by Maree Green
“You should come for a surf with me,” he said, his gaze raking over my body.
I wondered if it would be inappropriate for me to ask him to lie on top of me. “I will later. I’m being lazy this morning.” Eyeing the board, I smiled. “Are you heading back out?”
“Not if you’re not coming out.”
Cocking my head to the side a little, I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t be silly. The waves are awesome today. I don’t mind hanging out here.”
He carefully dropped his board onto the sand. “Nah, I’m good. I’m starting to get hungry anyway. Come up to the house with me. I’ll make you some lunch.”
As if on cue, my belly rumbled. “That’s an offer I can’t refuse, apparently.”
Chuckling, he helped me to my feet before pulling me into his arms and kissing me. His cool body pressed against my hot one, the difference in temperature sending shivers through my insides.
When he pulled back, he glanced down at my body. “No more sun for you today. You’re starting to get a little pink, and if I can’t touch you later, I won’t be happy.”
A smirk crept onto the corner of my mouth. “Is that right?”
Taking my hand, he turned us around and started walking us up the beach. “Damned straight, girl.”
Walking into his house through the wet room, we washed ourselves off and made our way up to the kitchen. Corey, Cain, and Lance were all still out surfing, and Daniel and Amy were obviously doing their own thing, because they were nowhere to be seen, so it was just the two of us for a change. It was nice.
As Josh went through the refrigerator, I sat down on the stool at the counter and watched him. It was my favorite pastime these days.
“So, how’s your aunt been?” he asked as he dumped a heap of ingredients on the counter.
I’d told him that I’d confided in Aunt Jenny about who he was, and even though I had assured him she was cool, I could tell he was still nervous about it. “Fine,” I said, making sure I gave him a reassuring smile. “I promise she won’t tell anyone. She’s too worried it would impact me badly if the public found out.”
I’d only meant to let him know she wouldn’t be a problem, but the worried crease on his brow instantly made me regret my words. “She’s right, you know,” he said, his gaze intent. “The pap would be relentless with you if they found out.”
His mood was fast becoming serious. I needed to lighten it up. “Is that a warning?” I said, grinning at him.
“No, Liv,” he said, leaning on the counter across from me. “I just need you to understand exactly what could happen if it were to somehow get out that you’ve been spending time with me. Call it full disclosure if you will. I’m terrified that you’re going to get hurt, and if you do, it will be my fault.”
Reaching across, I placed my hand on his. “Josh, I might not be able to understand from experience, but I get it.”
He pulled his hand out and took a step backward. “I don’t think you do, Liv. They’re fucking vultures. They will find every means to get to you. They’ll follow you. They’ll get in your face. They’ll touch you. They’ll do anything to get you to react—to talk to them. They’ll take pictures of you and make up shit to go with it just to sell stories. They’ll find your cell phone number and they’ll call you non-stop. Then they’ll find your parents’ numbers and your aunt’s, and they’ll call them. They’ll find your old friends from when you were twelve, and they’ll get all the information they can on you, just so they can print a fucking tell-all exclusive that doesn’t exist.”
My eyes widened as I listened to him. Not because of what he was saying—because I’d already thought about that—but because of how worked up he was getting. “Is that how they are with you?” I asked, trying to show him I wasn’t scared by his words.
“They used to be,” he said, a little quieter now. “They still try to, but I’m used to it now, and know how to react. But, Liv, this was the life I chose. It’s the life I’d hoped for. I couldn’t have the success I wanted with my career without the pap. It goes hand in hand. I just don’t want to see you get caught in the crossfire. I’m not sure I could live with myself if they got their hooks into you.”
Standing, I made my way around the counter until I was directly in front of him, then I placed my hands on his hips. “Josh, I may have been living in a different world for the last six years, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how things work. I know you don’t think I understand, and I guess in a way you’re right. I will never fully understand until I’ve experienced it. But I want you to know that I have thought about it. I understand as much as I’m able to, and I’m still willing to take the chance. So, please stop worrying, and let me just enjoy this time with you before it’s over.”
I watched him inhale deeply before sighing, long and slow. Then he took my face in his hands and let his gaze search my eyes. “You’re too good for me, Liv.”
Relaxing into his touch, I smiled. “Shut up and kiss me.”
As his lips covered mine, my eyes fell closed and I melted against his body, trying to push away the little voice that told me I was getting in way too deep. I knew he was worried about me getting hurt, but what he didn’t realize was that it was inevitable. Just not in the way he was worried about.
Breaking away, I tried to brush the sinking feeling away with a smile. “Now feed me. I’m hungry.”
Josh smirked and let me go. “My pleasure.”
Chapter 36
Josh
On the TV screen, the scenery changed from season to season as Lucas’s character was caught in a never-ending cycle of torment. It was an intense part of the movie, but I wasn’t watching his struggle. Not really. My gaze was on Liv, just like it had been for the past half an hour.
Curled up on my bed beside me, illuminated by the soft glow of the TV, she lay with her eyes closed and a peaceful little curve to her mouth as she slept. I knew I should probably wake her and tell her to go home to her own bed, but I liked having her here like this. The darkness of the night brought an intimate feel to it that the daylight hours couldn’t. I also couldn’t ignore the amount of trust she must have in me in order to rest so peacefully. It was funny, but that meant more to me than anything else.
