Page 34

Rad

I thought we’d at least reach the town of East Hampton.

I thought wrong.

In a restaurant parking lot five minutes from the shops, we’re in the back seat of my mom’s Mercedes SUV. It’s not as roomy as I thought it would be back here. But Tealey and I are managing the best we can. I’ll take cramped spaces with her than extra legroom without.

Maneuvering to the floorboard, I lean over her while she lies on the leather seat. I kiss each of her inner thighs, her moan music to my ears, encouraging me to do even more. That and her saying, “More, Rad.”

She’s lifting her ass off the seat, seeking her own pleasure. Her hands are frenzied through my hair when I duck out from under the dress to study her face. She has me hard, her arousal speaking straight to my groin, so I’m pressing against the edge of the seat to no avail.

“Move down, baby,” escapes my lips with a rush of breath yanked from my chest. Keeping my eyes on her face, I dip my hand under her dress and don’t waste time dancing around where we both want me to be. She’s too close not to take her to the edge.

One finger, then two. I swipe through the slickness and start fucking her, wishing it was my dick instead.

“I want you,” she says, pushing the back of her head into the seat. With one hand, her nails scrape across my back, and her other twists the seat belt around it. “You feel so good.”

She rocks against my hand, our bodies moving as much as they can in the confined space—hands and arms, legs, and heated breath. Everything becomes one as we both teeter toward the cliff.

Nails dig into my skin as I watch her start to fall apart under my ministrations.

As she tugs my hair, I revel in her possessiveness, letting her take what she needs from me.

When her mouth opens and her eyes roll back in her head, I continue to thrust my fingers while her body trembles around me.

My name rolls from her tongue in a plea to fall with her.

I’m so hard, so ready to come, I’m not far behind.

Just as she finds peace in the aftermath, I don’t hold back.

She sinks against the seat, her body soft, as I build momentum.

Grinding against her leg, I kiss her neck.

I brace my hands to the side and keep seeking my own release.

I might be raw when my orgasm hits, but it feels so fucking fantastic to come, the tension ripping through every part of me. “Tealey, fuck.”

My upper body sinks into Tealey’s arms, covering as much of her as I can. Doesn’t matter that my legs are cramped to the side and twisted on the floorboard, I close my eyes and savor the feeling of what we just shared.

When her breathing shallows, I push up, balancing vicariously above her. “Shit. Sorry.” I move her hair back from her face. “Are you okay?”

“I’ll survive,” she says with a smile. “Anyway, I like to feel the weight of you on me. There’s something so . . .” She looks away. “I don’t know what I’m trying to say.” A giggle escapes, and she kisses me as if that distraction technique will work.

I regain my strength and try my best to hold her by shifting underneath her. She molds herself to my body, the scent of the beach in her hair, and her breath warming my neck.

“I want to be with you, Tealey,” I say, already knowing that I’ve never felt this connected to another woman before.

It’s as though, in such a short space of time, that she’s become my best friend.

The one I want to share all things with.

Be home early for. Be up to have coffee with.

Want desperately in my every day . . . everything.

I think I underestimated my crush. Kissing her temple, I close my eyes and pull myself back together.

She moves to rest her chin on my chest, and whispers, “We are together.”

“More than now. I want to date you. Take you out or stay in. Whatever we decide to do, I want to do it with you.”

I run my fingers through her hair, admiring not only the beauty before me but also the person she is on the inside. Can I be the man she deserves?

My forehead is kissed, and I close my eyes, savoring the feel of her lips. The feel of her nose rubbing against the side of mine has me opening my eyes. “I want that, too.”

Guilt sinks in. “I wanted to romance you, give you flowers, hell, at the bare minimum, a bed.” She grins.

“I don’t need any of those. I just want you.”

A bang on the glass has me jumping and gathering Tealey in my arms. I turn over my shoulder to see a thick, gray mustache under dark eyes and bushy eyebrows. The window is fogged, but his words cut through the glass. “The restaurant is opening soon. You need to leave the premises.”

