by Jenna Scott
“They could wake up.” I nod to the pool house. “My mom’s room is literally right over there. If she looks out her window—”
“She’s not going to look out her window at one in the morning,” he says.
“But…” I protest weakly, yet he’s relentless, backing me up against the edge of the pool as he covers me with kisses that set me on fire, licking the drops of water from my skin. I kiss him back, losing myself, momentarily forgetting everything but him.
“No one will wake up if you keep your voice down,” he murmurs.
It’s not just about being caught, though that’s fear number one. There are so many things wrong with having sex in this pool. “Your brother swims in here. Everyone does,” I hiss.
He shrugs, unfazed. “That’s what chlorine is for.”
As I lightly slap his chest, something else comes to mind. “Should we be worried about that? The chemicals?”
Without a word of warning, he lifts me up and carries me back to the pool stairs, then brings me over to the lounger I left my towel on. The umbrella above us keeps us covered in shadows, so all things considered, this is probably the most discrete area in the yard for me to be naked in.
“I need to taste you,” he growls, sliding off my bottoms in a smooth movement. Then his head is between my legs, his lips on my clit, his tongue hot and tingling compared to the previous cold of the pool water. It’s a shock, so good it instantly sends a spike of pure ecstasy down my spine.
It takes everything I have to keep myself quiet. Hunter spreads the triangle cups of my top apart so my breasts are exposed, reaching up to squeeze and stroke and roll my nipples until I’m gasping. My hand goes down to his hair, fingers curling and uncurling in his wet locks, holding him steady as I start to grind against his tongue.
My gaze drifts to the night sky, and it looks like the stars are winking. All my senses are on edge, and I feel his touch with even more intensity than usual. Maybe it’s the thrill of possibly being discovered. Maybe it’s the location. Maybe it’s because I’m more in love with him today than I was yesterday, just like I was more in love with him yesterday than the day before.
Whatever it is, Hunter teases an orgasm out of me in no time. I’m still catching my breath when his hands find mine, and he tugs me back into the pool with him. This time, the water feels warm. Drawing my legs around his waist, he presses my back against the edge of the pool and the tip of his cock against my entrance.
A look passes between us. My head’s full of Hunter already, my heart is full of Hunter, and I want my body to be too.
I sink onto him, and Hunter’s hands on my hips bring me down the rest of the way. Once all of him is inside me, he moans softly in my ear. I cling to his neck, nipping the skin there gently, and then realize I still have the top of my bikini on. I reach up to untie the knot behind my nape, and Hunter unhooks the bottom, then flings the thing away.
I still don’t feel the cold of the water, not at all. The only thing I feel is his warmth, and the intense sensations he’s bringing out in me. It reminds me a bit of when he sneaked onto Isabel’s balcony. How the fear of being caught intensified every sensation.
The water splashes, and we moan quietly, gasping softly, fucking each other as silently as possible, and even though I’m positive that someone is going to overhear us and come down to see what’s going on, I couldn’t care less. Not with the way Hunter’s kissing me, touching me, gliding back and forth inside me, making me the center of his attention. The center of his whole world.
“I want you,” Hunter murmurs, thrusting faster.
“I want you, too,” I say.
“I want to be with you,” he adds.
“You have me,” I tell him with a smile playing at my lips.
And then it’s like something snaps in him, and he starts pounding into me even harder, deeper, so deep, making my tits bounce and my gasps quicken.
“I love this. I love you. I love fucking you,” he goes on, “oh, fuck, yes, Milla,” and now I’m clenching helplessly around him, my nails digging into his back as I start to lose control. Hunter’s grunting louder, water splashing everywhere, and I can feel my orgasm coming on, biting down on his shoulder as the pleasure explodes inside me.
After we’re done, I let him hold me there in the water, my forehead against the curve of his neck as I try to catch my breath. He kisses the top of my head, holding me tight. So tight. Like I’m about to float away from him and never come back.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Camilla
All of a sudden, it’s finals week. Predictably, I devolve into an insomniac mass of coffee, anxiety, and endless pages of highlighted, underlined, obsessed-over notes. This is my last make-it-or-break it moment before high school is over, and breaking it is not an option.
