Page 90 of Spring Tide

“Luca?”

“Yeah?”

“I really like you.”

I grab her hand and bring it to my mouth, pressing a soft kiss against her knuckles. “I like you, too. A whole fucking lot.”

“Is it my turn to take your clothes off now?”

“All yours.”

Her hands slide underneath my shirt, the muscles in my stomach clenching at her featherlight touch. She takes note of my stiff posture, pausing as she says, “Sorry, I forgot. Firm hands.”

I lift my arms, pulling my shirt off the rest of the way. Her hands reach around my body and smooth over my lower back, moving toward the front of my jeans. With trembling fingers, she carefully pops the button open.

My brow furrows. “You’re shaking.”

“I know.” She laughs, standing there in her underwear, clumsily yanking at my zipper. “I’m trying not to. I guess I’m just nervous for some reason. I’m acting like this is my first time or something, when I’ve actually done this loads of times. I mean, notloads. God, I mean like a normal, healthy amount.”

“Hey.” I grip her hand, sliding her palm up and over my heart. “Feel that?”

She nods as she stares up at me. My chest heaves with each calculated breath, heart drumming chaotically beneath her fingertips.

“You’re nervous, too?” she asks, eyes shining.

“I just want to make you feel good.”

She squares her shoulders and shakes her head, lips lifting in a self-assured smile. “Then take your pants off and get in the bed.”

With a chuckle, I tug my zipper down and slide out of my jeans. My hands grip Harper’s waist, signaling for her to wrap both legs around me. Once her thighs are securely tucked against my hips, I walk us both toward the bed, dipping forward until her back hits the mattress.

Her perfect body is spread out before me now, fully flushed with desire. I take a long, drawn-out moment to soak in her appearance. She’s wearing a thin, strapless bralette that matches her panties—periwinkle blue, my new favorite color. And it’s mostly transparent, so the flimsy lace pattern reveals a hint of her rosy nipples.

She lifts her arms, pulling the scrap of fabric up over her head. I shift into place and prop myself on one elbow beside her, before I duck down, my lips meeting the swell of her breast as I kiss the tender skin.

“Did you wear that for me?”

“I wore it for myself.” Her eyes stray, gaze focused on my plain, black boxer briefs. “Why? Did you wearthosefor me?”

“Clearly.”

With a soft giggle, her fingers trail down my chest, across my abdomen, and dip barely underneath my waistband. “Very hot.”

“And you—” My teeth graze over her nipple, sucking it between my lips. “—are so fucking beautiful.”

A tiny shiver racks her body at the contact. Her fingers curl, still barely tucked inside my boxers, mere centimeters from my growing erection. I’m aching to sink inside of her, but I want to savor this moment for a while longer. After all, we only get one shot at a first time together.

My hand slips from the curve of her breast, brushes across the side of her body, and lands on the swell of her hip. I grip her there, hooking my thumb underneath the elastic string waistband of her panties. “Can I take these off, too?”

“Mhm.” She lifts her hips, helping me remove the last shred of fabric.

Goddamn. If I wasn’t already painfully hard, my cock would be tripling in size at the sight of her fully naked beside me. Harper’s body—from her glowing, freckled skin to the sweet curve of her hips to that perfect, blinding smile—is the stuff that wet dreams are made of.

I draw in a harsh breath. “Harper, can I ...”

“What?”

“I want to feel you come on my tongue again.”

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