Page 105 of Until I Own You

I’m worried it won’t get easier the longer we keep our distance. In fact, I think it’s only going to get harder.

Once I’m dressed, I head down to the beach.

Abigail waves at me when she sees me, grinning ear to ear. “There you are!”

Jack glances back at me. Seth keeps his head down.

I keep a smile on my face though my insides droop. Feels like old times when he was ignoring me in what I thought was dislike. Turned out it was suppressed want.

Seth might be a master of restraint and withdrawnness. But how long can he keep that up now that we know what’s on the other side?

“Look at you! Back in black, huh?” Abigail shimmies her hips.

Why is she calling attention to it?! This is supposed to be an understated bikini.

Damn her.

“I’m trying to get them to come in the water, but they’re too busy reading.” Abigail sticks her tongue out at Jack and Seth.

I give the boys a once over.

Jack has some self-help book in hand. Classic for him.

And Seth got a willowy copy of an old James Patterson. More notable than either of the books is Seth’s t-shirt and trunks combo.

I want to ask him if that’s even comfortable. I’ve asked him about it in the past, whenever we’ve been at a pool party or the like.

Come to think of it, I’ve never seen him with his shirt off. Surely, a trip to Key West would call for that, right?

Guess not.

Shirt on or off, though, no man holds a candle to Seth. His stubble is freshly trimmed, highlighting his hard jawline. And the sunlight makes his blue eyes sparkle in a way I’ve never noticed before. Never let myself notice.

“Party poopers,” I say to Abigail.

She scoffs. “That’s about right.” She whips her hat off and sighs, stroking her fingers through her hair. “You come with me, Bridge.”

“I still need to put on sunscreen.” I take a tube out of my bag.

“Oh, well. Jack can help with that.” Abigail grins.

Jack’s kneejerk reaction comes in the form of “Ew.” Then he looks at me apologetically. “Sorry, Bridget. Nothing personal.”

I laugh. “Trust me, I don’t take it that way.”

I grew up with all the Lyons kids. I’ve seen them all at their worst, including Jack. He’s an attractive guy, but I can’t shake the memory of him saving his chewing gum in an Altoids tin so he could chew it later. That was middle school. Far too old for crap like that.

“I’ll do it,” Seth offers.

The blood rushes to my pussy at the thought of him touching me. Not the best idea.

“Double ew!” Abigail interjects. “You two are siblings!”

“Stepsiblings. Not like you and Jack,” I clarify.

“That’s worse.”

“Why?” I scoff.

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