Page 121 of Now and Then

Pleasure builds fast and sharp as she tightens around me, her body already giving in.

“You should see yourself.” I lick up the side of her neck, my pelvis grinding against her. “You look so good like this . . . Let me see you fall apart.”

Her fingers dig into my shoulders as she does, her body giving way all at once. The way she holds on to me, the way she comes undone, pulls me right to the edge with her.

I won’t last much longer.

I pull out, setting her down carefully, my hand still on her as I fist myself and release onto her belly. My head drops forward as pleasure continues through my body.

For a second, everything goes quiet except the sound of the water and our heavy breathing. When I look up, Sutton’s eyes are glued to the mess I’ve made of her.

I tilt her chin, bringing her eyes back to me. “You okay, babe?”

“More than okay.” She grins. “That was so hot.”

I huff out a quiet laugh, pulling her back under the water. We move through the rest of the shower quickly, trading off, hands slower now.

I grab two towels and wrap her up in one.

“I want to start every morning like that.” She steps out, glancing back with a look that tells me if we don’t put clothes on soon, I may not make my meeting.

“I love you.” I press my forehead to hers. “Now, go get ready.”

She tilts her head and kisses me. When she pulls away, her eyes are full of desire, but most of all, trust.

Outside, the truck waits, warm sunlight spilling across the hood. The storm that’s been sitting over our town all week has ended, and ribbons of retreating clouds paint the blue sky. The air feels sharp, as if the storm ushered in winter before fall even stood a chance.

Sutton comes prancing out of the house looking like a model from a magazine. Wide-leg jeans paired with a tight cream tank and a deep navy, cable-knit cardigan accentuate every dip and curve of her body. She tosses her hair over one shoulder as she checks the contents of her bag. Now, I don’t know much about bags, but this thing looks large enough to hold a bank ransom.

“What all you got in there?” I gesture toward her bag with my chin as I hold open her door.

She pulls out her wallet, a pair of gloves, a protein shaker bottle, what appears to be hand cream, a granola bar, a hair brush, and what I think might be a baseball. Seemingly satisfied, she looks up at me, beaming, and says, “Sorry, did you say something?”

“Are you worried about the apocalypse or what?”

“Har, har, very funny,” she says. “You failed to tell me exactly what our plans are today, so I brought a little bit of everything.”

I offer her a hand, which she readily accepts. She shoves her bag on the floorboard of the truck, steps in, and shimmies across the bench seat.

“I’m sure we’ll need the banana,” I tease, pointing at the very green banana sticking out of a side pocket.

Sutton rolls her eyes. “Get in the truck, Hunter.”

A flash of desire sparks in my vision at her bratty behavior.

I pulled strings at a spa in the city and booked a couples massage. I figure a day of shopping while I meet with Logan, good food, and a little pampering is just what Sutton needs to unwind and relax a little.

Ground Up is our first stop, and, much to my pleasant surprise, Navy isn’t working. Not that I’m scared of her or anything, but I’m glad I don’t have to listen to her poke holes in what Sutton and I are finally building.

I know she loves Sutton like a sister and only wants the best for her. And logic tells me she’s right—Sutton does have a lot to work through. But I’m ready to take on whatever that might look like.

While we wait for our food, Sutton makes one final bathroom pit stop. My phone pings, and I pull it out to see a message from Logan.

Logan: Hey man, you on your way?

Me: Grabbing coffee, then we’ll be on the road.

Logan: Between what little Daley said, we’ve got a good list of possible locations.