Making a snap decision, I reached over and grabbed her cell off the nightstand. The fact that she had no pin code to lock her phone should’ve told me everything about her naivety, but that was something she would learn soon enough. Opening her messages, I clicked on her aunt’s name and started typing out a text.
Hi Jenny. It’s Josh here. Liv fell asleep watching a movie so I’m just going to let her sleep. I hope that’s ok with you.
I read it over before I hit send, waiting to see if she’d reply. It came through a minute later.
Thank you Josh. Behave and look after her or I’ll kill you
I laughed under my breath as I read it. It wasn’t anything I wasn’t expecting, but then another one came through.
Then I’ll bring you back to life so her dad can kill you too. He’ll probably draw out the process though
There were so many things I could’ve replied with, but I chose a simple, Duly noted.
Sliding her cell back onto the nightstand, I aimed the remote at the TV and switched it off before settling in beside Liv. As my eyes adjusted to the moonlit room, I saw Liv’s eyes flutter open to look at me.
Something that felt warm yet painful spread through my chest. I had two weeks before I needed to leave, and even though two weeks would have been perfect had I been alone, it just wasn’t enough for me now.
“Hey,” she whispered into the darkness.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Did the movie finish?”
I wriggled closer and kissed her forehead. “Not quite.”
A soft smile touched her lips. “Don’t tell Lucas I fell asleep.”
“Oh, I will,” I said, chuckling. Because I would take great pleasure in that.
She sighed, and I knew it was because she k
new I wasn’t lying.
“I messaged your aunt and told her you were sleeping here tonight. I hope that’s okay?”
In the semi-darkness, I saw her eyes narrow curiously. “What did she say?”
I smirked. “Something about behaving and killing me.”
She breathed a laugh before shifting closer to me. “I’m sorry I fell asleep on you.”
Reaching out, I stroked the hair that framed her face, letting my gaze take in every touch I made. “Don’t be. I like having you here, like this.”
“If I’m sleeping here,” she said, watching me carefully. “I’ll need to take my bra off.”
I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t thought about her need to do that, but now I was, it was taking me to places I just couldn’t allow myself to go. “Do you want something else to sleep in? You can wear one of my shirts, if you want?”
A picture of her wearing nothing but my shirt flashed onto the screen of my mind, ultimately taking me right to the place I was trying to avoid. Fuck it all.
“Um . . . that would be good, actually. If you don’t mind,” she said, her voice sounding less shy about it than I thought it should. It didn’t help.
Climbing out of bed, I pulled a shirt out of the top drawer and turned to pass it to her, freezing when I saw her sitting on edge of the bed, facing away from me. She’d already stripped off her dress and was in the process of removing her bra.
My mind quickly went through a string of curse words, the most predominant being, motherfucking shit. I considered tossing the shirt to her—my conscience told me that was the right thing to do—but my body refused to cooperate. Instead, I began walking around the bed, my hand clutching the shirt until the veins in my arm were straining.
She blinked up at me with surprise as I moved in front of her, but she didn’t make a move to cover herself. My throat tightened as I gazed down at her. I’d known her boobs were amazing since the first time I’d seen her in her bikini, but naked? They did things to me I didn’t know were possible. My hand strained, my head telling it to pass her the shirt, but again, it wouldn’t comply. I just continued to stare at her. My gaze raked over her chest, her shoulders, her throat, her hair.
“Josh,” she whispered.
The need in her voice was more than I could handle. Dropping the shirt onto the bed beside her, I thrust my fingers into her hair, cupping the back of her head as she dropped it back to look up at me, and I kissed her, hard.
It was just like that day we’d been in the shower. I had no control. I needed her so bad it hurt. Pushing her until she was lying back on the bed, I crawled over the top of her and devoured her mouth. Somewhere in the back of my head, I told myself to slow it down, to control myself, but I was too far gone. She tasted fucking incredible, and knowing her bare chest was right there for me to touch and taste was more than I could contain.
Liv moaned into my mouth, her back arching, making her chest rise as though she was trying to press it to mine. Her hands clutched at me, her fingernails digging into my back, sending pinpricks of pleasure through every part of me.
Moving my kisses down her jaw, I licked the little hollow near her ear, sucking on her lobe, before drawing my lips down the column of her throat, licking and tasting every part I could reach. I was crazed for her. I’d never wanted to consume so much of someone before. The need was so strong it felt like an addiction.
Her breaths grew deeper and shorter, the sounds of her moans almost taking me past breaking point. I moved lower, kissing her collarbones, relishing the combined smell and taste of her skin as they blinded my senses. Her hands skimmed over my shoulder blades, pressing and pulling, clenching my neck and gripping my hair.
As I neared her breasts, the sounds she made grew more desperate. Her fingers tensed. Her back arched higher. And her chest rose, needy and wanting.
And all I could think was, fuck. I’d never wanted this more than I did right now. Sliding one hand under the small of her back, I pulled her firmly upwards, so her body was touching as much of mine as it could. Then I drew my tongue over her nipple, the combination of her fingers gripping my hair and her gasp driving my need higher.