Every day, Hunter studies with me—and unlike our past attempts to do schoolwork together, it’s actually studying, and not him playing grab-ass. Not because he’s suddenly concerned about his GPA, but because he’s supporting my concern for mine.
Still, even with all the hours we spend in close proximity, we don’t really get any quality time together. Even my study breaks are used to do more work, as I help Hunter make flash cards for each of his classes in the hopes that a bare minimum of effort from him will be enough to ensure that he passes his exams and graduates. I find out quickly that he’s way more behind than I even realized. Which isn’t surprising, but it is dismaying. He’s been sabotaging his grades for so long that I’m honestly not sure whether he’ll be getting his diploma or not.
“I don’t care,” he says with a shrug. “I can always get my GED. Same thing.”
“Sort of,” I say. He’s not wrong per se, but I know that a GED would count against someone like me, whereas a diploma from a top-rated, reputable private academy would make me look better. I guess if you have money, it doesn’t matter. It’s not like Hunter’s dad can’t afford to send Hunter to any college he wanted. If he wanted.
Which he doesn’t.
We’re sprawled on the carpet in his room, prepping for our history exams, when he lets out an Incredible Hulk-like groan, burying his head in his hands.
“Why is US History so boring? And why is there so much of it?” he moans.
A smile quirks my lips. “If you think that’s bad, try World History.” Which is what I’m up to my neck in, poring over the many battles of World War II and trying to memorize all the dates. “You have one country. I have the whole world.”
“But it’s a lot about one country!” He pouts, which honestly, is super cute.
I pat his head in a there, there fashion. “Well, lucky for you, I aced US History back at La Jolla. Just memorize those flash cards we made and you’ll definitely pass.”
“Easy for you to say. You have a brain the size of Texas,” he yawns, but does go back to studying.
“You have a decent brain, too,” I tease, mussing his hair. “I saw your old report cards. You got this, boo.”
“I need a pick-me-up.” Hunter grabs my chin and gently turns it his way before placing a kiss on my lips. “Also, did you just call me boo?”
“I did. And if you pass all your finals,” I say as I kiss him back, “you’ll have a lot more than this pick-me-up to look forward to.”
His eyes flash with a familiar spark, his smile telling me he’s about to say something naughty before he even opens his mouth. “You know, they say orgasms improve concentration…”
Riiight. “Hunter.” I scoot my chair away from him. “We’re not sleeping together until finals are over. That’s the deal.”
“Aye, aye, captain. You owe me, though.”
“I’m happy to owe you.” I point my pen at him. “If you pass.”
“No consolation prize if I don’t?”
I ponder a bit on it, because I don’t want him to think I’ll leave him hanging if he fails. That’d just be cruel. “You’ll get something, but it won’t be as good.”
“What, you’ll relegate m
e to handjobs for a week?”
“Something like that.” I grin wickedly. “So make sure you study up.”
“Ugh, fine. You win.”
We go back to our books, and only go to bed when we can no longer keep our eyes open. I’m so tired that I end up staying in his room all week, though I stick to my no-sex decree. Still, it’s nice. Those five minutes of cuddling and kissing before falling asleep are the only time we manage to be together-together.
The next day, I’m about to head into my history exam when Hunter swoops up behind me and pulls me up against a locker.
“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in US History!” I scold.
“I know. I need you to kiss me for luck, though,” he says, bringing me closer.
The Academy has a no-PDA rule in full effect, but he’s so adorable—and genuinely anxious—that I hold on to the lapel of his jacket and grant his request.
“Good luck, Hunter.”
“Thank you. I feel luckier already.”
I laugh, walking into World History in very high spirits. When I catch up with Hunter during lunch, he’s confident that his own final didn’t go terribly.
