Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Owen
Meadow’s shoulder barely brushes mine as we sit side by side on the couch, both of us facing the flat-screen TV across the room. The heat of her skin against mine sends a slow wave down my arm, reaching to the tips of my fingers.
The sun set hours ago, taking the worst of our hangovers with it.
We spent the day holed up in the suite—napping on separate sides of the couch, ordering takeout, half-watching whatever’s trending on Netflix—neither of us willing to step back out into the sun with our skin still baked from yesterday.
We both agreed that we needed a day to recover.
I haven’t kissed Meadow again since last night. But fuck… I’ve wanted to.
Every time she fell asleep against the couch pillows, brushed past me in the kitchen, or laughed softly at something on the TV, I had to fight the urge not to crush my lips to hers.
But the timing hasn’t felt right. She was either trying to sleep, nibbling on crackers as if it were a chore, or watching the clock, counting down the minutes until she could take more Tylenol for her throbbing headache.
Thankfully, she seems to be feeling much better now.
I look down at the couple of inches of couch between us, making me hyper-aware of the space I want to eliminate.
She’s not close enough. I don’t think she could ever be.
I want Meadow leaning into me, her back resting against my chest as I hold her body between my legs. I want my arms around her waist, so close I can feel every breath she takes.
Instead, we’re sitting here watching a movie—barely touching and acting like I didn’t tell her I was dying to kiss her again this morning.
I still can’t believe she thought I was upset and regretted kissing her last night.
That couldn't have been farther from the truth.
Meanwhile, I’ve been stuck in my own head, wondering if I pushed too far. I spent all morning stressing, scared that I’d crossed a line we couldn’t come back from. I thought I’d ruined our friendship, which is the most sacred relationship in the world to me.
Turns out, we’ve been spiraling over the same thing. We both want this, but have been too afraid to take the risk.
I exhale a quiet breath as I glance at her out of the corner of my eye, taking in the way she sits just close enough to graze my shoulder but not overstep. The careful version of Meadow is back tonight, but I’m determined to bring out the wild side I saw in her yesterday.
God, she looks so beautiful right now.
She’s wearing a pair of soft cotton shorts and a loose, cropped t-shirt that’s been teasing me all day. Every time she lifts her arms, the fabric rises just enough for me to catch a glimpse of the sexy, silver ring in her belly button; just enough to drive me fucking crazy.
Her hair is pulled back into a low bun, a few loose strands falling around her face as the glow from the TV washes over her smooth skin—bare and effortlessly gorgeous.
She’s fucking perfect. I could stare at her for hours and never grow tired.
She’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
And it blows my damn mind that she wants me, too. This intelligent, independent, funny, and remarkably stunning woman wants me back. I’ll never be able to wrap my head around that.
Right now, Meadow’s pretending to watch the movie. I know she’s not really watching it because the tension has been building between us for hours, pulling tight and stretching thinner by the second.
Without voicing it, she’s fucking begging me to make the next move and stop acting as if we care about this stupid comedy movie— that’s not funny, by the way —and get to the part that we both want.
Touching. Kissing.
Finally hearing the sounds each other makes when we come.
Fuck.
My cock twitches in my sweatpants, excited and turned on by the simple fact that she’s sitting next to me.
Just touch her, Owen.
Pull her against you.
You know she wants this just as badly as you do.
Fuck it.
Enough of these games.
I want Meadow Riley, and she wants me. To hell with our doubts, fears, and the consequences that may come. Unless she asks me to stop, I’m not holding back tonight.
I clear my throat and rest my arm behind her head, my t-shirt riding up my bicep as I graze my fingertips against her arm.
“You gonna sit this far away from me all night?” I finally ask.
Redness blooms across her cheeks as she turns to look at me.
“What do you mean? I’m right here.”
“You’re not close enough,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Come here.”
I lean back into the corner of the couch, spreading my legs just enough to make space for her, my arms opening in quiet invitation as I wait for her to come to me.
Meadow nods slowly and stares at me with wide, puppy dog eyes. My heart races as she moves, scooting closer until she settles between my legs and leans back against my chest, like she belongs here.
She does belong here. Right here in my arms.
I can’t believe this is real. My coworker— my best friend —is pressed up against my body, and not in a friendly way whatsoever.
Our bodies are flush against one another. I can feel every soft curve of her resting against me. And I have no doubt that she can feel my thick erection nudging her lower back.
