Fraser’s chuckle vibrates through me. “That’s not what we mean, and you know it,” he says in my ear. “We’re talking you making your own clothes.”
I’m already shaking my head. “It would be toomuch,” I say. “Production, packing, shipping, finding ethical fabric suppliers—I’ll make so many mistakes.”
“So make them,” Fraser insists. “I reckon the world could do with a lot more of you in it, London. Mistakes and mess and all.”
I twist to look at him. His auburn curls are unruly around his head, his expression utterly open. “You actually believe that, don’t you?” I say incredulously.
He laughs. “Aye,I do. I like you messy.” He presses a kiss to the crook of my neck. “Like you angry.” Another kiss, this time on my jaw. “Like you sad.” And another on my cheek. “Like you happy. I like you every way you come.”
“Oh.”
The words ring through me like I’m a struck bell.I like you every way you come.
He reaches my mouth. I push forwards for a proper kiss, but he holds back, eyes dancing. “And you’re wrong,” he says quietly. “You’re not hard to like. It’s the easiest thing in the world to like you. Couldn’t stop myself if I tried.” He smiles against my lips. “Don’t worry. I’ll fix you. I’ll like you so hard, you won’t be able to believe otherwise.”
Emotion washes up in me. I push closer to him, angling for a real kiss, and freeze as the plug inside me shifts.
Oh God. I’d forgotten about it. I clutch down on it automatically, feeling a sparkle deep inside me.
Fraser frowns. “You okay? You don’t look very comfortable.”
“She’s been squirming like that all evening,” Cameron says. “Something’s wrong with her.”
“Oh, aye?” Fraser strokes my cheek. “Something up?”
“Um…”
“Summer.” Alec leans forwards. “Would you like to go back to the house?” he asks quietly. He’s offering to take out the toy. I shake my head slowly. “You’re sure? I admit, if I’d known where tonight’s conversation would go, I would have made…different choices.”
I wriggle, feeling the deep press inside me. “You made great choices,” I say, clutching at Fraser’s jumper. “Let’s all move on.” I’m so over talking about my tragic backstory. I want to move on to more exciting topics. Such as the toy shoved up my arse.
Fraser looks suspicious. “What are you two talking about? You don’t have those wee panties on again, do you?”
“No,” I squawk, trying to stay still. “I don’t just walk around wearing vibrating pants!”
“But you do have something,” he clarifies.
“Um…”
Alec takes a sip of his drink. “You’re sure you want to do this?” he asks me.
“I have never been more certain of anything in my life.”
He nods thoughtfully and sets down the glass. “Well, then, don’t lie to my friends.”
I look up again at Fraser. “Yes,” I admit. “I do have…something.”
Cameron sits up a little straighter. “What is it?” he asks. His eyes are very, very dark.
Before I can answer, Alec interrupts. “Why don’t you find it yourself?” he suggests.
FIFTY-FIVE
SUMMER
There’s a brief, stunned silence. I can hear distantbaasdrifting across the hills over the wind. Then Fraser guffaws, gathering me closer. “A treasure hunt? God, you are just full of surprises, aren’t you, honey? Cam, get in here.”
I feel Cameron shift one of the heat lamps closer as Fraser slowly peels me out of my new coat. I’m too hot anyway. I can feel sweat starting to build at the base of my neck as his hands stroke down my skirt.
