Page 44 of One Short Summer

The excitement and thrill of this kiss sends a wave of pleasure through my body that has me scooting even closer to him until our bodies are pressed together in as many places as this position allows—yet it still doesn’t feel close enough.

“Please, don’t stop.” His mouth has left mine, and his name falls from my lips in a whisper as he slowly kisses his way along my jaw, stopping at my ear.

He gently sucks on my earlobe, driving me absolutely crazy. “What are you doing to me?”

A shiver runs through me at his question, and I press closer into him, feeling exhilarated at the knowledge I’m not the only one affected by this situation when my pelvis meets his. “I hope I’m doing the same to you as you are to me.”

Either he just really likes my answer or he agrees because his lips are back on mine, the kiss surrounding my whole being so much I can barely concentrate on anything else. Gabe has leaned back against the wall with me halfway lying on top of him—at least, as much as I can while still keeping my head above water.

A sudden lick on my shoulder startles me and I flinch.

Unfortunately for Gabe, I accidentally bite him in the process, making him curse under his breath. I pull back and let out a shriek, almost sinking completely underwater when I step back into the deepest part of the hot tub, my hand clutching my chest.

“Fiffy. Where are you?” A voice comes from the other side of the yard.

My hand is still on my fast-beating heart as I try to control my breath.

Gabe chuckles across from me, petting the little brown Yorkshire Terrier that seems to be cuddling up to him at the edge of the water. “Hey, Fiffy. Did you take off again?”

He pulls his attention back from the little dog and gives me an amused look, unable to hide the underlying heat that’s still in his gaze.

“I’m so sorry, you guys.” Hannah is making her way across the lawn, a pink leash dangling in one of her hands. “This dog is too smart for her own good. Mrs. Brown warned me that she likes to visit the neighbors, but I didn’t expect her to take off like this.”

She catches her breath before straightening back up, letting her eyes roam over us.

Gabe gives her a big smile. “No problem, Grandma. Are you dog-sitting?”

“Yes. Mrs. Brown will be back in a couple days though.”

Her gaze flickers back and forth between us, and I can’t keep the heat from rushing into my cheeks. She must put two and two together since she doesn’t even pretend to keep her smirk at bay. I’m one hundred percent sure she knows exactly what she and her little dog just interrupted.

She claps her hands together and lets out a long sigh. “Well, sorry again, guys. We don’t want to keep you any longer from whatever you were doing. Plus, we better be on our way anyway before those clouds open up.” She points toward the sky, and for the first time, I notice the dark clouds right above us. “See you soon. Monica, text me. Have fun, kids.”

The way she says kids makes me laugh. She’s not someone to hold back in the slightest and is a joy to be around—especially when you disregard the meddling and being nosy part.

Also, despite her age, I know she can make me blush in an instant, and I’m anything but a prude.

Gabe and I wave our goodbyes and watch the two of them head back toward the side gate of the yard.

“We should probably head back inside too.” He’s watching me intently, as if to assess my reaction, before pointing toward the sky. “Don’t want to get wet.”

A snicker escapes my lips and Gabe chuckles too.

He gives me a wink and steps out of the water, leaving me to ogle his firm butt.

My heart skips a beat as he wraps one of the towels low around his hips—not hiding his erection one bit—before holding out the other one wide open for me.

Well, who am I to say no to that?

After slowly getting out of the hot tub, I step right into his arms.

Chapter Sixteen

Monica

“Do you want a hot chocolate?”Gabe drops his dry clothes on one of the barstools and walks over to the fridge, still in only his boxer briefs and a towel haphazardly slung around his trim hips.

My eyes are trained on his lower half, specifically on the way his butt fills out that towel, when he clears his throat and chuckles.

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