Ten feet into the water, we dove in, head first…
Together.
eighteen
ASHTON
Look here, if you’re telling the truth you needn’t be afraid…
— MARK TWAIN
The sun was long gone and the evening dew was setting in. Everyone was watching a movie on the screen Ford had set up in front of the lake. Or they had been. The kids had wandered off to the playground up by the house. And most of the adults had made their way inside. Only Blue and Anna were on a blow up mattress, thirty feet away, full on making out.
I showed Tally the messages that were rolling in about the new chapter of Spy on Incognito. It had “exceeded expectations.”
“Your turn.” Her teeth chattered. “Let’s see if your chapter can beat mine.”
A half hour ago, I’d placed a fuzzy blanket around hershoulders. She’d snuggled in, wrapping it around her from chin to feet. But she was still cold apparently. Virginia thought it was summer during the day, but at night not so much.
I nudged her shoulder with mine. “My chapter is going to kick your chapter’s butt.”
“Sure, sure.” She laughed. “We’ll see.” She opened her arms, welcoming me into her blanket cocoon. “You think you could loan me some of that body heat, Leggs?”
The logical thing would’ve been for her to put her T-shirt on. We were both still in our swimsuits which were slightly damp from earlier.
“Don’t have to ask me twice, Austen.” I crawled into her arms. She giggled as we fell back onto the mattress. I landed on top of her. I looked down into her beautiful face. “It’s been a good day, yeah?”
She smiled, her eyes sparkling. “The best.”
She slid her fingers up into my hair and pulled my mouth to hers. Her tongue slipped straight between my teeth, sending warmth into my gut. I sunk into her, ready. I’d been waiting all day for this.
Her lips chased mine. Wherever mine went, hers were right behind, searching, exploring. Memorizing. We’d barely gotten going when our mattress bounced hard, flinging us up. I caught myself before I landed on Tally’s chest. I didn’t need to knock the air out of her.
Anna giggled as I rolled off of Tally. “All right, you two.”
Embarrassment smacked me in the cheeks. A man is never ready to be caught making out by his niece. Especially with her best friend.
Peering down at us, Blue said, “We’re headed to our place. Making out doesn’t do it once you’re married.”
“I wouldn’t know,” I said flatly.
He smirked.
Anna looked down at Tally, fighting a smile. “Want us to put Charlie and Theo to bed for you? Then you cantake your time.”
Blue groaned. Clearly, he wanted to head straight home.
“Yes,” Tally said eagerly. “That would be great.”
“You got it.” Anna smiled and pulled a reluctant Blue behind her. We watched them walk away.
Once they were gone, Tally reached for me, urging me on top of her.
I looked down at her. “Are you sure you’re okay like this?”
In response, she slid her fingers back into my hair and pulled my mouth to hers like Blue and Anna had never interrupted us. Her tongue licked across mine and the heat rushed in, full force. My fingers intertwined with hers. I pushed her hands up by her head, while I pressed kisses up her jawline to her left ear and down to her lips. Then I went up the other way. She panted and nudged me with her nose, trying to get my lips to come back to hers.
I loved this woman so much. Loved every part of her intelligent brain. Loved every curve and bend of her body. Loved every freaking atom that made up Tallulah Hawkins. And I wanted her to know it.
