My heart races. “What are you doing?”
“Giving you a first kiss.” His lips brush against mine, along with the stubble on his chin. “A real kiss. One I should’ve given you back then.”
I hold my breath as his fingers curl around my neck. He tilts my head, holding it in place as he explores my lips with his tongue. It’s more than anything I could’ve imagined. I’m floating, anchored only by his large palms cupping my face and neck.
My mouth parts, letting out a moan. His tongue delves deeper, tangling with mine, and I taste the sweet dessert we shared, though this is sweeter than any figgy pudding. I wrap my arms around his and though I’m already floating; he grabs my ass, lifting me onto my tiptoes as he devours me, probing every corner of my mouth and licking every secret from my tongue.
A growl vibrates from his mouth to mine, sending a vibration straight to my centre. His hands roam my body, travelling under the hem of my cotton dress, and squeezing every fleshy part of me.
“Gray, someone might see.” I tug my dress down over my boy shorts, letting it float back to my knee.
“You up for a skinny dip?” he says, his lips still on me, mapping out every inch of my skin, from my face down to my neck.
“We can’t get in?” Not that I’d skinny dip if we could, mind.
“I know the security guard. It’s Joey. Remember him?”
“How ironic that he used to break into here and now he’s the security guard.” A giggle escapes as he nibbles at my breasts, popping open the top button of my floral print dress to gain better access.
“Last chance for a skinny dip, before I take you home to feast on these double ds.”
My chest jiggles with a laugh as he buries his face between the valley of my breasts, licking and nipping at my skin. “Take me home, Gray.”
“All right.” He takes my hand in his, interlacing our fingers. My heart flutters along with other organs in my body. His eyes roam up to my face as if to check it’s okay to hold my hand, so I give it a reassuring squeeze.
We walk by the main entrance. His strides are longer and faster, no longer a relaxing stroll along the promenade. He’s on a mission to get home as quickly as possible. I have to break into a run to keep up with him. “Gray, slow down.”
“I can’t, Cam. I’ll carry you if I have to.” He drags me along, my kitten heels clicking on the pavement. “I’ve waited ten years to have you. I’m not waiting another moment.”
I gulp, knowing what he’s planning. The fire sizzles in my tummy, though it’s been a while since I’ve been intimate with someone. My heart stutters, reminding me of its fragile state.
“Wait, you’ve wanted me for ten years?” I suck in a breath and slow my feet down.
He spins around to face me, taking hold of my hand again. “Yeah. I was going to ask you out, but you never came back, Cam.”
My eyes widen. “When? When were you going to ask me out?”
“After my injury, when I was kicked out of college and came home. I was waiting for you to come over for the summer, but you never came.”
Tears threaten my eyes and prickle at the back of my throat. “I was a consolation prize?”
The colour drains from his face. “What? No, Cam.”
“Funny how at Christmas, when I was here, you told Noel to keep his hands off me because I was basically like a little sister to you. But as soon as your dream’s over and you’re back here, I’m good enough for you.” Clutching my purse, I whisk past him. The hurt mixed with fury inside me somehow helps propel me forward at a faster pace than I’m used to.
I lift my chin, my face tense as I will myself not to cry over him. The memories of that night seeping back into my soul. He hurt me. I thought we had some sort of attraction that had been building all summer.
At Christmas, I was desperate to get back here just to see him and catch him under the mistletoe. But it was Noel that was flirting with me until Gray told him to back off. That I was off limits. Some bro code about me being like a sister to him.
I’m sure Noel only wanted some fun, and Gray was probably trying to save my virtue, but knowing how he saw me as a sibling put an end to any notions or fantasies I had about us.
“Cam.”
I ignore him and continue to walk. The tea shop’s swinging sign is just up ahead. I focus on it as my heels click on the pavement.
“Cam.” He stomps beside me, a casual stride to my fast walk. “For fuck’s sake, Cam, will you listen to me?”
As I walk a little faster, I glare at him. “I’m tired of being everybody’s second, Gray. I won’t be yours. Not even for tonight.”
