Page 60 of Paradise in Progress
Chapter twenty-four
Tristan
Fucking Kennedy, my littlefirecracker.
I try to fight it, but the smile breaks free anyway, tugging at my lips before I can stop it. As soon as my lips met hers, I couldn’t fight the desire to get her home and show her how crazy she drives me.
We left the bar a few minutes ago, laughter still echoing between us. I can’t help but steal another glimpse of the red-headed wonder who consumes my every thought. Our shoes are long gone as the cool, silky sand spreads between our toes. We opted to walk the moonlit path of the beach rather than the sidewalk. Everything about the connection of her hand in mine feels natural, as if we’ve always done this.
Kennedy is different tonight—hell, on the island, in general. She’s always magnetized my vision, but now my soul craves her. Which is fucking terrifying. The lightness in her nature leaves her free from the pressures of being perfect. The tension that always sits on her shoulder seems to have melted away as we drank, joked, and laughed at tonight’s karaoke entertainment. I’ve seen the girl behind our “rivalry.” And now that I’ve had a glimpse of the real Kennedy, I’m desperate for more.
Her hand slips from my grasp, and I’m immediately hit with an emptiness. With a smirk over her shoulder, Kennedy runs with agracefulness that looks like she’s floating on air as she makes her way to where the earth meets the sea. I stand there, mesmerized by her beauty, as she throws her arms out wide. With her head tilted toward the moon, she twirls in the tide. She’s radiating, wild and carefree in a way that makes my chest ache.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Her soft voice snaps me from my trance. With slow steps, I move until I’m near her without interrupting her happiness. “The ocean, Trist. Isn’t it just so peaceful?”
“Magical,” I say, my voice cracking, and I clear the lust from it.
“No matter what happens with this project, I’m glad I was able to finally see the ocean in all of her glory.”
Without thinking, I step closer, reaching out my hand. “Dance with me.”
Her steps falter as her sparkling eyes find mine, and she smiles softly. “But there’s no music.”
“We don’t need music, Firecracker,” I murmur, taking her outstretched hand and pulling her closer.
She laughs, the sound swept away by the ocean breeze as she places her delicate hand in mine, her other landing on my shoulder.
Glancing down, I watch as the moonlight dances across her face, highlighting the curve of her lips, the way her eyes glimmer with the night sky reflecting in them.
Without thought, our bodies begin to sway to the soundtrack of the waves as if this is the most natural thing either one of us has done. The night air blankets us in our own bubble as we move slowly and unhurried. I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol or Kennedy, but I can feel an energy pulsing through my system.
She wanted me to hate her. To fight with her. But all her efforts to push me away fueled me to fall for her more.
It’s not long before her body is melting into mine, resting her head under my chin, and I can’t help but notice the way her breath matches mine. Both of us enjoying this proximity.
Can she feel my heart beating and how it picks up when she’s near?
A quiet sigh leaves her as her hand moves across my chest and slides beneath my shirt opening. A hiss leaves my lips as her fingers caress in gentle circles against my skin.
No words are said, both of us lost in the moment and our endless thoughts.
It’s just the ocean, the wind, and the steady beats of our hearts.
The smell of fresh coffee fills the air as I stand in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, pajama pants low on my hips. Steam billows, slightly fogging the lenses of my glasses as I hold the warm mug in my hands. My mind drifts to last night. The sound of her laughter, the feel of her in my arms, and the relaxed expression she wore all night.
Soft footsteps sound on the tile floor, pulling me from my memory. Glancing up, my eyes collide with Kennedy’s as she walks through the doorway. The morning light filters through the windows, cascading her in an angelic glow. My eyes trail from the copper curls piled messily on the top of her head, down her body, to the tight workout shorts hugging her curves and her sports bra leaving little to the imagination as it shows off her perky tits and toned arms and abs. Tennis shoes cover her feet instead of their usually barefoot nature.
Bringing my eyes back up to hers, it’s when I realize she’s doing the same to me. Heat flickers through my veins, causing my dick to stir in my thin pajama pants.
“You wear glasses.” It’s a statement, not a question, as she moves closer. Once she’s near, Kennedy grabs the mug from my hands and brings the steamy coffee to her lips. She hums as she takes a sip.
I quirk an eyebrow when she returns the mug to my hand. “There’s plenty in the pot.”
“Yeah.” She shrugs a shoulder. “I like yours better.”
“Well, someone is in a good mood this morning.”
Mischief sparkles in her emerald gaze. “Turns out, I can’t get the image of this guy who sang ‘Party in the USA’ out of my head.”
