Page 70 of Further To Fall

Hearing the soft footfalls my socked feet made on the tile, he looked up. “Hey, babe, what sounds good for dinner?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I plucked the phone from his hand and set it on the coffee table. Then I steeled my nerves and straddled him. His eyes widened slightly, but his hands immediately went to my hips. “You know, I’m not all that hungry at the moment.”

“You’re not, huh?” Austin’s fingers flexed into the flesh at my sides.

“Nope.” I leaned in and brought my mouth to his. Tasting a bit of bitterness from the beer he had been drinking and that flavor that was uniquely Austin, I groaned slightly into his mouth.

He slipped a hand beneath my t-shirt, trailing up the small of my back and around to my stomach. “So smooth. I’ll never get tired of touching your skin.” I needed the barriers between his skin and mine gone. I took my hands from his shoulders, moved them down to the hem of my shirt, and pulled it up and over my head. Austin’s eyes were fixed on the swells of my breasts peeking out from my new blush lace bra. I reached back and unfastened it, letting it fall to the floor. He continued to stare, then lifted his eyes to mine. “So damn pretty.”

He skimmed his hand higher, swiping his thumb across my nipple in the way I loved. “More,” I said, biting back a moan. Austin dipped his head and took my pebbled bud into his mouth. This time, I did cry out, loudly. The pulls on my nipple sent zings of pleasure directly to my clit. My head fell back as he moved to the other nipple.

He nibbled lightly. “I wonder if I could make you come like this?”

“Please.” I was panting.

“My eyes! Dear God, my eyes, they’re burning!”

Those words, spoken by that voice, were a bucket of ice water thrown on my overheated body. I shrieked, throwing my body forward so that my chest was pressed up against Austin’s, concealing myself.

“Jesus, Liam! Turn the fuck around and try knocking next time,” Austin bellowed. Luckily, my back had been to the door so there was no way Liam could have actually seen anything, but I’m sure his imagination was working overtime. I grimaced at that thought, certain my cheeks were turning fuchsia.

“You know Ford and I have keys. Why would you do this to me?” Liam groaned as Austin deftly got me back in my bra, and I slipped my shirt back over my head.

“Where is Ford, anyway?” Austin asked.

Liam had a hand covering his eyes and was facing away from us. “He was outside on a phone call when I pulled up.”

Just then, the front door opened, and Ford strode in. “What the hell is all the yelling about?” he asked, sending a perplexed look towards Liam, who still had a hand over his eyes.

Liam pointed roughly in my direction without turning around or dropping the hand from his eyes. “Carter flashed me!” He sounded outraged.

“Oh, I did not, you big drama queen. And you can take your hand off your eyes now.”

“Are you sure? You are like my little sister, and I never, ever want to see my little sister’s boobies. Or my little sister about to go to pound town with my best friend.”

Ford snorted. “Hey, I thought I was your best friend.”

Before Liam could retort, Austin jumped in. “Watch it, Liam, or I’ll go to pound town on your face.”

Both Liam’s and Ford’s expressions twisted into ugly grimaces, but it was Ford who spoke. “That’s just wrong, man. And some fucked-up mental imagery I won’t be able to get rid of quickly.”

“I’m the one who’s going to have nightmares!” Liam yelled.

I stepped in between all of them. “Enough, all of you are a bunch of dramatic babies. I’m hungry, can we order some food?”

Liam pouted. “Fine, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to eat.”

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s see what you say when Little Dom’s arrives, fatty.” He immediately perked up at the name of our favorite Italian place. That’s what I thought.

The next morning,I was sitting in Austin’s passenger seat, sipping my coffee and texting with Taylor as Austin and I pulled into the school parking lot. Last night, the boys had stayed far too late, and I had fallen asleep on the couch while they watched a baseball game. I had briefly awakened to Austin carrying me back to his bedroom and stayed semi-conscious long enough to take out my contacts and brush my teeth. I woke in the morning to find myself pinned between Austin and Blue. Austin had not been happy to discover Blue in his bed, but he was just going to have to get used to it.

As we swung into a parking spot, I spotted John waiting in the same place he had been yesterday. I waved in his direction, and he responded with a chin lift. I liked John. He wasn’t the most talkative, but I could tell he was salt of the earth and took his job seriously. I would never admit it to Austin, but I breathed a little easier knowing that John was right outside my door all day. “Morning, John,” I called as I slipped from the Range Rover.

“Morning, Carter.”

Austin came around the front of the SUV and threw an arm over my shoulders. He always claimed me in some way—an arm around me, holding my hand, grasping the back of my neck. I loved that he wasn’t afraid to be affectionate in public. It was never over-the-top, but I always appreciated it. Maybe because I had been unsure about us for so long, this clear declaration always hit me right in the feels. I pressed my body into his, hoping he’d sense my gratitude. He tilted his head down and kissed my forehead. “Let’s get you to class.”

“You don’t have to walk me all the way in, you know.”

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