Page 44 of Succeeding Love

A slow grin lifted his kiss-swollen lips. “I have no plans. Why?”

“Then…..,” I looked down nervously, “do you, um, maybe want to go on a small road trip with me?”

His deep chuckles vibrated between us, and my breath caught in my throat from the look on his handsome face. He looked like I had just made all his dreams come true. “I would absolutely love to go on a road trip with you.” He leaned in towards me, a playful glint in his green eyes. He made me squeal as he bit my shoulder and squeezed my side at the same time. It tickled, but felt so good.

“It’s to San Antonio,” I said, after laughing and squirming away. “We…. we might need to stay overnight.”

“Even better,” he growled, burying his face in my neck. “I thought you were about to send me home.”

“No!” I giggled. “I’m just trying to bribe you for a free ride.”

“Oh yeah,” he laughed darkly, then tickled my sides again, making me buck and squirm wildly as I laughed. Then, his movements became more smooth and sensual. My center pressed firmly against him in a way that made me feel ticklish on the inside, too. “Fuck, you are so damn cute. So freaking adorable.” He grabbed my face in his large hands. “I really like you, Feighlynn.”

My face grew warm from his intense gaze. “I really like you too.” A nervous laugh left me, and it moved my body just enough to build the friction between us. He moaned deeply as I gasped.

“And I fucking love when you laugh,” he husked, before tickling my sides one more time. I bucked and squealed, but then his hands wandered to my butt and I let out a lusty moan instead.

I bit back my smile, glad that Vin didn’t find it weird when I asked him what he was doing tomorrow and if he was up for a brief road trip. I was nervous about asking all night, and almost didn’t, but then when he started kissing me and caressing my body, I just didn’t want this date to end.

As his lips traveled over my neck, nibbling and sucking on my skin, I felt desired, like never had before. This was something carnal, and I don’t know if I had ever felt this way with anyone. Not even with Nick.

Vin sucked harder on my neck, his tongue messaging my skin taunt in his mouth. He was sucking with a purpose. “You’re going to leave a mark!”

“Good,” he grunted.

“Not good,” I laughed softly, enjoying the way his tongue and lips felt on my skin. My eyes closed, absorbing every sensation. “I have to see other parents tomorrow at Preston’s game.”

“Since I’m going with you, I don’t see the problem.” His deep, rough voice was like a blanket falling over me, wrapping me in this warm feeling.

Oh, whatever. I have makeup if I need to cover any marks in the morning. The only problem I could really think of was Preston, since he is a bit overprotective and this will be my first time revealing that I’m dating our new neighbor from across the street. The one he thought was robbing poor Miss Velma.

I am dating Vin, right? This feels too great, too deep to be something casual. It’s not just casual for me, or a passing thing. I really like Vin. I like everything about him. I have never, ever felt this way before, and I want to take steps towards a relationship.

Hopefully, he does too.

Suddenly, Kevin barked excitedly several yards away. It wasn’t his playful bark, but his loud bark for when someone is at the door, or when he sees a cat.

I opened my eyes and looked up, then gasped when I saw what had my dog’s attention. Kevin was barking and jumping up on the last person I wanted to see tonight. “Nick?!”

Vin turned quickly, holding my hips in place to keep me on top of him as he peered back at my ex-husband. “Are you fucking serious?” he muttered under his breath, and I suddenly felt so sorry once again.

Why the heck does Nick keep showing up at the worst of times? I haven’t seen or heard much from him all week, but he just shows up when I’m on a date with Vin again?

“What are you doing here?“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice sounding a lot more unfriendly than usual because of my irritation.

Nick’s expression went hard for a second, glaring at Vin while muttering curses at my dog for jumping, but then his expression softened when he looked back at me. His eyes roamed my body and the lack of space between me and Vin. I saw so many emotions pass over his face in a few seconds. It was unnerving.

I suddenly felt uncomfortable with the position I was sitting in, feeling like he was judging me. Like he had the right to do so. I felt like someone had just caught me doing something wrong. I didn’t want to move away from Vin at all, but I slid down off his lap so I could emerge my body back into the water. I didn’t like being in a bathing suit straddling my date in front of my ex. Vin, to my surprise, moved with me, keeping a hand onmy waist as we waded into the water. I guess he didn’t want to let me go, either.

Nick’s eyes narrowed at the action. “I’m sorry to interrupt, uh, whatever this is. Jessie sent me.”

“Jessie’s here with you?” I looked around behind him nervously, but it was just him standing in my backyard, waving his hands around while trying to ward off my dog, who was still jumping excitedly all over him.

“No, no. Damn it, dog, quit jumping!”

Vin sighed and swam to the edge of the pool, reluctantly letting me go. He whistled loudly. “Come on, Kevin. Come here, boy.” Doggy Kevin turned to look at Vin with his tongue flopping out of his mouth, crouching down on his front legs before lunging his body towards Vin. Vin caught him with a laugh, petted his ears and held tight to his collar, rubbing his face against Kevin’s snout. “Who’s a good boy? You’re such a good boy.”

Vin had on a smirk, and when I looked back at Nick, I suspected it had to do with the muddy paw tracks all over the front of Nick’s pants.

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