My nose wrinkles in the darkness. “August, if you’re trying to make sweet word-love to me, this ain’t it.”
He chuckles from deep within his chest and the sound reverberates through me. “You’re right. I’ll shut up now.” Gently, he smooths a small circle on my stomach. “Forget I said anything.”
“Too late,” I say darkly. “Now I’m thinking about all the beds you’ve been in besides mine.” Not really, I’m very good at shutting that part out. He’s with me now. That’s all that matters. Still... I frown some more.
“Penelope?”
At his soft query, I turn my head.
When I meet his gaze it’s serious and clear. “You’re the only one.”
“Pfft . . .”
“I’m serious.” He nudges me with the arm tucked under my pillow. “There haven’t been any other girls in my bed. We’re more alike than you think. It’s hard for me to trust too.”
At that, I roll onto my side to face him. “That’s why I let you rub my food baby, Pickle. Because I feel comfortable with you. I trust you.”
August’s long fingers curl over the crest of my hip. In the dark, he’s mainly shadows, except for his eyes. They shine in the moonlight slanting across our pillow, and I see the emotion in them.
“I trust you too,” he says.
It sounds like something else. Something more.
We fall silent and eventually sleep. But deep in the dark of night, when the house is still, I wake and think about how August told me nothing of Jan’s confession. And how, when we’d been drifting off, he hadn’t snuggled me close as he always does, but had turned over and fallen straight to sleep in a huddle beneath the covers.
Thirty-Six
Pen
When morning comes, I don’t ask August about his strange mood the night before. It might be cowardly, but all our family is here. I’d rather leave it for now. At any rate, he’s his normal self when we wake. By that, I mean I’m woken with slow, searching kisses, his large hand gently cupping my cheek, stroking my neck and shoulder as if he can’t believe he’s found me here in his bed.
His voice, gravelly with sleep and soft with tenderness, tickles my ear. “Do you know how beautiful you are?” Kisses pepper my temple, the crest of my cheek. “Do you have any idea?”
I shiver, snuggling into him. “Not a clue. Tell me more.”
An easy chuckle vibrates against my neck as he nuzzles it. “How about I show you?”
Those talented hands of his sneak beneath the down quilt to find the hem of my nightshirt.
“I don’t know,” I whisper at his ear. “Our parents are here.” I suck the tender lobe, knowing he’ll shudder in pleasure.
“I can be quiet.” Gently he eases my shirt upward, slides his hand under my panties. “Can you?”
My breath hitches. He’s too good at this, circling and stroking just enough to make me hot. Not enough to get me off. The perfect tease. Liquid pleasure flows like molten gold through my veins. Shivery rivers of desire run along my skin.
August’s mouth finds mine. We kiss soft, slow, hard, deep, exchanging breaths that become more agitated and needy. All the while he slowly fingers my clit, his movements hampered by the tightness of my panties. Whimpering, I lift my hips in entreaty. I feel him smile against my lips.
“You want it,” he whispers.
“Yes.” There’s no hesitation now.
A nip on my lower lip. “You gonna be a good girl and stay silent?”
I’m panting now, breasts swollen and hot, rubbing against the shirt bunched around me, rubbing against his hard chest. Washes of balmy heat flow over me.
“I’ll be the best girl,” I plead, clutching his neck, pulling him closer.
August grunts, dragging my panties down with rough uncoordinated moves. When they’re around my ankles, I kick them away, and he rolls in between my spread thighs. His mouth captures mine with quiet desperation, then he’s yanking my shirt free. Our struggles are silent but for the rustling of the covers and the panting of our breath. He dips down, sucks an aching nipple in deep. I bite my lip, my hands tangling in his damp hair.
