Page 51 of Conception
Just as we get into a rousing debate about John Travolta’s prowess and his performances in bothGreaseandSaturday Night Fever, Joe runs up, flicking his hair on us like a wet dog, raining water droplets over the both of us. It’s welcome on such a hot day. Sunny squeals as Joe hauls her up into his arms and takes her into the lake, kicking and screaming. Then he unceremoniously dumps her into the water to the guffawing laughter from Clay and Sam.
Knox saunters up the sand towards me, a predatory gleam in his eyes. Shaking my head, I scoot back on my towel, but it’s no use. He pounces just as he reaches me, scooping me up into his arms.
“You’re looking a bit flushed, Amelia. And though it’s becoming my favorite look of yours, what kinda man would I be if I allowed you to get overheated?”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I prepare for the inevitable dunking in the lake. “Hmm. You tell me, considering that, until last night, you let me overheat for nearly a week straight.”
His chest rumbles with his laughter. “Trust me, babe. Won’t be makin’ that mistake again.”
Instead of launching me into the water like Joe did to Sunny, Knox wades out until he’s about chest deep. I’m clinging to his shoulders, and he grins down at me. Or, rather, at my breasts.
“Have I told you lately that I really like it when you wear Sunny’s swimsuits?”
“Don’t get used to it. This is the last one,” I inform him.
“Guess that means we’ll have to go shopping.”
“You’d go shopping for bathing suits with a girl?” I ask, incredulous.
“Nah. I wouldn’t go shipping withagirl. But I’d go shopping with you. Especially if it means I get to watch you try everything on.”
What’d ya know? Shopping plans just became a crucial part of our immediate future.
“Who wants to play chicken?!” Sunny’s voice interrupts our moment.
I groan. “We might as well. She won’t leave us alone until we do.”
Clay and Sam agree to referee, which is a good thing because Sunny lives to cheat. Her possessive streak comes alive any time there’s a competition. If I survive this game with only a couple of burns from back flops onto the water, it’ll be considered a win for me.
Once we agree to terms—meaning Sunny isnotallowed to use her nails on my boobs (much to Sam’s chagrin)—Knox sinks so I can get into position on the backs of his shoulders. Considering he’s a few inches taller than Joe, I’m starting to feel good about our chances. If it weren’t for the diabolical woman sitting on Joe’s shoulders though.
Knox’s fingers tickle my feet then slowly begin a journey from my ankles up to my thighs, where his big hands splay out on my wet skin. I catch Sunny’s eyes across the water and she gives me wink then a thumbs-up. I have a feeling she’s getting quite a bit of enjoyment out of this.
Knox strains his neck to meet my eyes. “This would be much more enjoyable if you were facing the other way.”
I wonder if he can feel the way my body warms at those words. “You know, we can always arrange for that later. I seem to recall you promising to take me skinny-dipping one of these days.”
Knox’s eyes darken. “Oh, do you? Because the way I remember it, I offered and you told me the mood had to strike you first.”
Wishing I could lean down to kiss him, I settle for scraping my nails along the curve of his neck. “Let’s just say…the mood has been struck.”
“Noted. Next full moon, your naked body is mine in the lake.”
I’m about to argue that we don’t need a full moon when Sam whistles to signify the beginning of the match. Of course Sunny would have him start when we’re not paying attention.
It doesn’t matter though.
With all the power in Knox’s thighs and the tight grip of his hands, I shouldn’t be surprised when he digs his heels into the sand and holds me close to his body, as much as he can considering I’m dangling off of him. Sunny tries—and fails—with much exasperation to knock me off my Knox perch. So she does what Sunny does: She goes for my top. Now, my boobs are practically as exposed as they were the first day Knox and I kissed on the beach, and I don’t mind one bit. It’s not quite Woodstock 1969, but what happens at the lake stays at the lake, right?
Wrong, especially when it comes to Knox. Knowing she was about to lose, Sunny found what button to push with him. Just as my hands fly up to stop my top from falling into the water, Knox immediately sinks, whips my legs off his shoulders, and wraps them around his waist. I’m now on his back, piggyback style, with him ending the game.
Sunny whoops then grins at Knox’s growl. “Sorry, buddy. I had to fight dirty if I wanted to win.”
“How’d you know he’d do that?” Sam asks, to which Knox mutters a curse.
Joe splashes Sam. “You got a girl for the summer, you want your brother seein’ her goods?”
That turns on a lightbulb in Sam’s mind. He shakes his head with such vigor that water goes flying from his long hair.