Tealey scrambles off my lap. Hoping to get the security guard to move along, I say, “Thanks. Will do.”

I can’t reach my shoes, so I wait for Tealey to do what she needs to first. Pulling her skirt down, she asks, “Why did we think this was a good place to . . . Heavy pet?”

I start chuckling. “Heavy pet?”

“Make out? Get off? Whatever you want to call it.”

Reaching over her, I pop the glove box but don’t see any wipes.

Checking the console, I find a Valentine’s Day pack of tissues.

Seems fitting and will have to do. We both do a quick cleanup.

We’re both fully dressed so it only takes a moment to collect ourselves and fix our appearance.

I can’t care that I’m a sticky mess, not when I’m a mess because of Tealey.

I steal a glance at her, my heart attaching in new ways—protective, selfish . . . A four-letter word that starts with L comes to mind.

Like.

I can handle that. She turns back and whacks me on the chest. “Get a move on before I die of embarrassment.”

“No one is going to die. He’s a security guard. He doesn’t care what we’re doing in here as long as we’re done when his shift starts at five.”

She pops the door and steps out. “Let’s get a move on then.”

“Someone’s awfully demanding post-orgasm.”

“Shh,” she says with a finger pressed to her lips.

I chuckle and get out of the car, readjusting as I walk around the back of the vehicle.

Glad I wore a loose shirt today to cover the .

. . evidence. We close the front doors at the same time and steal a quick glance—me still laughing and her sitting with flaming red cheeks—before I start the car.

Rubbing her leg, I lean over. “It’s okay.

No one will be the wiser. Now, give me a kiss, Bell. ”

“Look who the demanding one is now.”

“Only when it comes to kissing you.”

She leans over and gives me a kiss I’ll never forget. “You, sir, are going to get more than a kiss the next time we’re alone.”

I definitely underestimated her assets. She’s not afraid to use any tool in her arsenal.

I’m a lucky bastard.

I am so grateful Tealey forced me into a shop and, again, for the baggy shirt.

We were dodging questions like bullets as soon as we walked in the door. Holding up the bag was a great distraction. I tossed it to Jackson as Tealey and I ran upstairs under the guise of freshening up. If they only knew . . .

The water didn’t even have time to heat because I took the fastest shower in history and jetted back downstairs.

Cammie found the chocolate.

Jackson had grabbed the graham crackers.

Already out the door, Cade was starting the firepit, which left Marlow holding the marshmallows. She asks, “Where’s Tealey?”

“I don’t know,” I reply, hoping she can’t tell that we were up to no good. She takes her glass, and says, “We need to talk about my dad’s situation when we get back to Manhattan.”

“Will do.”

Marlow starts for the back deck when Tealey enters the great room. Marlow says, “There you are.”

“I wanted to change clothes and get more comfortable,” Tealey offers. Wearing sweatpants and a faded NYU sweatshirt, she pads into the kitchen in thick, bunched-up socks. The woman could wear anything and make it sexy.

I start checking emails when Tealey opens a bottle of water. Marlow says, “Heading out. Are you coming?” I glance up, but the question is directed to Tealey.

Tealey replies, “Be right out.”

The house grows quiet as the crew moves the party outside. Buried in a page of unread emails, I catch the subject line: Update – Misty Connor. I click it first and read the email from Ashleigh.

“What’s wrong?” Tealey rubs my shoulder, a look of concern worrying her eyes when she feels how tense I am.

“We finally heard back from the judge. He granted your client, Misty, a restraining order. I filed the paperwork before I left Manhattan.”

She releases a deep breath, and her expression brightens. “That’s great news. I’m surprised a judge was working on Saturday.”

“It went through last night, but now it’s in place.”

“Does she know?”

“I had a call with her on my drive, explaining how it would work, and Ashleigh made sure she knew it was approved this morning when she received word.”

