Page 75 of Monster Among the Roses (Fairy Tale Quartet 1)

He made a face and shuddered. “Are you nuts? You’re probably going to have sex with my sister in that suit. I never want it back.”

I rolled my eyes. “If it makes you feel better, I’m sure I’ll take the suit off before I have sex with her.”

Then I walked out the front door, unable to stop snickering.

How was that for a lame comeback?

“Damn you, Hollander!” he yelled after me. “You laugh it up now, you little bastard. We’ll just see who has the last laugh when I’m standing over your grave.”

chapter

TWENTY-THREE

The next morning, I woke early, eager to see Isobel. I made myself lie there for a good half hour until it was the usual time I got up. Then I pulled on my jogging clothes, stuffed another outfit into my backpack, tucked my new mirror into the front pocket, and checked on my mom who was still sleeping peacefully, before I hurried out the door. It took me about ten minutes to reach my truck, when it typically took about fifteen. And then I made it to Porter Hall in about half the time I usually spent driving.

The gate opened a minute later, letting me in, and I pulled around the back to my parking spot.

Isobel hadn’t made it out to the lake by the time I jogged up to our starting spot. I paced and stretched, impatient for her to show. When I finally heard the crunch of gravel as she approached, my body clanged with awareness.

“Hey,” she called, her voice full of pleasure when she caught sight of me already here. “You’re early today—mmph!”

I cut her off with a kiss, tugging her into my arms and plastering her body to mine.

“Are you sure you want to run today?” I asked breathlessly when we came up for air. “I can think of another way to exercise.”

Her eyes flared with heat before she bit her lip. “What did you have in mind?”

“Sex in the pool house shower,” I said, nipping my way down her throat as I confessed something I wanted to do every time I stepped into that shower: her. “Then in the bed. Then in the hot tub. Not necessarily in that order.”

She shivered in my arms and ran her fingers through my hair. “I think you’re successfully tempting me.”

I grinned against the swell of her breast. “We have a full hour before I need to clock in.” Then I bit her nipple right through her jogging shirt and sports bra. “Just think of all the ways I could make you come in a full hour.”

She gasped before taking my hand and tugging me back up the trail toward the pool house. “Okay. I’m sold.”

We were both laughing—okay, fine, giggling—by the time we reached the rock cave.

As soon as we were closed inside, Isobel ripped her running shirt up over her head, and I was quick to follow, peeling off mine. We watched each other giddily, racing to see who could get naked first.

Isobel won, whooping over her triumph as she called, “Hot tub first,” and raced over to dive into the bubbling warm water. I hurried in after her, tugging her onto my lap as soon as we were both submerged. She turned to face me, straddling me so she could wrap her legs around my waist. We kissed, and my chest slipped against her slick breasts, warm water spilling between us with each shift of our bodies.

She worked her hips until she was pressing her entrance right against my cock. Hard and throbbing, I tried to push my way inside but the damn water worked against us. Plus, I realized I had no protection, even though I’d seen some in a drawer in the bathroom once. That was too far away, so I reached between us and messaged her clit, kissing her shoulder as the heat and vibration of the water brought her to an orgasm.

Her fingernails bit into my arm as she came apart. I gasped with her, my body on fire. The sounds she made, the expression on her face, the way she trembled against me, it was the biggest high. I felt powerful and pleased as she started to settle and relax against me.

“That was so hot,” I said into her scarred ear, before kissing it. “You are so fucking beautiful.”

She looked up at me. “Did you say something? I don’t hear as well from that ear.”

My lips parted. I’d never known that. I knew she couldn’t use her hand quite as well on the left side, but I’d never known about the hearing. I leaned in and kissed her gently.

“I said I love you,” I told her.

Her face softened. “I love you, too.”

“Let’s continue this in the bedroom. I want to be on a bed the next time I’m inside you.”

I stroked Isobel’s hair as she rested her head on my shoulder and breathed evenly. She was completely limp and relaxed and yet I somehow knew she was still awake.

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