“Oh God, Josh,” she whimpered. “I need you. Please—”
If I thought I still had any control left in me, it disappeared with those words. Lowering my body to her side, with one leg still between hers, I crushed my mouth to hers again, sliding my tongue against hers. With my one free hand, I cupped the side of her neck, slowing stroking her skin, moving lower and lower until my thumb was brushing over her nipple.
Using all my strength, I tried to keep it there for a while, bring myself back down to some place that would help me see reason, but when she started squirming and pushing herself against me, I admitted defeat and let my hand roam lower again. As my fingers slid under the band of her underwear, I paused, giving her a chance to stop me, but instead of the sudden shutdown I’d been expecting, she opened her legs farther and thrust herself against me.
“Fuck, Liv. We need to stop, baby,” I grunted, not even sure how I managed to get the words out.
Liv’s head thrashed from side to side. “Please don’t stop.”
Motherfucking hell.
Thrusting my fingers between her legs, I stroked them over her folds, groaning when I felt how wet she was. She thrust against me again, whimpering with need. She was insane with it. And I needed to fix it.
Sliding a finger inside her, I sealed my mouth over hers and mimicked my movements with my tongue, quickly growing faster and faster. Then I added another finger, crooking it inside her, massaging her G spot as my thumb rubbed over her clit. Her body tightened, her fingers straining and pelvis rocking. And then she was falling apart.
Tearing her mouth away from mine, she cried out, throwing her head back as her legs clamped around my hand. It was the sexiest fucking thing I’d witnessed. Ever.
With soft, gentle movements, I touched her, watching her, until she came back down, then I carefully withdrew my hand and kissed her, long and slow. When her eyes cleared and she blinked up at me, her cheeks beautiful and pink, I stood, helping her sit back up again, and I took my shirt and slid it over her head.
She didn’t say a word as I climbed back into bed, pulling her into me and throwing the covers over the top of us. I was more worked up than I’d ever been, but I’d already gone too far with her. I didn’t deserve to even hope for a release.
“Goodnight, beautiful,” I whispered, kissing her forehead.
“Goodnight, Josh.”
I didn’t need to think about it to know I was fucked. It was quite apparent.
Chapter 37
Olivia
It was a Tuesday morning when reality finally started catching up with me and I thought I may have made a mistake. Of course, I’d already came to the realization that the end of the summer was going to be sad in some way, but with only a week to go until Josh left, the enormity of what I’d set myself up for was starting to sink in. And it scared me.
As I sat at the kitchen counter, staring into my cereal bowl, I tried to work out how I could best get through it without falling apart. I’d heard of people using their painful experiences to make them stronger, so all I needed to do was to look for the lesson in it all, right? Or was I just supposed to remember the good parts and use them to soothe the bad? I didn’t know.
A sigh met my ears a second before a hand closed over mine, pausing the circular patterns I’d been making in the milk with my spoon. Looking up, I met Aunt Jenny’s concerned gaze. “What’s wrong, precious?” she asked.
Letting go of the spoon, I sat back and sighed. “I’m just thinking about my summer ending,” I said, unable to stop the dejected tone of my voice. “Josh leaves next Wednesday.”
Sympathy clouded her eyes. “You always knew it was going to be like this.”
“I know. But knowing is different than feeling the reality of it. I underestimated how much it would hurt.”
Reaching out, she placed her hand o
ver mine again and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Aww, honey. I wish I could take it for you. I really do. Trust me, I know what it feels like.” Leaning forward slightly, her gaze intensified. “But just remember, it was always going to be this way. You two were obviously supposed to meet, but only the two of you can work out the reason why. The only life lesson I can give you in this is, whatever shit life throws at you, use it to make yourself a better person. And remember, I’ll be here to hold you when he’s gone.”
Tears pricked at my eyes. She always managed to say the right things. She would’ve made the best mom. “I thought I could guard myself from hurting too much, but I was so wrong.” The grin that crept to my lips was born of sarcasm. “So, I may as well stop trying and just go with it, huh?”
“Exactly,” she said, smiling with encouragement. “What’s the point in spending your time trying to soften the fall when the landing is going to hurt regardless? You may as well let go and enjoy the scenery on your way. Or the sculptured body, as your case may be.”
I laughed. I guessed that was one way to put it.
Coming around the counter, she kissed the top of my head and gave me a one-armed hug. “Just enjoy the time you have, honey. One day you’ll be able to look back and appreciate the memories. I guarantee it.”
With her protein shake in hand, she disappeared down the hall to her office. Finishing my breakfast, I washed my bowl with a new determination to make these last few days count.
Collecting a change of clothes from my room, I made my way down the trail to the beach and up to Josh’s house. When I reached the deck, I found Josh sitting back with a coffee in one hand, and a pile of papers in the other.
The second he saw me, he smiled and dropped both onto the table in front of him. “Good morning, beautiful. I didn’t see you coming,” he said, moving to scoop me into his arms.
It was these kinds of things I would miss the most. The way he made me feel important to him. The way he held me and breathed me in like I was the reason for his smile.