Page 80 of Rebellious

Bennett, however, was a total tease, slowing down, pretending to see oncoming boat lights. I would have been mad had I not slipped my hands under his life vest and felt his heart racing against my palm.

He wanted this too, and after a month of being together without rules, I was ready to have every piece of him. Was this a terrible idea? Sure. But I’ve never been one to make great decisions around Bennett. He’s been the one for me for as long as I can remember, and no pain or heartache will scare me off.

“Come,” he says, pulling me down the hall to his bedroom. We haven’t talked at all since saying goodbye to our brothers.

But really, what’s there to say?

Bennett pulls me into the bathroom and lifts me onto the counter. “Stay,” he orders, leaving me with a firm look as he moves to the shower and turns on the water.

“Honestly, I don’t need a shower,” I tell him. “I’ll take you dirty.” Really, drawing this out is nothing but pure torture.

“Patience, Asp,” he chides.

I flash him a bored look and rip off my t-shirt, leaving only my bathing suit top on.

He narrows his eyes and I shrug. “If you don’t speed this up, I’ll take off the rest before the water warms.”

That seems to hasten him as he walks over, standing between my legs. His hands go to my cheeks, tilting my face ever so slightly. “Shower with me?”

His voice is so calm, so serene, I hate to argue, but I do because I just wouldn’t be me without at leastsomebacktalk. “We’ve showered without barriers already.” That was one of the first things we did. A shower door will never get in my way of his incredible body again.

Placing a gentle kiss to my lips, he leans back. “Humor me.”

Fine. “If you must be romantic, I suppose I can endure.”

A grin, wholly boyish, crosses his face as he steps back, raising his arms and bending ever so slightly so I can reach the back of his shirt.

Stripping him out of his clothes, I can get into. Unceremoniously, I tug his shirt over his head. It isn’t super sexy or gentle in the least—it’s hungry and pent up from years of waiting for this moment.

I grab the back of his head and kiss him hard, my body sliding off the edge of the counter, standing in front of him. Catching his gaze, I wink. “I sort of want you naked… like yesterday.”

His deep, rumbling laughter is all I need to work his board shorts off his hips and down the fine dusting of hair on his legs.

“Wait.” His one word stops me, and I throw my head back with a heavy sigh.

“What now?” For Heaven’s sake.

Bringing my head forward, I hold his stare.

“We can’t come back from this,” he whispers, his dark head bowed.

I take his hand and press his palm over my heart, answering, “I can live with that.”

Those murky eyes of his raise until they meet mine. “Can you?”

I nod. “I won’t regret loving you.” I swallow, focusing on his clenching jaw. “Even if it can only be for the summer.”

He exhales a pained sound. “Aspen.”

“Don’t, Bennett.” I shake my head. “Not tonight.” Moving my hand to his cheeks, I smooth the harsh line. “Just this once, let’s not worry about tomorrow.”

His eyes close. “On one condition.”

I almost groan. “Which is?”

He pulls my hand away and kisses the top, before dropping it at my side and opening the drawer.

“What are you doing?”

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