Page 39 of Years in the Making

“Come on, let’s go change and warm up.” I keep the fact that with her so close I don’t feel the need to warm up to myself, but I nod and follow her lead anyway.

When she comes back downstairs, I can’t help but laughwhen I see that she’s wearing the T-shirt version of my sweatshirt.

“Great minds,” she says, stepping into the living room.

“I believe they only let those into the school.” I walk over and wrap my arms around her.

“Mmm,” she murmurs into the fabric of my sweatshirt. “I have heard that. So.” She looks up at me. “What do you want to do now?”

Absolutely everything, I think. If she suggested going for a colonoscopy I think I could get on board. “Do you want to maybe…” I stare down at her and grin. I see her eyes heat thinking I’m about to suggest something else. “Read on the patio with me?”

Her face lights up and she pulls back, her hands landing on my hips. “That may be the hottest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“Really?” I ask.

She nods and pulls me down for a kiss. “Really.” I feel her smile against my lips right before she pulls out of my arms. “I’m just going to go grab my book. I’ll meet you outside.”

FIFTEEN

NELLIE

I’ve read the same line twelve times. We’re sharing a lounge chair, my back to Teddy while his arm is around my waist and his thumb traces patterns across the surface of my T-shirt.

“You’re cold,” he says, as goosebumps begin to rise on my exposed arms.

“I’m fine,” I assure him. It’s not the chill in the air; it’s the way he’s touching me. It’s his body pressed to mine and the memory of how he felt against me in the pool. No, the unseasonably cool weather isn’t to blame for a single thing I’m currently feeling.

He clearly doesn’t believe me though, because he sets his book down on my lap, removes his arm, and tips me forward a little. He pulls the collar of my shirt to the side, and his lips drop to my shoulder, kissing the spattering of freckles I have there. They travel up my neck, and then they’re gone, and he’s pulling his sweatshirt down over my body.

“Now you’re going to get cold,” I say, leaning back against his chest.

“Nah, you’re hot enough for the both of us.” He nips at theskin just below my ear, causing my goosebumps to have goosebumps.

“Keep doing that, and I’m going to need your pants too,” I tease, tilting my head just a little more, inviting him to finish what he started.

“I don’t think I could concentrate if you were wearing all my clothes.”

“It also doesn’t seem that fair,” I murmur, as his lips continue their journey down the side of my neck.

“To me or you?”

“You.”

“Oh, LG.” He sits back and looks down at me, “Don’t worry about me. Seeing you in my clothes does things to me that I’d rather not think about right now.”

His eyes have turned stormy, and I can’t help myself from spinning around and straddling him.

“What kind of things?” I ask as innocently as possible, while I push my reading glasses into my hair.

Teddy’s gaze tracks every movement and a little smirk appears on his face. “Things that are not slow.” I lean in to kiss his jaw and then begin trailing my lips down his neck like he had done to me. “Things—” He swallows, and I feel his Adam’s apple move under my lips. “Things that I’ve done with you in my dreams.”

“Tell me,” I whisper, sliding my teeth down his earlobe. The noise he makes sends a thrill through me, so I do it again.

He’s gripping my hips so hard that I won’t be surprised to find his handprints there tomorrow. “Fuck, Nellie,” he grits out before flipping us over so he’s hovering over me. “I’m.” He kisses my neck. “Not.” His lips move to the other side. “Going.” They meet mine. “To.” Harder now. “Rush.” He sits back and looks down at me, his hands pulling the sweatshirt down where it has ridden up my torso. “This.” He finallybreathes out.

I’m relieved and disappointed all at once. I meant what I said about taking it slow, but I also want to just blow through the waiting period. But I get the impression he feels the same way, like he’s not stopping this just because of me.

I sit up and cup his face in my hands. “I’m sorry,” I say, searching his eyes. The storm clouds have moved on and they’ve returned to their pale blue. “I don’t want to rush things either, I just…” I don’t know what to say. I don’t want him to get tired of waiting.

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