Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Tucker
I’m glad I’m in the water when Kate walks into the backyard and peels that black cover-up from her body because I’m hard as a rock in an instant. My mouth waters as my eyes take in every inch of her in that damn red swimsuit.
She looks like a pin-up model, an inspiration for every wet dream I had as a teenager and every fantasy I still harbor to this day. God damn, what I wouldn’t give to get my hands on all that bared skin, to kiss it with my lips and taste it with my tongue.
I take a peek at the opposite end of the pool where Penny and Logan have their heads together as they speak quietly. The conversation looks tense, but at least it’s keeping them occupied so they won’t see the visceral reaction I’m having as I watch Kate smooth sunscreen onto her arms and legs.
My first instinct is to hop out and offer to get her back, but I come to my senses before making that mistake. Wet swim trunks don’t hide much, and my current predicament would be fully visible, making me look like some kind of pervert.
If Kate weren’t a virgin, I’d probably do it. Hell, if she weren’t a virgin, I’d probably pull her into the house and beg her to let me fuck her against a wall, the floor, and finally, the bed.
I shake my head to clear it, and when she looks over at me, I motion for her to come over. Smiling, she picks her way down the steps into the cool water and hands me the bottle of sunscreen before giving me her back.
I take my time rubbing the lotion in, making sure to cover every centimeter of her skin. It’s as soft and supple as the last time I did this, and just like then, I don’t want to stop. Kate doesn’t move away, rolling her head forward so I can get her neck. I massage the column as I rub in the lotion, and a quiet moan vibrates from her, making my cock even harder than it was before.
How am I supposed to make it through the day like this? Wanting her, knowing I can’t have her?
I can do this. I know I can. I’ve managed so far this week, haven’t I?
A splash confirms Penny and Logan are swimming our way, and Kate spins to take the bottle from me with a quiet word of thanks. She tosses it toward the covered patio where it hits the ground and slides beneath the outdoor dining table.
When they reach us and get their feet beneath them, Penny has a weird gleam in her eyes and Logan looks disgruntled. I glance at Kate to see if she has any idea what’s going on between them, but she studiously avoids my gaze. I feel like I’m missing something, but before I can get to the bottom of it, Penny bounces in the water and grips Logan’s bicep with excitement pouring off her in waves.
“I know! Let’s chicken fight,” she says, bouncing faster.
Kate’s mouth drops open as she stares at Penny, then she moves her eyes to me, horror filling her expression. She doesn’t think I can hold her. Hell, she doesn’t think I want to.
But if Kate thinks I’m passing up the chance to have those thick thighs wrapped around my head, however innocently, she’s lost her mind. Without a word, I dive under the water and swim around behind her. Bracing my shoulders against the backs of her thighs, I plant my feet beneath me. I push her up and out of the water with ease. She yelps and grips my hair in iron fists as she tries to find her balance. My hands curve over her thighs to hold her steady, and I don’t miss the whole-body shiver that trembles through her at my touch.
Penny squeals and pushes Logan beneath the water so she can settle herself on his shoulders. He pushes her up and stabilizes them without a problem, and Penny holds her arms out, wiggling her fingers in an invitation for Kate to weave hers through them.
Kate yelps and tightens her grip on my hair when I move closer so she can reach Penny’s hands. Her thighs tighten around my head deliciously, and I’m pretty sure I black out for a second at the sheer pleasure of it.
Tightening my grip on her, I say, “You can let go, Kate. I’ve got you. I promise. ”
Her grip on my hair loosens in slow increments, and I remain perfectly still, letting her gain confidence at her own pace. When her fingers finally slip from my hair completely, I tighten my grip on her thighs to let her know I’ve got her, then take a small step forward so she can reach Penny’s outstretched hands.
Kate yelps when Penny shouts and tries to push her off-balance. I hold tight, and Kate squeezes her ankles into my sides for better leverage before letting out a shout of her own and leaning forward.
Then my girl fights .
Penny squeals and Logan stumbles a bit, then finds his balance again. Kate doesn’t relent though, continuing the assault until Penny slips out of Logan’s grasp and falls into the water with a splash.
