Page 52 of Wild Tides
“Isa can cover for you at Harbor Brews, right?” Rae asked Zach. He nodded. “Then I’ll pick up tickets for us tomorrow.”
“I picked up tickets for Lucifer and me last week,” Clay said with a cheeky smile for his girlfriend. “I still dream about your outfit at the Halloween event. I want to see if you can top it.”
“Too much information, Clay,” I chided, smiling at Lucy. She looked entirely too thoughtful. Like she was plotting something to bring him to his knees.
After a scatter of good nights, our friends left, leaving me alone with Lee in the kitchen. He hadn’t touched his jacket or shoes. But I also hadn’t seen an overnight bag.
I shifted from foot to foot, hiding the sudden spear of uncertainty.
“Am I still invited to stay?” Lee asked steadily, expression hungry. But not for food.
“That depends…” I drawled.
He arched one brow. “On?”
“How you feel about sex that lasts longer than ten minutes.”
He grabbed a towel, winding it up and snapping it at me. I danced away, laughing.
“You know I only rushed because we didn’t have more time.” He took aim again, managing a hit to my backside. It stung enough to make me rub my left cheek, turning his expression from triumphant to horny in a flash.
“I can rub that better for you.” He hid the towel behind his back like he hadn’t just created the problem he offered to solve.
Laughing, I danced away. “Only if you catch me first.”
Chapter 25 – Lee
Vi sprinted for her bedroom, her laughter beckoning me like a siren’s call. Slowly, I followed, double-checking the locks first. Aware that every step brought me closer to her and further from the lies I used to tell myself. That she was too young. Off-limits. Her friendship too valuable. That loyalty meant never going there.
Vi lay sprawled across her bed, her dark hair fanned out around her head in soft waves. She’d taken off her glasses, making her smile one of the hazy, can’t-quite-see variety. Soft and vulnerable, yet still sure. Because she knew me. Trusted me. Maybe more than I’d trusted myself.
A flash of fear froze me in place. I wanted to soak up her confidence. Fuse it into every one of my cells until I felt invincible. She didn’t seem worried about our friendship or her brothers, about screwing things up. She’d already become a precious part of my life, and I’d die before I’d lose that. Whatever it took, I couldn’t lose her.
She still wore her jeans and sweater from earlier, and my fingers ached to strip them from her.
“Murphy, if you’re ready to make good on that offer, I have massage oil.”
“I thought I had to catch you first.” My voice was rough as sandpaper, raw need closing my throat.
She lifted one round shoulder. “Consider me on the line.” Something about the gleam in her dark eyes implied more than sex. I’d tiptoed around my feelings, vowing to give her more time. And I’d hold to that promise if it killed me.
I covered the space between the door and bed in record time, launching myself across it hard enough to bounce. Laughter burst from Vi’s lips. Not nervous. Not mocking. Pure joy. The old Lee would have held his feelings in. Denied they existed.
I rolled, carrying her with me, until Vi sprawled across my chest, breath coming in soft puffs of laughter. “Got you.”
My kiss was more showy than skillful, but it branded her mine. Vi’s eyes twinkled.
“Okay, so now what are you going to do with me?”
“So many things.”Love you.The words pressed against my lips, wanting to burst out.
I didn’t just want Violet Fenwick. Didn’t just need her close. I loved her. And I wasn’t sure how to keep it to myself any longer.
Except by showing her.
I brushed her mouth with a soft kiss. An attempt to seal the promise I couldn’t make aloud. I smiled against her lips when she drifted with me, leaning into the caress. And when I pulled away, her lips turned down in a tiny pout.
It was fucking adorable. And gave me hope. That I was more than just a playmate, though I loved being her partner in crime.
