Page 20 of Always and Forever
PAIGE: As a matter of fact, the true ordinance of Mayor for a town such as Dogwood Cove is quite fascinating.
SERENA: OMG Paige. Go back to talking about romance novels, please!!!
PAIGE: Fine. Although may I add that your observation about the dearth of single men in town is a valid concern. Towns die out when the population growth slows down. A trend that is inevitable when your female population of breeding age outnumbers your virile male population.
MILA: Calling us breeding age feels wrong somehow.
SERENA: Agreed.
PAIGE: Perhaps your aversion to admitting that you are of the age to procreate can be a future discussion point for book club? There are plenty of surprise baby/accidental pregnancy romances we can read.
SERENA: Anything to do with accidental pregnancy might make me have a panic attack, Paige.
MILA: Same. No babies.
I chuckle under my breath as I wander over to the chair that I arranged to face the water and sit down. I’m not used to having girlfriends to gossip with, so this whole thing seems a little foreign but in a really good way. Although I haven’t contributed anything to the conversation today, it’s been a lot of fun being a part of the banter, even from the sidelines. Even so, after a few minutes break, I know I need to get back to work. It would be way too easy to waste the day watching the waves and texting with my new friends.
SUMMER: Okay ladies, as entertained as I am reading this riveting chat, I need to get back to my tunes and my work. You interrupted Journey mid chorus. I need to know if I should stop believing.
MILA: Don’t stop. Hold onto that feeling.
SERENA: Ooooh I should plan a recital using all 80’s songs.
MILA: OMG yes. So cute.
PAIGE: I appreciate the music of the 80’s but the hairstyles were abysmal. Please don’t recreate those in your recital.
SUMMER: LOL. Definitely not.
Laughing to myself, I turn my music back on and the volume up high. Back to work.
A couple of hours later, I’m sweaty and tired. I lost the hoodie an hour ago, leaving me in a tank top and my shorts. My hair is sticking out of my pony tail every which way, and I’m pretty sure I have dirt smudged across both cheeks. But the interior of the main resort building is officially emptied and sort of cleaned. My hips are still bouncing and swaying to the music blaring out of my phone when I hear a familiar chuckle as warm hands slide over my hips.
“I see your dance moves haven’t improved much over the years.”
“What are you talking about? These hips don’t lie,” I say, giving an extra wiggle. Ethan’s grip clenches into my side, and his lips brush my bare shoulders.
“Mmm. Salty and sweet.” He mumbles against my skin. I twist around, bringing us face to face, and reach around to cup his ass. I give it a good squeeze, earning a raised eyebrow and a smirk from Ethan.
“Did you come here to work, or to distract me?”
“Can’t I do both?”
Ethan bends down and picks me up, bringing my legs around his waist. I shriek with surprise as he turns and strides out of the building and takes me to the bed of his truck where the tailgate is conveniently lowered. He sets me down gently, his hands trailing around my ass and down my thighs to where my shorts end and he meets my skin. Goosebumps follow wherever he touches, and I shiver as his lips draw a line along my jaw and down my neck. I tilt my head to the side, letting my eyes drift closed. He slowly pulls one strap of my tank top down, taking my bra strap down with it and leaving it hanging off my shoulder. His lips follow, kissing and licking over my collarbone. He nips, I gasp. He sucks, I moan. I was sweaty before, but now I feel my internal temperature rising with every touch. There’s a fire inside of me, and he’s stoking it higher and higher. When he cups my breasts, the heat from his touch singes me even over the fabric of my clothing.
“Fucking hell, Summer, you’re addicting,” he groans, coming up to kiss me deeply, his lips crushing mine.
An impossible level of need fills me; the need to see him and touch him the way he’s touching me. But when I reach for the bottom of his shirt, his hands come up to cover mine, stopping me.
“Why?” I ask, hearing a very plaintive sound in my own voice.
“Because” Ethan says, and his voice is rough like gravel. “You deserve better than some fooling around in the back of my truck.”
He drops his forehead to mine and brings his palms down to the tailgate on either side of me. I bring my hands up to touch his chest and slide them up and over his shoulders.
“If it’s up to me, I’m totally okay with fooling around in the back of your truck,” I tease gently, earning a chuckle.
“I know you are. But I want to do this right, Summer.” His eyes lift to meet mine, and I see something in them that makes me pause. Something that hits deeper than the out of control lust that’s been coursing between us these last few moments.
