Page 119 of Backslide
“Hi, Nell.”
“I hate that we can’t just hang out.”
“I hate that too.” I cock my head. “We could though.”
“We could?”
“Just for a minute.”
“Here?”
“Here.”
“But shouldn’t we get back?” She stays rooted to the spot.
“I don’t think anyone is looking for us.”
The moon is big and bright. It casts spells in the dark. Softens the edges, turns everything otherworldly.
Nell sighs. “I like it here.”
“Me too.”
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
“It is,” I say. But I’m looking at her.
I’ve got visions of last night flashing in my head in succession like a stereoscope slideshow from when I was a kid.Click, click, click.
I wonder if she can see it in my eyes.
She reaches out her hand to touch me, weaves her fingers through mine. Swings our hands lightly back and forth.
And it’s like a conduit, electricity crackling on a loop between us.
I take a step closer, forgetting the case of wine in the grass.
And it’s not a choice. It’s gravitational pull.
She tilts her chin up toward me, shoots me a sly smile as she brushes her thumb up the side of my hand. “Hey,” she says, a little breathless. “What are the rules again?”
“The rules,” I say, “are that there are no rules.”
And then I’m stepping within an inch of her and leaning in and pressing my mouth lightly against hers, teasing her bottom lip until I make her say my name.
She is sweet and tart—and I think I like that orange wine too.
I’ve wanted her so badly all night, I can barely contain myself. And, judging by the way she’s grinding against me, she feels the same.
My hands are tangled in her hair, my mouth is on her neck, my fingers are unbuttoning the front of her dress until she gets frustrated and just tugs it down.
“Christ,” I mumble. “It’s so fucking hard to keep my hands off you.”
“You should definitely keep themonme,” she says, breathing ragged.
“You mean, like this?” I ask, slipping a hand inside her bra.
She hums against my mouth. “Yup. For starters.” I slide the straps off her shoulders and unhook her bra, so it drops and she’s exposed in the light. Rake my hand back across her ribs and up and brush a thumb over her nipple.