“I really appreciate this, Rad.” She smiles, leaning against me. “Can I reward you with a s’more?” She holds up a s’more. “It’s all ready to heat over the pit.”

“I have other ideas on how you can reward me, but if those aren’t on the table, I’ll take the next best thing.” I take her perfectly made treat and head out back.

Tealey starts laughing and is quick to follow.

Tonight after dinner is about the same as last night, except we stay around the firepit.

Cammie has made a concerted effort not to worry. Or maybe she just hides her stress well. The guys and I tossed a football around for a while after eating too much, but now we’re enjoying the clear-sky night and the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore.

My mom’s gone to bed, and the gang seems to be winding up.

Cammie pokes Cade over with her toe. “You guys were rambunctious tonight.”

“Every night,” Marlow adds.

Jackson sits on the arm of her chair and rubs her shoulders. “You love it, and you know it.”

Marlow laughs. “You say that, but I really don’t. I like my men like my wine?—”

“Palatable?” he jokes. “Or rich?”

“Both.” She grins unapologetically. “But I was going to say strong, bold, and with depth.” Pushing him off her chair, she says, “Basically, the opposite of you, you big lug.”

Though their fighting is entertaining, my mind is elsewhere. I still haven’t had a chance to talk to her about our arrangement or ask Tealey how we want to handle ours. I’m hoping I can put at least one of these conversations to rest tonight.

We’re among our friends, shooting the shit like we’ve done a thousand times before, yet it’s Tealey I’m drawn to. Seeing her snuggled inside the sweatshirt that practically swallows her whole, I get it. Her lips part, and although I can’t hear her, I reply, “Hi.”

I keep my eyes on the beauty across from me who’s leaning back in the chair, head tilted to the side with heavy eyelids. Conspiratorially, I nod toward the house. She grins, and I feel like I just won the jackpot. She stands. “I’m going to bed.”

“I’m wiped,” I say, faking a yawn and raising my arms for a good stretch. I call over my shoulder to the group, “Good night.”

A chorus of, “Night,” follows, but the rest is lost in the sound of the ocean. Just out of their sight, I tug her by the shirt, pulling her toward me. “Want me to keep you warm?”

“I want nothing more.”

Holding out a hand, I show her what I brought with us. She laughs. “You brought graham crackers? Deviously delicious.”

“What can I say? I’m still hungry.”

Tealey takes the small package and kisses me quickly before dashing upstairs. I’m right behind her, and this time, I remember to lock the door.

The flirting ends, and the two of us stand there in the light of the small lamp she turned on. The crackers are on the nightstand, and she toes the carpet. “Alone again.”

“Being alone with you is my favorite place to be.” I cross to her and cup her face, kissing her until her hands grab my wrists. Slowly reopening my eyes, I then lean my head against hers. “I’m free to kiss you for as long as I like.”

She kisses the underside of my jaw, “To explore, to date, to be whatever we want to be.”

“Exactly.” Her hands slide down my arms and then to my chest, lower until her hands reach under my shirt.

I’m okay with this. I’m more than okay with all of this because it’s with her.

It’s something I never thought would happen to me, but I’m starting to see a whole new opportunity.

A relationship might actually work out how it’s supposed to, even for a cynic like me.

I kiss her shoulder and then whisper, “Turn around.”

She does a slow spin. I pull the sweatshirt over her head, and when she tugs her socks and pants off, I finally get a good look at her in a bra and pair of white cotton panties. So fucking innocent.

I don’t have as much patience with my own clothes. I’m practically kicking them to the floor until I’m left standing in my boxer briefs.

Tealey’s already climbing into bed when I join her. You’d think after years of keeping my distance that getting into bed with Tealey Bell would feel weird, but it doesn’t. It feels right.

She feels right.

We lie there for a minute, and I assume she has a million things racing through her head like I do. Every thought I have is landing on one theme.

How do I make this last past the weekend?