“I’m not asking about Kel, doyouwant to stop?”
“No, but I should…”
Sibyl ignores me, offering an award-winning smile to the photographer behind us. I don’t know how she’s doing it—keeping it together, when I’d like to slam my mouth into hers and find out what she’s got on under that dress.
It has to be my lack of any recent relationships. That’s gotta be the explanation. I haven’t been on a date in years, nor have I tangled with anyone in the past year either. I’ve been too busy to take a night off for a one-night stand—using my hand to relieve the ache when necessary. Right now, that ache is hard to ignore. My cock is keenly aware of just how freely I’ve been touching Sibyl.
“Whew, you guys sure you’re just friends?” Ramona startles me, her face appearing in my line of sight.
“So far.” Sibyl winks, her hand squeezing my forearm.
My body draws taut as a bowstring. Does Sibyl want to be more than friends? She’s never shown an ounce of interest—at least none that I’ve seen. But I haven’t been looking either. If I hadn’t promised Tucker, I wouldn’t even be here. I was convinced I wouldn’t find anyone else, and I was okay with that. I had Lara, I have Tucker. I don’t need anyone else, but maybe…maybe it’d be okay to want more.
I want this right now. Want her right now.
Usually, when I see her, she’s fussing over Tucker. The two of them are thick as thieves. Always getting into some kind of trouble that I can’t actually be mad about, because staying mad at either one of them is impossible.
I clear my throat, trying not to jump to conclusions, trying to shake out the image of Sibyl passed out on my couch last week. Tucker’s little arms wrapped around herneck as they slept, with PAW Patrol quietly playing on the TV.
She’s been such a staple in our lives. The thought of her as more—as ours—hits me square in the chest. She’s already ours. How didn’t I notice it? Noticeher.
“Hey.” Sibyl’s head cocks to the side, concern written on her face. “You okay?”
The question is generic, but I see the deeper meaning in her eyes.Is this okay? Are we okay?
“All good.” I slip my hand in hers, wrapping her fingers in mine again. Her cheeks flush, the prettiest shade of pink climbing all the way to the tips of her ears.
“Ramona asked if we wanted to try the boat.”
“Sure.” I can’t stop staring at her. Pretty sure I’d do anything she asked right now. All my common sense went out the window the moment I turned and saw her.
Sibyl leads me toward the boat. Her dress flows around her, the misty light of the afternoon settling around her like a halo. Ramona sidesteps across from us, trailing along, snapping photos the whole way.
When we get to the silver boat, I snap out of my trance. Offering a hand to Sibyl to help her get in, letting my brain focus on Ramona’s instructions, trying to clear some of the lust out.
“You’re only going to go about ten feet off the shore. Anymore, and the fog will make you hard to see. Turn to face me broadside, if you would.”
I grunt my assent, hopping into the boat before it’s too far off the shore. I guide the boat to the spot she indicated, turning us so she has the shot she wants. Sibyl’s watching me—a look I can’t discern etched in her face.
“This is a dream, right? I’m dreaming right now?” Sibyl whispers, almost to herself.
“You dream about me often?” I tease, leaning forward until I hear Ramona say, ‘Yesss’ from the shore.
“More than I should,” Sibyl breathes against my lips.
Fire shoots through my chest, straight to my cock. I take her lips then. The photoshoot completely forgotten as I crash my mouth into hers. I sink my fingers into her hair, angling her head so I can kiss her deeper—claim her. I haven’t felt anything like this in so long. It’s fucking with my head, muddling my thoughts until all I see is her.
Sibyl squeaks. Her body softens when she opens for me, tongue sweeping into my mouth, matching me stroke for stroke. She surges into me the same moment I lean into her.
One second I’m warm, pulling Sibyl into me, and the next I’m flailing, capsizing into the pond as the boat dumps us into cool water.
Instinct has me reaching for Sibyl, my hands gripping the fabric on her hips, bringing her to the surface with me. She’s a terrible swimmer. With this dress on, she doesn’t have the best odds in the water, even if she could probably touch the bottom on her tiptoes.
We burst through the water, Sibyl sputtering, Ramona and her assistant staring wide-eyed.
Sibyl’s eyes narrow at me, her father’s temper climbing to the surface when I wrap her legs around my waist. My hand on her back, I press her core into my erection. Her eyes widen, mouth parting on a gasp when she realizes what she’s feeling.
“Eli,” she hisses.
