Page 6

Tennessee

My face is hot, my palms ache, and my cock is hard and ready. I shouldn’t kiss her again. I know sure as fuck that’s the wrong thing to do, but I can’t stop myself.

She’s too soft, too sweet, too supple.

I thread my fingers back through her soft hair and cup my hand around her throat as I push down the primal urges that threaten my sanity. It’s not an easy task after the show she just put on.

“I don’t know how I’m going to look at you all day tomorrow and not bend you over and make you mine. Hell, I don’t even know how I’m going to get you home without ruining you.”

“Well, I’m happy to let you pop my cherry anytime you’d like.”

What the fuck did she just say?

An instinctive groan works its way up my throat. “ Pop your cherry? You’re a virgin?”

“Is that weird?” She wrinkles her nose as though she’s embarrassed.

“No, little girl, not at all. It’s sweet.

” I stop there before I say anything dumb.

My head is spinning like a water wheel, telling me to take her, claim her, fuck her sweet, tight little hole until she’s filled with my come and crying for more.

My soul wants to ruin her for every other man from here to eternity, though I’m not sure that needs to be put into words.

I lean down against her ear, nibbling on the lobe as I try to gather control.

She smells like honey and lake water, like the sweetest little fish I’ve ever caught.

I need her now!

“Howdy, folks. Any luck catchin’ supper?

” A man in his late seventies wanders through the pines with a pole on his back and a tackle box in his hand.

“I was out here yesterday. Didn’t catch nothin’ but a nap.

” He seems oblivious to the tension that’s sitting between Sienna and I.

“I used to love days out on the lake with my dad. You two come out here a lot?”

Oh my fucking God!

Sienna steps back, her breath catching like she’s been yanked from a dream.

“He’s not my father,” she snaps. “He’s my boyfriend.”

The old man pauses and blinks like he didn’t quite hear her right, as pines sway in the light afternoon breeze. “Well now, that’s somethin’ new. Didn’t mean to interrupt anything.” He shifts the pole on his shoulder and glances down at the ground like he’s mapping the best escape route.

Sienna’s cheeks are flushed, her chest rising and falling quickly. I can’t tell if it’s shame or defiance crackling off her skin. It might be both.

“Just figured y’all looked close,” the man mumbles, backing away. “Didn’t mean nothin’ by it. You kids take care now.”

He disappears between the trees, leaving behind a silence that roars.

Sienna glances toward me. “I don’t care what people say about our age difference or that you know my dad. I like you. I feel safe with you. That’s more than enough.”

I love her innocence and the way everything looks half full, but it’s not realistic and the evidence of that keeps stacking up.

“Look, I like you too, a whole fucking lot. I mean it when I say I don’t know how I’ll stand next to you tomorrow and not want to tear your clothes off. Sure, it’s sick ‘cause you’re young, but your dad adds another layer.”

Her eyes narrow as a breeze blows across the beach. “What happened between you guys?”

I let out a sigh and climb onto the bike. “Not now.”

“Why not?” She crosses her arms over her chest, brows drawn sharp like the peaks behind her.

I twist the throttle just enough to hear the engine roar. “Another time. Not right before the wedding. You’ve got enough on your mind.”

The sun slants through the clouds, setting the lake on fire with fractured light

Sienna shifts her weight in the sand beside me. “Why? Is it ‘cause it’ll make me hate him? I hate him already.”

“No,” I groan, “it’ll make you hate me .”