Page 81 of Just One Season
“I want to see them too. I mean, I’m not sure when.”
“We could go. Sometime.” The words are out before I can stop them, and my eyes widen as she pushes up on her elbows from her sprawled position and looks at me.
“I’d love that.” Her eyes are shimmering in the starlight. “This has been a lot of fun, Kellen.”
I nod, unable to find the words. I don’t want to talk about fake dating. Because I’m convinced that’s not what’s happening anymore, at least not from my side. I like this woman. I trust this woman. Trust her with my daughter, which is the highest level I can offer someone.
“Hey, you okay?” Lucy sits up completely and faces me, her knees lightly touching mine.
I just want to kiss her. That’s all I can think about right now.
“Lucy.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I kiss you?” I wish I could say this is lust talking, but it’s not only that.
“Practice?” she whispers.
“Something like that.”
“Okay. I think I’d like that.” Lucy leans toward me, and I’m almost frozen.
Something in my chest is shifting. Something warm and bright.
I close the distance between us and the touch of our lips together is an explosion. Each time we’ve kissed has been different. The first sweet and soft, the second heavy and hot, and this one… desperate and intense. Her tongue swipes into my mouth and touches mine, teasing me, and I slide my hand back to bury it in her soft curls. I could get lost in them.
In her.
A soft moan escapes her throat. I slip down to my knees and kneel in between her legs, my face at the same height as hers. She pulls me closer, and I slide my hands around her waist and onto her lower back.
I want to keep kissing her, ideally forever.
I slip my hand under her shirt and caress the bare skin on her back, up her spine and back down.
Fuck, I want to be with her. I want to touch her everywhere and show her how amazing she is. Her arms are around my neck, and she arches into me. I’m about lose the little control I have around this woman.
“Lucy,” I say between kisses. It’s a statement of fact, and she murmurs something in response that I don’t quite catch. I kiss her neck, my mouth lingering on the sweet curve of her throat.
A woman’s laugh sounds from the lodge, followed by a man’s low voice.
Lucy stiffens and turns her head toward the noise. I pause for a beat, my lips hovering above her skin, but soon return to kissing her neck. I slide my hands to her ass and tug her toward me, cupping her round bottom in my palms.
“Fuck ‘em,” I say against her neck. “They won’t see us out here.”
She breathes out heavily but straightens her body.
“I think that’s my brother.” Lucy turns back to me, eyes hooded, just like I imagine mine are.
“Fucking Atticus.” I groan and stare at her lips, red with my kisses. She doesn’t laugh like I want her to. I slide my hands back to her waist.
Lucy glances back toward the voices. I push curls away from the side of her face and take in her freckles, sweet mouth, and long lashes over moonlit eyes.
“Want to come to my cottage?” The words fall out of my mouth unintentionally, my subconscious speaking for itself.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She looks at me, but her eyes are far away.
I pull it together, nod, and slide my hands off her body, regret running deeply through me.