Still, my stomach’s in such a knot over AP Bio that all I manage to eat is some soup. Hunter’s already finished his steak sandwich and has pushed the tray aside so he can rest his head on the table. His hand is on my leg, thumb brushing the top of my thigh. Mine’s rubbing circles on his back while I reread my notes.
That’s how Isabel finds us minutes later, when she plops down in the chair next to mine, a huge iced coffee in her hand.
“Gettin’ all ready for Bio?” she asks. Unlike Hunter and me, she doesn’t look tired at all—I bet she hasn’t even been cramming, because, well…she doesn’t need to.
“I want to say that I am,” I answer, sighing. “But one does not simply get ready for Bio.”
“You want me to quiz you?” She glances down at Hunter, who I’m pretty sure is dozing off. “Is the boy dead?”
“Yes,” Hunter answers, eyes still closed. “Milla’s killing me with studying.”
I lightly slap his forehead. “Oh, shut up. You’ll thank me later when you don’t have to repeat senior year.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Hunter grabs my hand and holds it hostage as he turns on his side. “Just let me rest for five more minutes.”
Isabel shakes her head, then puts on her serious face for me. “So I know you have Algebra tomorrow, and you’ve been struggling with some of the formulas, particularly when it comes to polynomial equations, so…I just thought I’d formally offer my tutoring assistance tonight. Since you never asked.”
My jaw drops. “I didn’t ask because I figured you were getting totally bogged down with all your other tutoring students! I’d freaking love your help, my God.”
Hunter cracks his eyes open. “Why don’t you come over to my place after school, Isabel? We can all study together.”
I’m surprised at Hunter’s offer, but Isabel frowns and says, “Umm…that’d be great and everything, but Emmett will be there. And I know how you feel about him.”
“Oh,” Hunter says. And then, “He can come,” in a voice so small I’m wondering if I heard him right.
I blink, utterly shocked. “I’m sorry, what? Did you say Emmett could join us?”
“Don’t make me repeat it,” Hunter says with a pout.
“We can hang at your place if you promise to behave,” Isabel says with a shrug. Then she wags her finger. “But you have to promise not to throw any hissy fits.”
“I’m sure I can manage,” he begrudgingly agrees.
The bell rings, and we get up from the bench. “Meet you at your locker later,” Isabel says, fingers already flying across her phone screen. “I’m letting Emmett know.”
The Debate final goes extremely well, and both Hunter and I are confident we didn’t just pass—we aced that shit. We’re both in good spirits when we meet Isabel and Emmett, to the point Hunter only makes a grumpy face for a couple seconds.
We take separate cars, me and Hunter in one, Emmett and Isabel in another. I start getting nervous on the way, and Hunter notices.
“You stressed about the math stuff?” he asks.
“Just please be nice to Emmett and Isabel,” I say, looking at him.
“I invited them over, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, but…”
“Milla.” His voice is hard. “I’m trying, okay?”
“Okay.”
And he does try. He sits across the living room while Isabel goes over all the Algebra stuff with me and Emmett, and every time I glance over to check on him, he’s got his nose in his books. I’m not sure if having Emmett this close is bothering Hunter or not, but he does a good job of pretending he isn’t fazed in the slightest.
Then Harrison comes down from his room, and we introduce him to Isabel and Emmett. “These are Milla’s best friends,” Hunter tells his brother.
“And you’re all doing homework?” Harry asks suspiciously. “Even Hunter?”
“Yeah, kiddo. We gotta study for exams.” I rub my eyes as I speak. “Do you need something, sweet pea?”
“I’m hungry.” Harrison pouts. “Milla, can you get me a snack please?”
“Oh my God, you’re adorable!” Isabel squeals. “And so polite! Are you sure you’re Hunter’s brother?”
“Isabel, don’t start,” I warn, but as I get up, Hunter tells me to sit back down.
“I’ll get him something. You keep cramming,” he says, and scoops Harry into a piggyback to take him to the kitchen.
“Wow,” Isabel says. “He is sweet on the kid. I’ve never seen Hunter so…so…”
“I told you he has redeeming qualities.” I make a face at her.
