Page 92 of Coveted Justice

“Good idea. Sometimes you have to let the parents have their dreams.”

Pulling her into his arms again, they kissed, their tongues playing a game of tag as their hands roamed each other’s bodies, learning every dip and curve. She loved how he was hard and unyielding where she was soft. She’d never noticed it much before but now she was fascinated, the pads of her fingertips running along the smooth skin of his arm just where the summer sun had tanned it slightly. She was lost in a world of pleasure, so she was surprised when he dragged his lips from hers.

“I should probably be taking you home.”

Home? It was the last place she wanted to go. Except…although she would happily stay here and kiss him all night, she wasn’t ready for the next step.

Sex.

She wasn’t a virgin, and she was sure that Josh wasn’t either. But they’d already taken their relationship to a whole new level tonight. She wasn’t sure she was ready to have sex with Josh on what was basically their first date. She could feel how hard he was against her hip. He was ready if she was, but he wasn’t assuming anything.

Which was sweet and nice and not like a lot of the young men she’d dated in the past.

They also hadn’t talked about whether they would be exclusive. Was he like her ex and he didn’t want to commit to being boyfriend and girlfriend? She wasn’t going to sleep with a guy who wouldn’t call her his girlfriend. End of story.

“What does this mean?”

The words came out before she could stop them. Shit, she’d blurted and now she couldn’t take them back.

“I don’t understand,” he replied, sitting up so there was a bit of distance between them. Suddenly, she felt the chill in the air when she hadn’t before. “What does what mean? My wanting to take you home?”

She couldn’t walk this back. There was only one place to go. Forward.

“I mean…what does this mean?” She pointed to him and then to herself. “Are we…dating?”

He visibly relaxed and scraped his fingers through his hair. It was getting longer and he kept saying he needed to get it cut. She, however, liked it a little long. Right now, the hair curled at the nape of his neck.

“I hope we’re dating,” he said. “I’d like it if you were my girlfriend. I mean…if you wanted to be.”

“I’d like that.”

There just looked at each other for a long moment, luxuriating in the feeling of being wanted. Wanting each other.

She also sat up, smoothing down her blouse and straightening her hair which probably looked like a rat’s nest. She had no doubt that anyone looking at them would know they were making out. She wanted to reach up and feel her swollen lips, but she didn’t dare in front of him.

“I guess we should be getting home.”

They packed up the blanket and headed home, his right hand holding her left as they drove. It was real and it was…Josh. Not even two days ago she would have laughed at the idea of being his girlfriend. And now?

She couldn’t imagine it any other way.

Happy birthday to me.

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