Page 27 of Long Time Coming

“It’s probably like ice in there,” I say, leaving my hat hanging on a branch next to hers. Starting on one boot and then the other, I begin to wonder how far she’ll take it. Are we talking bra and underwear or nothing but the outfit we were born with? I’ll let her lead and take the cue from there.

“I swear I have a fever after all that riding.” Pulling a hand away from the top button of her jeans, she holds the back of it to her head. “Muscles burning and the heat getting the best of me out there today.” Lowering her hand again, she pops the button and slides the zipper down without hesitation. “A cold shower was going to be my reward before dinner. Now, I can cool off here and take a hot shower later for my muscles.”

Every word from her mouth is an invitation for my thoughts to go wild. I’d be happy to help her with those sore muscles. I have an aching one myself.

What the fuck am I doing?And thinking?

I’ve become a fucking pervert around her.Get a hold of yourself, Grange. It’s a chick. It’s not like I’ve never seen one or fucked plenty. In the city, I can send a text, and a woman will show up in high fucking heels and nothing else but a trench coat ready to fuck in less than an hour if I wanted. So why am I tripping over myself for this one?

I know.

Pris is the forbidden. And nothing will taste as sweet as this peach.

She’s a delicacy I can’t—holy . . .I start to pace, needing a moment with my back to her to get a fucking hold of myself.Don’t do this, Grange. You’re going to regret it.

You won’t be able to look your best friend in the eyes ever again without guilt hanging over your head.Fuck me.

I turn back because I’m a weak sister-fucker and indulge myself.

Standing in nothing but a white cotton bra with lace wrapped around her ribs and pale pink bikini underwear with a white silk flower, drawing my attention straight to the top of her waistband, she asks, “Coming with me?”

Insinuation after invitation after every double entendre in the book.She’s good.Very fucking good. “Yeah, I’m coming with you.”

I tug off my shirt as she steps down into the water. I see her hesitate, but then she keeps going to the deeper part of the river. As I strip off my jeans, I watch her dip under, then come up with her hair slicked and even longer against her back when wet.

A streak of sunshine leaves that part of the river in the hottest part of the day, but I’m still leery. As a kid, it was nothing dealing with the icy river. I could have a heart attack now. Okay, a bit of a wuss response.How bad can it be?She’s in there swimming in the current.

After my socks come off, I step to the edge. “How cold is it?”

“It feels great.”

It only takes one step in the water to know she’s lying. “Damn, it’s cold. How are you out there and not shivering?” I keep wading out until my ass is under, then keep going.

“I was, but I wanted you to suffer with me.”

“Gee, thanks, Pris. I owe you one.”

She laughs and dips under again. When she comes back up, she says, “Just get in. It’s not so bad once you’re in the sun.”

When the sun hits my face, maybe it’s all in my head, but I appreciate the heat and try to soak it in. Reaching the same depth as her, I can still stand with my shoulders above the water. I dip under, though, because I have a big-as-fuck ego and feel the need to prove that I can at least match her in this arctic-temp water.

When I come up, I catch her bottom lip shiver and notice goose bumps covering the tops of her arms. “Come here. I’ll warm you up.”

She swims into my arms and, at first, tucks her head over my shoulder with her body pressed to mine. I rub the soft skin of her back and hold her in my arms. She’s smaller with me wrapped around her, her elbows a little bony, but as I slide my hands lower and over the curve from her waist to her hips under the water, I nuzzle my nose along the shell of her ear, and whisper, “Better?”

Nodding, she dips her head back and then leans far enough to look into my eyes with her arms around my neck. Her gaze trails to my mouth before her eyes close, and she kisses me.

I wanted this just like she did, but having her take the lead is such a fucking turn-on. I take hold of the back of her head with one hand and keep her middle pressed to mine as I deepen the kiss.

Her lips are as soft as they looked in the truck last night. And the way they’re embracing mine has me holding her as close as I can and memorizing the feel of her tongue to remember later. The grind of her hips has me craving more, so much more that I grab her by the ass, desperate to seek relief from the sweet torture.

That’s when I realize the lines are too blurred to read anymore, and Pris Greene tastes too good not to kiss her like she should be.

So I do.

CHAPTER 10

Tagger

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