“And came back with a horror story to traumatize his little sister.”
Her mouth dropped, understanding lighting her eyes. “That bastard. You wait until I talk to him again. He’s so dead.”
“Ready to go back in the water?” I asked her.
Her head swiveled to the water, then back to me. “Let’s enjoy the sun for a while, maybe read some like you wanted?”
“Ha, chicken.”
I knew she was too competitive to let me get away with that insult. Blue eyes darkened to navy, and she was on her feet, running to the water before I could catch her. We spent the rest of the day between the water and the blanket, and my adorationfor her shifted further to something I didn’t want to admit yet but couldn’t deny.
Rain pounded on the windshield as I pulled into a spot at Tori’s complex. She leaned forward and looked up at the sky.
“I think we have to make a run for it,” I told her. We’d fled the beach just in time to avoid the storm, but it hadn’t ceased.
She glanced over at me.
“Leave your bag and I’ll get it when the rain stops,” I told her, unbuckling. “Race you there.”
Her irises sparkled with amusement as she unbuckled and put her hand on the door handle. I readied myself, knowing she wouldn’t let me off easy. She ran for it, and I followed right behind, my long strides catching up to her as she lost a flip-flop. I caught her when she stopped to grab it, bringing her against me and laughing as I kissed the rain from her nose. Giggling, she wiggled out of my arms and took off again. I hadn’t felt this free and unburdened in years. Rain-soaked, I chased her up her stairs, pinning her against her door before she could get inside.
“I still won,” she said, turning to face me. Hair drenched, raindrops running down her face, and panting, she was beguiling, and I lost my hold on myself. Threading my hand into her hair, I pushed her head toward me and captured her mouth. All the resistance I’d been giving myself to take this at a pace that ensured I wouldn’t lose her and gave me time to come up with a plan to keep her crumbled, and I let it go. Freedom had never tasted so good.
My hands roved over her body, pushing at the straps of her sundress as hers slipped below my T-shirt. Currents shot through me at the contact, and I gripped her hip, pulling her intome so she could feel how badly I wanted her. She moaned, and my lips slipped down her chin to her neck.
“Open the door, Tori.”
“Gabe,” she breathed.
I tore my mouth from her skin and looked at her, seeing the lust in those baby blues. “Open the damn door, Tori, or I’ll take you right here.”
Her lips parted, a sexy exhale escaping her.
Dragging my hands up her body, I said, “Unless you don’t want that, and we can go back to waiting.”
Fire lit her irises, and she grabbed my shirt, jerking me closer. “I never said we had to wait. That was your thing, and I respected it, but if you’re done waiting, Gabe, then so am I.”
That was all the permission I needed. Mouth crashing into hers, I bunched her dress in my hand, desperate to take it off her. “Open the damn door before I pin you against it and ravage you.”
Her inhale was sharp against my lips, and I stopped it with my kiss as she struggled to get the key in the lock. The door opened, and we fell into her apartment, our feet fighting to keep us upright. I slammed it shut with my foot, hearing her key fall to the ground right before I had her sundress joining it. She shoved my shirt off, and it landed with a thump steps away from her dress as I walked us to her bedroom. My hands smoothed over all the open skin her bikini wasn’t covering until they found the ties to her top. With two quick movements, I had it untied and was pushing it from her body. Her bare chest met mine, and any semblance of control I had disappeared like a summer storm. I lifted her and pressed her against the wall before I could even get her to the room.
Her legs circled my back, and I pressed into her, need throbbing through me. I was moving too fast, lost in the feel of her, and I wanted to relish every moment of our first time together, to memorize every inch of her body, every birthmark,every moan. I didn’t want fast and hard; I wanted more with Tori. It was the reason I’d waited so long.
Dropping my head, I kissed her neck, loving how her hands roved my muscles, causing goosebumps. Drawing back, I met her hazy eyes.
“This isn’t how I want to take you,” I told her.
Her lips pursed, and I gave them a gentle kiss. Adjusting her, I walked us into her room.
“And how do you want to take me?” she asked, her fingers running through my wet hair.
I lowered her onto her bed and hovered over her. Nudging her neck, I dipped in to kiss it, dragging my lips down to her collarbone as I cupped her breast and ran my thumb over her nipple. “Like I’m worshipping you, luna mia,” I said, sucking her nipple into my mouth.
Her hands tightened in my hair as her back arched.
“Every inch of this gorgeous body.” I dragged my teeth over her nipple and untied the string on her bottoms. My hand drifted over her stomach as I kissed the sweet flesh of her breast, flicking my tongue over her nipple. Her hands dug into my scalp as she whimpered.
I bumped her legs apart, slipping my hand between them and palming her warmth. Within moments, my only focus in life became Tori and having her fall apart for me. I brushed my lips up her neck and stole her lips again, sliding my finger through her and groaning at the sensation.
