Page 135 of Old Acquaintances

Yet.

“You know what I want, Tucker.” I put one arm around his shoulder.

He sighs, “If you just want sex, you can get it from Ritchie. Hell, you can probably get it from Wyatt, too.”

“I don’t just want sex.”

“Could have fooled me.”

“You’re the one holding me.” At some point, he moved his hold to my butt and my legs floated around his waist.

Tucker breathes, staring at my heaving chest and my wet mouth. He mutters, “I can’t do this, Ella.”

I wrap my other arm around him and press our torsos together. If even this is all I get, it’s enough. I just want to feel him close to me. “I’m not trying to pressure you into anything.”

“Bullshit!” he laughs quietly.

“I’m just letting you know whatIwant.”

“And if you don’t want sex, then what do you want?”

“Well, yes, I wouldn’t say no to sex but that’s not all I want from you, that’s not why I’m here.” I run my fingers through his wet hair. His eyes close. “I want to feel loved. I want to love you back. I only ever felt that way with you.”

“I can’t love you,” he whines. He squeezes his eyes tight. “I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t.”

“I almost did.” He opens his eyes and pulls me closer. “It hurts too much to have something so perfect and lose it. I’m better off being indifferent to you.”

“That’s stupid,” I spit.

“Don’t tell me how to feel.”

“I’m not perfect, Eli, I’ve never been perfect. Thank God I never took you seriously or else I could have developed a real ego about it.” I pause. “It took me a long time to realize I wanted you. I’m sorry it took so long. But I would rather have the chance to make up for lost time now than worry about not having you at some future point that doesn’t exist. I just want here. Right now. You don’t have to be in love with me. I just want you toloveme like you used to. Even if it’s pretend.”

“Pretend?”

“Yeah.” I tighten my arms. “Pretend like every time you said,I love you Ella,that you meant it.”

He grumbles, “You’re so stupid.”

“Don’t be an asshole.”

“I’m not. I’m really not. I just can’t believe a girl as smart as you…” He trails off. Tucker takes a sharp inhale. He licks his lips and touches them to mine. Then he does it again. And again. He groans, “Oh fuck.”

“Yeah,” I whisper. “That’s the point.”

“Shut up.”

He kisses me again, harder and deeper, and I whine against his mouth. He orders, “We have to be quiet.”

He lifts me to the edge of the pool and falls back into me with another kiss. I wrap my arms around his head, pushing my hips into his. When his lips move down my face, my head tilts back, his mouth opening on my neck, and I feel the pressure relieved between my legs. He touches me, and I move against his hand as the pleasure builds. He presses where I’m sensitive.

“Let go, Ella,” Tucker whispers in my ear. “Let go and I’ll get you there again.”

“And again, and again?” I whimper, pleading.

“We don’t have to stop.”

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