Page 69 of Swept for Forever
Even when I dipped lower, trailing my mouth over the wet fabric of her singlet, she didn’t stop me. Her chest lifted in shallow breaths, and her fingers sank into my hair, uncertain but needy.
I knew exactly what it did to her.
My lips brushed over her breast, and her body answered before her mind could catch up—arching, pressing, and seeking.
Jesus.
I groaned, my grip tightening at her back. Even with layers between us, I could feel her. The lushness of her curves, and the way her body fit against my hands like she was made for this. For me.
Heat rushed through me, settling low and insistent.
I wanted her.
But more than that, I wanted to make her feel good. To show her exactly how much I worshipped her and adored her, and how much I’d been holding back.
I slid a hand beneath the water, skimming her upper thigh, testing, waiting?—
And then I felt it.
The smallest shift in her body. Away from me.
She probably didn’t even realize she’d done it, but I did. I caught the way her breathing changed, and the way her fingers twitched against my shoulder, uncertain.
So I stopped.
I eased my grip and pressed my mouth against her skin before pulling back entirely, cradling the back of her head with one hand.
Autumn’s lips parted, confusion flickering across her face.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice small.
I cast her a look, doing my best to match her innocence with something soft and sincere. “For what?”
She bit her lip. “For…stopping you?”
I exhaled a quiet laugh, pressing my forehead to hers. “Don’t ever apologize for that.”
Her fingers curled against my chest. “But you?—”
“Iwantyou, Autumn,” I said simply. “But more than that, I want you to feel safe with me. I want you to trust me.”
Her body went still.
I let my hand settle against her cheek, brushing a damp curl away from her face.
We were eye to eye, and the piercing pull in my chest told me this wasn’t just fooling around anymore.
It wasn’t just heat and chemistry and the thrill of stolen moments.
It was more.
I didn’t know what to call it yet, but I sure as hell wasn’t letting it go.
We waded back to the riverbank, the water sliding off us in rivulets. The late afternoon sun had started its descent, castingeverything in a golden glow that made Buffaloberry Hill feel even more like home.
Autumn wrung out her tank top. She kept sneaking glances at me, her lips looking a little swollen from kissing. But then she held herself.
“Where’s Lulu?” she asked, scanning the park.
