Page 25 of I Could Be Yours

“The worst,” she agrees.

I kiss my way down her neck. “Why do you have to feel this good?”

“Because I like tormenting you,” she replies.

“Well, you’re doing a really fucking awesome job. I can’t stop thinking about your nipples.”

“I’m glad they left a lasting impression.” She sucks my bottom lip.

And then we’re back to making out. Hands roaming, tongues exploring. Her fingers skim along my belt line. I trail my fingers up her side. Bad idea or not, I’m suddenly desperate to know what those nipple piercings feel like under my fingertips.

The door to the shed swings open, and Essie tears her mouth from mine. I spin to face the intruder, ready to give them shit for interrupting, except it’s Mrs. Bright—the owner of this shed and the lawn tractor we’re making out on, and the mother of Dallas Bright.

“We got locked in,” Essie rushes to explain as she smooths out her skirt.

The corner of Mrs. Bright’s mouth twitches. “You don’t have to defile the lawn mower. We have plenty of more comfortable spots available, which you can use like civilized folk.”

“I panicked. Nate was distracting me.”

“Seems like it worked,” Mrs. Bright observes.

“I should deliver the paper towels.” Essie grabs them from the ground and rushes out, disappearing around the corner.

I take a step toward the door. “I’m going to…just…go. Sorry, Mrs. Bright.” I head toward the lake instead of following Essie back to the party.

What the hell did I just do? Worse, why do I want to do it again as soon as humanly possible?

CHAPTER 8

NATE

“That prototype is gorgeous,” Greg says as we step into the local pub to grab an after-work drink.

“Super impressive,” Bill agrees.

“Imagine how cool it would be to have your skate promoted by your brother’s team,” Patrick adds, voice filled with awe and envy.

“It would be great for my career,” I agree.

Greg elbows me. “Is that the hottie who stopped by our office last week?”

I follow his gaze as we head for our usual table. Standing less than fifteen feet away is Essie. “Uh, yeah, it is.”

She’s dressed in a pink crop top with poofy sleeves, high-waisted jeans, and a pair of pink heels. Her hair hangs over her shoulders in artful waves, her makeup runway ready. She looks gorgeous—as usual—and also uncomfortable. A smile is plastered on her face. Her head is tipped slightly to the side, and she’s twirling a lock of hair around her finger. It seems more like a nervous habit than flirtatious. It’s so different from the feisty, competitive, sharp-tongued Essie I deal with.

My gaze shifts to follow hers. She’s talking to a behemoth of a guy. He looks like he was carved out of marble andbrought to life. Their level of attractiveness matches. I immediately dislike him.

Essie’s eyes flare slightly when they find me. Mere feet separate me from her and the Adonis. Her entire demeanor shifts. She stops twirling her hair and a wide, heart-stopping smile lights up her face. “Nathan, baby, there you are!” She grabs my hand and pulls me over, ducking under my arm and snuggling into my side. I’m hit with her cotton candy and lightly floral scent. She fits perfectly against my side.

“Hey, Ess,” I say slowly, going along with whatever this is, mostly out of curiosity and also because I like touching her and don’t want to stop.

“Jason, this is my boyfriend, Nathan.”

I swallow my shock. I’m not a small guy, far from it, but Jason looks like he eats guys like me for lunch. He could snap me like a twig. Still, I don’t drop my arm, or call her out. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Jason looks disappointed as fuck, and like he’s assessing this pairing.

Essie presses her hand against my chest and looks up at me with adoring eyes. “Nate is an engineer. He designs sports equipment. Right now he’s working on a design for a new ice skate, and it’s just beautiful.”

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