Page 7 of One Hot Summer

“Tell me to stop,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my lips. “Tell me this isn’t what you want, and I’ll walk away right now.”

I know I should. I should push him away, remind him of all the reasons why this is a bad idea. But as I look into his eyes, I see the same ache, the same longing that I’ve carried with me all these years. “I can’t. I don’t want you to stop.”

The words barely leave my lips before Carson closes the distance between us, capturing my mouth in a mind blowingkiss. It’s like coming home. His lips are soft and insistent against mine, and I melt into him, my hands sliding up into his hair.

Carson pulls me flush to me, one arm wrapping around my waist as the other cups the back of my neck. The kiss deepens, years of pent-up passion and longing pouring out between us. I lose myself in the taste of him, of his strong body against mine.

But even as the desire courts through me, a small voice in the back of my mind reminds me of the complications, of the potential heartbreak. With effort, I break the kiss, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes.

“Carson, what are we doing?”

He rests his forehead against mine. “We are…”

But before I can finish, the creak of floorboards upstairs interrupts. Collin's voice floats down, small and sleepy. "Dad? Can I have some water?"

The spell is broken. Carson blinks, pulling back slightly. "I should go check on him.” He stands up, tugging on the bulge in his pants.

A smile takes over knowing that I still have the ability to make him hard just from kissing him. I nod. As he heads upstairs, I'm left alone with the movie still playing, my thoughts a chaotic whirlwind.

What just happened? What almost happened? And more importantly, what do I want to happen?

I curl deeper into the blanket, trying to calm my racing heart. The scent of Carson lingers on the couch, woodsy and familiar. It wraps around me, a comforting embrace and a dangerous temptation all at once. God, I want those all over me. His hands, his lips…

When Carson returns a few minutes later, the moment has passed. He settles back onto the couch, a little further away this time. We finish the movie in silence, but he keeps tugging at his pants causing me to smile inside.

As the credits roll, Carson stands and stretches. “Well, I should probably turn in. Early start tomorrow.”

I gather the blanket around me like armor. “Yeah, me too. Thanks for... this,” I gesture vaguely at the TV.

He smiles, a soft, almost sad thing. “Anytime. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Carson.”

As I lie in bed later, sleep eludes me. My mind replays the evening on a loop. I toss and turn, torn between what my heart wants and what my head knows is sensible.

Chapter Five

Carson

Iturn away from Kelsie and make my way to the staircase, breaking the heat between us like a wave crashing over my head. My heart races as I realize the gravity of the situation.What are we doing? How long does she plan on staying in Lawson Ridge? Is it really smart to open my heart back up to someone who is going to be leaving as soon as her insurance check comes in?I have to think with my head, not my heart or dick. As much as I want Kelsie, I have a son to think about.

I take a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. I can feel her eyes on my back, searching for any sign of hesitation or doubt. And I'll be honest, there is a part of me that wants to say screw it and give in to this intense attraction. But I can't risk getting hurt again, and I definitely can't risk my son's well-being.

Thankfully, she isn’t coming up behind me or I might not be able to control myself. How am I supposed to sleep tonight knowing she is right there in the next room? Will she be dreaming of me tonight?

The last couple of nights have been rough. Every time I close my eyes, I see her. I see our life play out where she never left town to go to college, where we got married and had Collin. Welived on this ranch together… but that’s not possible. The last two decades can’t just disappear.

I trek up the staircase and shut my door behind me. A few minutes later, I hear her door close too. I lean against the door, my forehead pressed to the cool wood, willing my racing heart to slow. The scent of her lingers on my skin I close my eyes, and immediately regret it as visions of her flood my mind - the way her chestnut hair fell across her face, how her green eyes sparkled with mischief and desire.Fuck! What the hell was I thinking?Having her here is a bad idea. Wires are already getting crossed.

With a groan, I push away from the door and start to undress. The fabric of my shirt feels rough against my heated skin as I pull it over my head. I can still feel the phantom touch of her fingers. My jeans follow, and I’m left standing in my boxers with a semi. But take those off too.

As I step into the shower, letting the cold water cascade over me, I try to focus on anything but Kelsie. But it's futile. The patter of water on tile becomes the rhythm of her laughter. The steam rising around me transforms into the warmth of her breath on my neck.

I twist the faucet, shutting off the water with more force than necessary. Droplets cling to my skin as I step out, wrapping a towel around my waist. In the mirror, my reflection stares back at me - eyes dark with want, jaw clenched with resolve.

The house creaks and settles around me as I crawl into bed. Through the thin walls, I can hear the soft rustle of sheets from Kelsie's room. Is she tossing and turning too, plagued by the same desires? Or is she sleeping peacefully, unaware of the turmoil she's stirred in me?

I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling. Even in the darkness, I can't escape her. There is so much history between us. Not all of it good, but most of it. Despite her brother beingvery protective of her, he never caught onto us. We “dated” for the last two years of high school. We first kissed when we were twelve, but at that time, we were just friends. But as we got older, things started to progress.

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