Kate lets out a shout of victory, and I let her relish it until Penny reemerges, slinging her wet hair back out of her face with a laugh. Then I pull my legs up, letting myself sink below the water before slipping out of the tangle of Kate’s gorgeous legs. As I move up toward the surface, I run my palms along Kate’s sides, holding her steady as she finds her own footing.
At least, that’s why I tell myself I’m doing it.
And squeezing that tempting flesh does nothing for the hard-on situation, so I release her and move away while she and Penny laugh and hug each other. They grab floats and climb onto them, stretching out to grab some sun, and the sight of Kate like that is nearly as bad as touching her.
Giving her my back before I lose my damn mind, I turn toward Logan and meet him at the edge of the pool .
“What’s going on with you and Penny?” I ask, keeping my voice low enough that the girls won’t hear. “Is everything okay there?”
“Yeah, it’s fine,” he says, his features tightening a bit. “Just a minor disagreement.”
His vibes are screaming at me to back off and let the subject drop, so I do. The last thing I want to do is ruin the day by forcing the man to talk about his feelings. When he’s ready to share, he will.
“I’m getting hungry,” Logan says, seeming to shake off his bad mood. “Want to help me prep the food and the grill?”
“Sure,” I say, following him up the steps and out of the pool.
The girls follow shortly after, wrapping themselves up in towels and sitting in the shade of the patio while sipping mimosas. They laugh while Logan and I bicker over the best method to grill the perfect burger, and I realize I haven’t felt this happy and relaxed in…well, ever.
Hanging out on this tiny island the last few days has been heaven. I think I need to make this a yearly thing, if not more often. The fresh, salty air, the slow pace, and the good times with great friends has been so good for me.
And Kate. Kate has been good for me, too.
She’s reminded me what it feels like to have fun . To live the hell out of life and soak up every ounce of joy you can find in it.
And that’s something I didn’t know I desperately needed until her. The day-to-day grind of running Rizzle has worn me down, and even when I go to events and parties, it turns into some kind of “public appearance” instead of me just trying to relax and have fun.
But this week? This week’s been a balm on my soul.
After sharing a lively lunch, the conversation lags a bit as we all lean back in our chairs and let the food settle in our bellies. The air is warm and comfortable, and I’m thinking it’s a good time for an afternoon nap when Kate suddenly stands and starts picking up the dirty dishes and trash. She tells Penny to sit down when she gets up and tries to help, so I rise from my own chair and start gathering stuff up.
No way am I going to sit here and watch her clean. She seems to understand that without my saying it, because she just smiles before carrying her armload of dishes into the house.
I clean up the rest of the table while Penny and Logan move to a lounge chair situated in the shade to curl up together. When I head inside, Kate and I work in quiet harmony. I rinse the dishes before handing them to her to load into the dishwasher.
When she places the last dish, she takes a step back to close the machine then spins around and inadvertently bumps into me, causing her to stumble off-balance. My hands snap out to steady her automatically, my fingers digging into the soft flesh of her hips.
Her hands somehow land on my chest in the process, and we both freeze, our eyes locked for what feels like an eternity. Kate’s breathing hard, and my gaze drops to her mouth. Fresh desire floods through me as my body takes matters into its own hands and leans in. Kate’s tongue darts out to wet her plump lips, and my heartbeat stutters out a syncopated rhythm.
“Hey, J.T., bring me another beer, will you?” Logan shouts from outside, breaking the trance Kate and I have fallen into just before our lips meet.
Kate stiffens and pulls out of my grip, skirting around me to grab a beer from the fridge. My body slumps as I watch her slip through the back door without so much as a backward glance.
Turning, I brace my hands against the countertop and drop my head, breathing deeply to regain control of myself before heading out to join the others. I need to remember my resolve.
Damn it . Staying away from Kate is impossible. But her inexperience means I have to, right? Even if I wanted to settle down and commit to someone, it can’t be her . She has a life here, and I have one in San Francisco. I have my job, which I can’t exactly quit seeing as how I’m the heir to the empire. My father gave me majority ownership because he trusts me to steer the ship and keep the brand successful. That’s my future.
Looking through the back door glass, I see Kate nervously sipping a freshly made mimosa. I’m not stupid, and I’m not oblivious, either. I know she wants me, even if she doesn’t know exactly what it is she wants.
And I definitely want her.
What in the hell am I going to do?