s voice is strangled, and he clears his throat.

Bailey pushes her sunglasses up her nose, staring out the door. My stomach capsizes.

Fuck. Did she see that? Honestly, what was I thinking, asking her dad to rub sunscreen on me? Pushing him like that? I don’t dare look at Wyatt, too afraid to see the expression on his face.

But the view distracts Bailey. “Isn’t this place to die for?” she asks, motioning to the valley beyond, oblivious to any tension in our corner.

Relief floods my chest, and I rise from the lounger, pulling my wrap tight around me. “It’s amazing.” I cross the patio and pull Bailey into a tight hug. Tears press at my eyes, but I quickly blink them away. “It’s so good to see you.”

“You too.” She squeezes me tight, then studies my face when we part. “Are you okay? You look weird.”

“Just…” I shake my head. “The flight. I forgot what a bad flier I am.”

She gives a sympathetic nod. “Right. How was it?”

Without my permission, my gaze slides to Wyatt. We lock eyes for a moment, then he looks away.

“It was fine in the end and I’m glad we’re here.”

Bailey grins, shoving her sunglasses into her hair. “Me too. Dean’s putting our bags away. I’ll go change, then we’ll join you by the pool.”

I watch my friend head back inside, leaving me alone again with Wyatt.Her father. My gut twists like a rag as I walk across to him. He’s sitting on a lounger, staring out at the vineyard, his jaw hard. I can tell instantly he regrets what happened, and guilt swoops through me.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, and Wyatt’s head snaps around.

“Don’t.”

I grimace, sinking onto a lounger, and he shakes his head.

“Don’t apologize when you’ve done nothing wrong.” He sags with shame. “I’m the one who should be sorry.”

I glance back over my shoulder, checking we’re still alone. “You haven’t done anything wrong either,” I point out.

He drags his hands down his face, exhaling heavily.

“I mean it, Wyatt. I wanted…” I swallow. “I want…”

Bailey’s laughter drifts closer to the door, and he sighs. “Let’s forget about it, okay?”

I watch my friend saunter out to the pool, boyfriend at her heels, and my heart sinks, because I don’t want to forget it. I want the opposite.

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