Page 35 of Queen Rose

Aria

Iwish every day could be like today. It was nice for once to forget—or at least set aside—my worries and spend quality time with my friends. We’ve been drinking and playing board games, and just generally goofing off most of the day. It feels good to know we have nowhere to go and nothing to do. It feels especially important because this may be one of our last chances to be together like this as a group as the end of our senior year approaches entirely too quickly.

The guys have fired up the grill, claiming to be grill masters, leaving us girls to prepare all the side dishes—also known as unpacking the food that the delivery service left for us.

“Aria, I’m really enjoying getting to know Nate.” Lyla bites her lip as she raises her brows at me. “He’s nice. A little bit of a chip on his shoulder, but I think that’s normal, considering this is not what he’s used to. In fact, he reminds me a little of me.” She laughs, wrinkling her nose.

Daphne picks a strawberry out of the fruit salad that she’s pulled out of the fridge and pops it into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “It probably helped when he realized that we’re a pretty good mix of backgrounds here. He asked me about the whole Star Wars ‘Imperial March’ thing earlier, and I think he was kinda surprised to find out I’m on scholarship at Rosehaven and started out as Micah’s tutor.”

I draw in a breath as I unwrap a delicious-looking pasta salad. Glancing around the kitchen island, I notice all eyes are on me. “Yeah. He was a little overwhelmed at first, but I think he’s okay now. Thank you for welcoming him into our group. It means a lot to me.” I bite the inside of my cheek as I pause. “I mean it. It’s really nice to know I have your support.”

Scarlett nods. “I’m glad his mom’s been okay at home. He said Franny is looking in on them. How is she managing to do that and still keep up with everything at your place?”

I nod, suddenly swamped with guilt. I glance down, opening a drawer to fish out a few serving spoons and forks for our side dishes. “Um. Franny isn’t the only one caring for them.” I look up, my eyes flicking among these girls who I’ve come to trust. “I volunteer a lot at a women’s shelter in Laramie. One of the women there is also helping.”

Lyla blinks. “Seriously?” She sets down the bag of chips that she was about to pour into a bowl.

I train my gaze on her. “Which part? Melinda helping or the fact that I volunteer?”

“Wow.” Scarlett rests her hands on the counter, her job of tossing the salad forgotten for the moment. Her lips clamp shut as she turns her head, gaze sliding over to mine.

Lyla huffs, “The latter. Why didn’t we know this? How long? Oh my God, I have so many questions.”

I haven’t quite decided how to answer when Daphne shrugs. “Can I say I’m actually not surprised?”

I tilt my head, my curiosity piqued, and look into Daph’s green eyes. “How come?”

Daph quietly reaches across the island to grab the chips and bowl from the counter in front of Lyla, taking care of the task herself. “Lyla, think about how quickly Aria came to your rescue when your uniforms got trashed by Mandy. I remember hearing about it and thinking to myself, Huh.” She flips her long brown hair over her shoulder, shifting her gaze to mine. “To be honest, volunteering seems like something you’d do. You think you have everyone fooled into believing you’re a selfish bitch, but you’re not.” She shrugs with a smirk at me. “Just saying.”

Scarlett tucks her hair behind her ears. “You know, if they ever need a couple extra hands, that’d be something I wouldn’t mind doing with you.”

Lyla and Daphne both murmur their agreement, and I have to look away for several seconds. The sting of impending tears knocks me sideways, but I sniff and nod. “Yeah. Okay. That would mean a lot to me.” I mash my lips together, fighting for control. “Thank you.” I draw in a shaky breath. “Okay, no more of this emotional shit. I can’t handle it. Let’s go join the guys.” Fortunately, no one argues, though I don’t miss the looks passing among them. I’m sure I’ve given them something to talk about, which is nothing new lately.

After a mostly uneventful dinner—Beau did manage to knock a glassful of his special drink concoction all over Lyla, though I still say that was a ploy to get her naked more than anything else—everyone has gone to their rooms to change into bathing suits so we can get into the hot tub. And then? Well, who the fuck knows what trouble we’ll get into from there.

I glance over at Nate, who’s just emerged from the bathroom in his swim trunks. My heart does a little stutter step before it starts to beat in rhythm again. I know we’ve had sex and I’ve seen him naked, but damn. I’m unsure I’ll ever get my fill. His body is entirely too amazing. I’m also not accustomed to sharing space with a guy, so to have one pop out of the bathroom half-dressed still somewhat surprises me.

When my eyes finally drift up his chest to his face, our eyes connect. There’s heat in his stare. My face flushes and my mouth goes dry. The way he’s looking at me has me altogether flustered. I make every attempt to concentrate on nothing more than breathing, but I simply can’t. Finally, I blurt out, “Do I look okay?”

He smirks. “Are you kidding?” With measured steps, he comes closer and closer still. “You’re seriously questioning whether or not your hot little body looks okay in that bikini?”

For the space of three seconds, I can’t even remember which swimsuit I’d brought with me. That’s what Nate does to me. He makes my brain mush. Especially with the fiery look he’s giving me right now. I glance down at the pretty purple suit with bow ties at the hips and triangle top. It’s one of my favorites—and also has full-coverage for my ass to hide the bruise on my tush that Conner had put there. “Oh. You like it?” I summon my best regal, the-queen-has-asked-you-a-question-and-she’d-better-like-your-answer look. I arch a brow at him.

He growls, “Yeah. Yeah, I do. And I’m going to like you out of it even more.”

“But everyone—”

“Is occupied.” He points out the window to where some of them are starting a fire in the firepit and the rest are climbing into the hot tub. While I’m busy looking, he closes the distance between us, grasps my shoulders, and turns me so my back is up against the floor-to-ceiling windows. His mouth takes mine and all the heat that was promised in his eyes earlier is now channeled into his kiss. The intensity threatens to make me forget anything and everything. He rests his forearm on the window over my head and uses the other hand to tug the cup of my suit to the side. He leans down to bring his mouth to my breast and nips playfully at the skin, groaning and growling as he does.

I grasp his shoulders, holding on tightly. “Yes, Nate.” My heart rockets faster and faster.

“I’ve waited all day to have your sweet nipple in my mouth.” He glances up. “Can I?”

Holy shit.“Yes,” I breathe out. And no sooner have I agreed than his talented tongue is stroking over the taut bud and driving me mad. “Holy shit.” This time, I say it aloud as I buck in his arms at the sensation of his warm, wet mouth sucking on me. My back arches, and my breaths come quickly as I watch the masterful way he licks, sucks, and bites one breast, and then moves my bikini top aside and takes the other into his mouth.

By the time he looks up, my entire body is throbbing, aching for anything he’s willing to give me. The worst of the torture is centered between my legs where I’m damp with arousal. Every touch he gives me shoots down to my core. My body pulses, needy. I loop my leg around his hip, bringing him closer. My mind is hazy with desire, swamped with all the sensations as Nate continues to adore me.

When a cheer erupts from outside, it hits me all at once that the lights are on, and I guess Nate realizes it, too.

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