Page 22 of The One

“Ridiculously slow,” I growled. “And I plan to spend every waking hour with you.”

Her smile was so big; it made me grin.

“Just so you know, I wouldn’t hate it if you were in a bikini during those hours … like you are right now.” My stare dipped. “Because … damn, girl.” I played with the strings that kept her light-blue bottom on. I wanted to pull them until they wereloose, see more of her hot fucking body. But I wouldn’t here—not at the beach, not in front of half my football team—but the thought of touching that hidden part, along with her chest, was so tempting.

“You mean every hour, aside from the ones you have to be at work.”

I shrugged. “Minor detail.”

“Except it’s a huge detail. You’re putting in a ton of hours, and I’m so proud of how hard you’re working.”

“Do you miss me while I’m gone?”

She dived her fingers through my hair. “I miss you even when you’re here.” Her other hand dropped from the top of her eyes, and it went to my cheek. “I can’t seem to get enough, no matter what.”

“Not even when I do this?”

I kissed her. Not with my tongue, but with my mouth open, using my teeth to tug on her bottom lip.

Her exhale told me she liked it. It even told me she wanted more.

After I pulled away, it took a few moments before her eyes opened.

“Not even when you do that.”

“Sounds like I need to cool you off.” I nodded toward the ocean. “Let’s go get wet.”

“You mean, in the water?”

“Unless you’re thinking of a different kind of wet. If that’s the case, shit, we can leave right now.”

“Rhett!” She playfully slapped my thigh.

I grazed her chin. “I’m just messing with you.”

Her stare didn’t leave mine. “I know you’re thinking about it. I am too.” After a solid pause, she added, “You’ve been really patient with me.”

We’d gotten close a few times when she was at my house late at night or when I went to her house after school, her dad at work and her mom out.

But we hadn’t gone all the way.

“It’s not about patience, Lainey. We have forever. So, it’s not something that has to happen right away. Don’t get me wrong, if it did, I wouldn’t be mad about it.” I chuckled. “But I’m good with it happening whenever. I just want you to be ready.”

She wouldn’t be my first—that had happened while she was in New York. If I’d known how she felt about me, I would have waited. But her silence during those two years had caused me to hook up with a handful of girls—a part of my past I wish wasn’t true. During Lainey’s second week back, I’d told her. I spared her the details, but I’d felt it was important for her to know since there would be one of us who knew what to expect when it eventually went down and one of us who didn’t.

Her hand found mine, and she looked toward the water, where most of our crew was hanging out. Around twenty of us had come to the beach today. Her sister and a bunch of the guys from my team had piled in multiple cars. The spot we’d taken over on the sand was covered in towels and tanning oil and coolers of beer.

“The summer is my favorite vibe.” She adjusted the strings behind her head, where her suit was knotted. “Sun, beach”—she looked at me—“you in those shorts, shirtless.”

“You’re saying I have the best body here? Is that what I’m hearing? That you could stare at these chiseled abs all day?” I laughed as I strummed my stomach.

“Oh, yes, I’m saying every word ofthat.”

I wrapped my arms around her and rocked us back against the towel. As we lay there, we adjusted our bodies to face each other. “The guys are going to want to play a game of footballlater. The way I just tackled you? Do me a favor—don’t let any of them do that to you.”

“Because?”

“I don’t want their hands on you.” I pushed some hair away from her face. “One dude touches you—that’s me. No one else.”