A few minutes later, Hunter comes back with Harrison, who sits on the ottoman so he can play the Switch with the volume turned all the way down.
I lose track of time until Mrs. Beck comes home a bit later, takeout bags in her hands. “Oh,” she says, wide-eyed when she sees all of us. “Never thought I’d see the day where you hit the books, Hunter.”
His expression hardens, but he doesn’t respond.
Isabel and Emmett keep their faces conspicuously on their papers, probably feeling awkward over Mrs. Beck’s backhanded compliment.
She looks over at Harry and says, “Harrison, come on. Time for dinner.”
“Oh gosh, it’s already that late?” Isabel gasps, looking at her phone. “I better go. I promised my parents I’d eat with them tonight.”
“I’ll drive you,” Emmett offers, getting up and stretching his legs.
They both start packing their things. “If you drive me, then you have to come in and eat with us. My mom hasn’t seen you in forever.”
“Sure.” Emmett smiles. “Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me. You’re staying after so I can quiz you on slope-intercepts, Emmie.” Isabel turns to Hunter and me. “Thanks for having us. It was not the worst.”
“Right. Thanks for having us, Beck,” Emmett says, then waves at me. “Bye, Milla. Good luck tomorrow.”
“You too!” I say. “And don’t ride Emmett too hard, Isabel. No one else has your super-brain.”
“I’d never!” She gasps with fake outrage, then comes over to hug me. “Bye, Milla.” Then, to Hunter: “You too, jerkwad.”
“Bye, Isabel,” Hunter replies.
“And the afternoon was going so well…” I sigh. “Bye, you two. Good luck!”
When they’re out, Hunter turns to me and asks, “Emmie?”
I laugh. “Oh yeah. She calls him that sometimes. To be honest, I think those two are into each other and they’re too afraid of ruining the friendship to admit it.” I ease my expression as I turn to him. “But you did good today.” I lean in to kiss him.
“And for that, you should be rewarding me.” His arm sneaks around my waist and he pulls me onto his lap.
“We still have studying to do. You can get rewarded tomorrow.”
&n
bsp; That night we stay up way past two, and then crash into bed together. I’m out like a light as soon as I hit the pillow, and the next morning, it takes four alarms for me to get out of the valley of sheets.
The rest of my finals end up going pretty well for me, I think. I don’t want to jinx it, but at the end of the day on Friday I’m feeling confident.
True to my promise, I barely leave Hunter’s room all weekend.
Waiting for our results to get posted is another lesson in controlling anxiety, but when our final grades go up online Monday night, I can’t believe my eyes. I have straight As across the board, and as for Hunter…I look over at him, and my first thought is that he must have flunked something, he’s so quiet and wide-eyed.
“I passed,” he says, his voice full of wonder. “Every class.”
“Hunter!” I scream. “My God! You passed!”
“I did, didn’t I? I’m going to graduate…” He blinks, then looks down at me. “You’re way too happy over this.”
“Of course I’m way too happy!” I say, hugging him. “Your success is my success. And vice versa. I’m so proud of you.”
“I’m proud of you, too,” he says. “I couldn’t have done this without your help.”
He takes a long look at me, trapping me in those clear blue eyes of his. A smile spreads across his face, and he says, “You really are amazing, you know that?”
I’m blushing, I can feel it, but I don’t even care as I grab the lapels of his jacket and pull him in for a kiss.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Camilla
Graduation day comes, and I can’t believe I’m sitting here on the football field in a cap and gown. Hunter’s seated next to me, our hands clasped together as we watch Isabel give her valedictorian speech, which is a mix of humorous Oak Academy anecdotes and a pep talk that’s only very slightly cheesy, laced with her trademark sardonic wit. She gets a few laughs, a few tears, and a huge standing ovation afterward.
I’d heard her practice her speech a thousand times, and I have to say I’m both glad and sad that she didn’t go with the initial “burn the whole world down” version that she’d initially drafted. For someone so bubbly, she has a surprising amount of anger hiding under all the sparkly layers and picture-perfect vintage outfits.