Page 25 of Tempting Me (The Asher Family #3)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

LUCA

I misjudged my self-control when it came to Shay.

For the last two weeks, it’s taken everything I have inside me not to grab her when I see her in line at B’s Bakery and kiss her, or to pull her into a quiet corner when I catch her walking down Main Street, or to show up a girls’ night and whisk her away because I want more time with her.

I crave more time with her. Every night, we work for a few hours, then either we can’t wait a moment longer and start stripping right there in The Marina or we rush back to her place. But that’s not enough for me.

I want all her moments.

I want every moment of the day with her.

I’m so completely screwed.

As soon as my family and I hit the sand and set out chairs with a few other items to settle in for an afternoon in the sun, other locals started to trickle in.

It’s Beach Bum Day and nearing a hundred degrees outside. Being in the water sounds like a wonderful way to cool off.

But more people also means keeping my hands off Shay. Watching her play and laugh with my family and then mingle with everyone else, completely in her element … I’m both proud and I hate every moment of it, because I want to be right next to her. Sharing this with her.

I walk back to where Ruby and Max set up an umbrella and some loungers and take a seat, digging into the cooler next to me to grab a beer.

I don’t plan on going back to my house tonight, and Shay’s house is a quick walk from here.

I pop the top and take a sip just as Hudson sits down next to me.

I can see him watching me out of the corner of my eye.

“So,” he starts. I wait for him to say more, but he just chuckles as if that explains it all.

“So,” I repeat.

His laugh intensifies.

“No, you don’t get to be the I-told-you-so guy right now,” I whisper snap at him. “Fifteen months ago, you wouldn’t have even been at breakfast. So if anyone gets to be that guy, it’s me.”

He laughs harder.

“Stop.”

“I can’t help it.”

“You’re a grown man. You can totally help it.”

His laughter quiets, but the smile remains. “I just … I like this side of you, and I’m glad you finally caved.”

“Right, yes, because you’re Mr. Know-It-All about romance now. ”

Between Shay spending time with Sadie and me showing up every day at lunch at Hudson’s, it was easy for him to put things together.

I actually think most of my family knows, but I haven't exactly announced it. Seeing as how Shay doesn’t want people to know, I appreciate that my brother figured it out and I have someone to talk to about this.

Hudson grabs a beer and volleys his head.

“More than you for … what did you say, fifteen months now?”

I let out a sigh, but then I hear Shay and the girls laughing, and I have no choice but to smile.

That’s my favorite sound.

“I told you,” Hudson says.

I’m opening my mouth to argue a little more, but he holds up his hand.

“I told you that when it hits, it hits hard, didn’t I?”

I glance back out over the view in front of us. The girls are playing tag with Max and Susie.

Max tries to run by Shay, but she reaches out and grabs him, spinning him with his feet off the ground.

When she sets him down, both he and Susie grab Shay’s hands, pulling her into the water.

Quickly, Sadie and Ruby join in until Shay goes under.

She pops up with a smile on her face, pulling Max down into the water with her.

Hudson’s not wrong.

I’m so far gone for this girl, I can’t think of a moment in my life that I don’t want to share with her.

I just wish that she was ready to be in this spot with me.

I don't need us to be at this speed to know she wants to be with me, too, but it would be nice.

“Yeah, you were right.” I say and take a swig of my beer .

Declan plops down onto the sand on the other side of me, so I hand him a beer.

“I haven’t seen Susie this happy since we moved back,” he admits. “I really appreciate your family inviting us to tag along today.”

“Anytime,” Hudson says at the same time I say, “Why is my sister always pissed off at you?”

Declan groans. “When you find out, let me know.”

To that I grin. Ruby may have been gone for a few years, but she’s got that grumpy Asher blood in her veins just as much as the rest of us.

“Has Shay told her family about you two yet?”

I glance at my brother. I have a long answer for everything, but right now, I give him the short one.

I shake my head.

“Is she planning on it?”

“Yeah, of course. She just wants to wait, and do it face-to-face when they are back.”

“When is that?”

“Two weeks from tomorrow.”

Yeah, yeah, so what if I'm counting down the days for the moment I can finally walk down Main Street with her hand in mine?

I’m gone for this woman. I want everyone to know it.

“That's not too bad.”