Fuck , I just know she would be wet if I dipped my fingers into her shorts right now.
Everything about this moment feels so forbidden and foreign, yet right. It's a new territory for both of us. Thrilling and so incredibly hot.
Meadow shifts again, relaxing and fully leaning into me now. Her dark hair tickles my jaw, the scent of cherry blossom pulling me under fast.
“Comfortable?” I murmur against her ear.
I feel her shiver against me.
“Mmmhmm,” she hums, nodding softly.
Her breathless reply unravels any hesitation I had.
My hand moves before I can stop it, sliding from where it rests on the couch to her waist, my fingers skimming the skin beneath her crop top. A small gasp leaves her lips as I pull her closer, my cock involuntarily twitching against her from the movement.
“You feel that?” I ask, my voice deep and raspy in her ear.
“Hmm?” she asks, apparently only capable of humming.
The corner of my mouth pulls into a satisfied grin from the way I’m affecting her. With one arm still wrapped around her waist, I lift my free hand to brush the loose strands of hair away from her neck. I take my time, my fingers grazing just enough to cause her breathing to pick up.
Chill bumps form against her neck as I lightly blow a puff of hot air against her skin. My arm tightens around her waist as I watch her bite down on her plump, bottom lip.
“Do you feel what you do to me, Meadow?”
With both arms around her now and her skin fully exposed to me, I run the tip of my tongue from the bottom of her neck to the top, slowly licking my way up to her earlobe.
Satisfaction coils low in my groin when I hear a tiny moan fall from her lips.
Fuck yes.
“Do you feel how fucking bad my body aches for you? Needs you?”
Her body reacts on instinct, wiggling against mine as my lips find the delicate skin of her neck. I suck and nibble on her soft flesh, not caring if I give her a hickey as I taste every inch of her neck.
I want proof of this moment on her skin. I want every man at this resort to know that she is mine .
She sighs deeply, her eyes rolling shut as her head falls back against my shoulder, exposing more of her skin to me. I kiss up and down the column of her throat, wet and messy as her moans vibrate against my tongue.
“ Owen ,” she groans when I slip my hand beneath her shirt and roam my fingers up to her ribs.
“Tell me to stop,” I breathe heavily. “Because if you want me to stop, you have to tell me now. If we go any further, I won't be able to. I’m fucking desperate for you, Meadow.”
Desperate.
I don’t care how pathetic that word makes me sound. It’s the damn truth. I’ll beg at her feet if she wants me to. It’s unhealthy how fucking desperate I am for Meadow.
“No,” she rushes out. “I don’t want you to. Don’t stop.”
Fuck. Me.
That’s all it takes for the rest of my restraint to snap.
I return my lips to her neck and glide my hand higher beneath her shirt until I reach the bottom of her bra. I run my fingertips back and forth against the fabric, giving Meadow more time to reject me before I touch her there.
After what feels like an eternity, I ease my fingers beneath her bra until I’m cupping her naked breast in my hand.
My cock leaks behind my sweatpants as I feel the weight of her soft, pillowy breast for the first time.
It fits perfectly in my hand, my breath catching as I feel the heat of her beneath my fingers. I groan against her neck and flick my thumb against her nipple, finding the tight bud hard as stone beneath my touch.
“You’re so fucking perfect, Meadow,” I growl, kissing the dip between her neck and shoulders.
She gasps as I grab the middle of her bra and lift, freeing both of her breasts at the same time.
Cupping her with both my hands now, I take my time switching between massaging her creamy flesh and pinching her swollen nipples between my fingers.
She writhes against me, her hips rolling against my cock as she whimpers and moans.
“These tits were made for me, weren't they?” I ask, pushing them together. “Has any other man played with your tits like this?”
“Oh God,” she gasps, arching her neck.
“Answer me,” I demand, pinching her nipples harder.
“No,” she whimpers. “Just you. Only you.”
Only you.
Those two words only further ignite my possessiveness.
“Good,” I rumble, still massaging her boobs with one hand while slowly lowering my free hand down her torso.
When I reach her belly button ring, I take it between my fingertips and give it a gentle tug.
Her hips buck against me, as if my teasing sent a shock of pleasure straight to her cunt.
“This,” I mutter, giving the silver ring another light pull, “drives me fucking crazy. It’s so damn sexy.”
“ Ahhh, ” she moans as I lick a line up her neck before sucking her earlobe into my mouth, still playing with her belly ring.