“Can’t people see you now?” Declan asks. “I mean, even I know something is going on and I don’t talk to you every single day. I just live here.”

I nod. “I think just our friends and my family have caught on. ”

He shakes his head, and I don’t need to look him in the eyes to know what he’s thinking.

I take a breath and blow it out slowly.

People do silly things when they fall in love.

And I fell hard.

“I’m just going to run inside for more water,” Shay calls as she passes us.

“Need help?” Declan asks.

“Nope,” she answers quickly and keeps walking.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Whelp, that should be enough time.

I stand quickly, the sound of my brother whispering “I knew it” to Declan behind me as I make my way to The Marina right behind Shay.

I watch as she steps into the back employee entrance.

I do exactly the same.

Shay is the only one in the room, so I close the door quietly and then tiptoe my way to her.

She glances up, and her eyes widen.

“What are you doing?”

“What do you think I’m doing?”

“I think you’re trying to get caught.”

She looks around quickly and then grabs me by the shirt, pulling me into a nearby closet.

“Ah, who’s trying to be sneaky now,” I tease.

She rolls her eyes and then locks her arms around my neck as she kisses me.

She doesn't even try to give the illusion that she wants something soft and sweet. No, Shay kisses me with hunger, and the moment her tongue slips into my mouth, stroking with my own, I back her up to the wall.

“How far can I get right now?”

“All the way,” she says without thinking it over.

Luckily, she’s in her swimsuit with a teal skirt cover-up, and I’m in nothing but a pair of swim trunks.

“There isn't much room for me to make this romantic,” I point out.

“I know.”

“Do you want?—”

“Just fuck me, Luca. It's simple.”

Her eyes widen. She’s no doubt shocked that those words came from her lips and not mine.

Her lips form a little “o” as she waits for my response.

Which is to give her exactly as she wants.

I spin her around and then jerk her swim bottoms down to her knees. I run my hand from the top of her ass and up her back, gently forcing her to lean forward.

“Find something to hold on to, and don’t make a sound.”

She looks over her shoulder and bites her lip, nodding.

With her ass on display for me, I untie my shorts and pull my hardened cock out, running the tip along her slit.

“Fuck,” I say, dragging the word out.

“You wanted me to follow you, didn’t you?” I ask her.

“I was hoping you would, yes.”

I push the head inside another inch then lean forward, my mouth right against her ear. “If you want my cock, Shay, all you have to do is ask for it.”

“I want your cock,” she says without missing a beat. “Please. ”

Please. I swear I grow even harder. Like my dick knows she’s begging for him.

I slide in a little more, her moan filling the silence of the empty closet.

“Shh.” I wrap a hand around her mouth to quiet the noises she makes. “You don’t want to get caught, do you?”

At that, my cock slides in deeper.

“Jesus, does the idea of someone seeing you like this make you wetter?”

She nods lightly.

“Oh, she has a kink. I like it,” I say, then slam into her, filling her completely.

She bites down on my hand when I’m as deep as I can go, so I pull back and slam into her again.

And again.

And again.

When I feel her walls clamping down on me, I pick up my pace. I remove my hand from her mouth to hold her hips steady.

“Oh fuck,” she whimpers. “I’m there. I’m right there.”

I reach around, my index and middle finger rubbing small circles on her clit until she shatters.

“Luca, yes, oh my god.”

Her hand slaps the wall in front of her.

Her pussy tightens throughout her climax, ripping my own from my body in seconds. I pull out and stroke myself over and over as I come all over her lower back.

I catch my breath as I wrap an arm around her hips to help her stand. Then I grab a napkin off one of the shelves, clean off her back, and help her get dressed again. All the while, she’s tucking me back into my shorts .

As soon as she’s done with the tie at my waistband, my cock jumps, ready to go again.

Shay slowly opens the door.

When the coast is clear, she leads me out the back door.

“We’ve made a lot of memories here,” I say. “But that might be my favorite one.”

Shay rolls her eyes and then winks at me.

“Are you staying over tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

And then she walks off while I wait back in the trees so no one sees us together.

When I suspect Shay is out of sight, I make my way back to where Hudson and Declan are still sitting.

I take back my seat and grab a new beer.

“So, ah,” Declan clears his throat. “Where are the waters?”

Shit.