Page 42 of The Summer for Us (Golden Falls #1)

JULIETTE

Wesley and I could talk for hours now that we were comfortable with each other.

He was chatty when he wanted to be! We’d talked about anything and everything over the last couple of hours: favorite music, what we wanted to accomplish in the next five years, what we looked for in a partner, people in our lives who influenced and motivated us.

All the while, we made good progress on the snacks.

“What’s one place you really want to visit?” I asked.

We were both lying down. I was on my side with my head on his chest and my leg draped over his. He had his arm wrapped around me, his fingertips tracing up and down my skin.

“Alaska,” he answered without any hesitation. “Every picture or video I’ve seen looks absolutely stunning. Plus to be surrounded by mountains and nature like that? It would be perfect. I’ve yet to see any mountains, so that’s at the top of my list.”

“Hm…” I looked him up and down. “Yeah, I could see you as a rugged mountain man,” I teased.

He shook his head with a laugh. “What about you?”

I thought about it for a moment, about how I’d be ready to travel anywhere if it meant going with him. If it meant continuing this .

“I’d love to go to Italy,” I finally answered. “The food, the wine, the history. I could easily spend weeks there, but even if I only got a small taste of it, I’d be happy.”

“You could probably spend some of the prize money on a trip, huh?” he teased, giving my side a gentle nudge.

“Yeah, probably.” I rolled my eyes playfully.

“My parents recently bought a house in Florida, so I would like to help them pay that off. Then I want to make sure I have some sort of job. My brother will likely tell me to invest whatever is left, and I’ll listen because, annoyingly, he’s right. Just don’t tell him I said that.”

Wes looked down at me thoughtfully. “That’s really nice of you to do that for your parents. You should do something for yourself, too. Even if it’s not as big as a trip. You deserve it.”

I wanted my parents and brother to meet Wes. I wanted these different parts of my life to come together…but would they? I thought back to Lily’s words earlier this week about talking to Wesley about our future. Or, I guess, if we even had a future.

I paused, thinking through how to phrase it. None of the versions in my head felt right.

“Wes, what?—”

“Baby, look,” Wes interrupted as he sat up. “Looks like the sky is showing off for us tonight.”

Confused, I sat up. When I looked again, it became clear what had caught his attention. I gasped at the sight.

Lighting up the sky was the most spectacular view I had ever seen. The sky was alive, green and deep purple ribbons dancing across it. The reflection of the northern lights stretched across the still lake, creating a mirrored glow. Time stilled, urging us to soak in every vivid detail together.

“I’ve never seen something so beautiful,” I whispered, taking it in.

I knew there were areas in the Midwest, including Wisconsin and Illinois, where you could occasionally see the northern lights if the timing was right, but you had to get far out of the city in order to stand a chance.

My hand itched to grab my phone, to capture a photo that I could look back on, but I appreciated the moment.

I reached for his hand instead, intertwining our fingers together.

“Did you know we would see this tonight?”

“I hoped we would. Cooper mentioned there was a chance, and I figured we might as well try. It paid off.”

I nodded in agreement, softly saying, “I’m glad we tried.” The double meaning from my words hung in the air. Yes, we still had time, but it was fleeting. Would any amount of time be enough with Wesley? Even if I stayed?

I paused, turning my head and taking in the sight of him under the lights, the way the greens and purples illuminated his sharp jawline, the slope of his nose.

But it was the way he was already looking at me, so achingly tender, that had my eyes welling up.

I thought back to the Luke Combs song we danced to at Lake Ridge earlier this month.

Were we getting into something we knew was about to end in two broken hearts?

“Oh, baby,” he murmured without me even having to say anything. “I know.”

I bit down on my bottom lip, but it wasn’t caught between my teeth for long. Wesley’s rough hand cupped the side of my face, and he used his thumb to pull my lip free.

“Did you ever think something could feel this right?” I asked, my voice quiet and hesitant.

Wes used the pad of his thumb to wipe away a stray tear, a soft smile on his face. “No, not before meeting you. Honestly, it still catches me off guard the way I feel about you, how quickly my feelings are growing. But I wouldn’t change a thing. I don’t regret anything that’s happened between us.”

“I don’t regret anything either. I just… I don’t know where this is all going to go.” I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“I don’t either, and I think that’s okay.

All I know is…” His large hands found my hips, bunching up the fabric of my dress as he pulled me on top of his lap so I was straddling him.

He set his palms on my thighs, fingertips inching underneath the hem of my dress.

“You make everything feel easy, Juliette. Everything feels right with you.”

My hands found his shoulders, gripping the fabric of his shirt as I leaned in closer. “Yeah, everything feels right with you, too,” I whispered.

We knew what was coming, but maybe it was okay to forget about it for a moment. To just be. Together.

I thought about what I wanted out of this summer when I first got to Golden Falls, and part of it was to be more present. To not think so much about what comes next.

And with Wes, all I could do was be in the moment. I couldn’t think of a better place to be.

We stared at each other for a beat. Then another. It was silent except for the crickets chirping—and my heart pounding inside my chest. Wesley’s hands slowly inched up my thighs until he met my hips. Even on a hot summer night, goose bumps formed on my skin from his touch.

“I want to focus on you tonight, on us,” I said. “I want”—I pulled Wes closer by his shirt, my mouth inches away from his—“you.”

“I want you, too. So much.” A low growl rumbled through Wes’s chest. “Do you feel what you do to me, baby?” he asked in a hoarse whisper, rocking my hips over his jeans.

My breath picked up in anticipation. Even though I was wearing panties, the friction against my center felt too good . So good that I couldn’t take it anymore.

I closed the distance first, my mouth meeting his in a slow but hungry kiss. A moan immediately escaped me from how good his lips felt against mine.

While the kiss started off slow, it didn’t stay that way for long. The pace of everything quickened once I parted my lips. Our kiss. My hips. Our hands exploring. The searing kiss was both too much and not nearly enough. More. I needed more . I needed everything he would give me.

Wes’s hands pulled down the straps of my dress to expose my breasts.

“Fuck,” he groaned against my lips. “You’re going to be the death of me. Aren’t you, sweetheart?”

One of his large hands cupped my breast, toying and tugging my hardened nipple. The pleasure was all consuming, and I rested my forehead against his to catch my breath. “I want you, Wes.”

My hands trailed down his chest to his belt, my fingers fumbling to undo it and then his jeans.

He chuckled lowly, his whole chest rumbling. “I’m all yours.”

Wes reached underneath the thin fabric of my thong, his rough fingers finding my wet center and rubbing my clit. “Fuck, you’re wet and ready for me. Such a good fucking girl.”

Within moments, my panties were off and Wes pushed his jeans and briefs down to line up his cock against my aching center as I hovered over him.

“Are you going to ride me, baby?”

I nodded quickly, unable to find the words yet again.

I was only focused on how good he would feel between my legs, at the heat pooling low in my belly.

With my hands gripping his shoulders, I sank down on his cock, tossing my head back with a moan.

“Fuck, Wes,” I cried out. I moved my hips slowly at first, adjusting to his size.

With his hands on my hips, he guided me over his cock until I let out another moan. “Just like that, baby. Find what feels good and use my cock.” Those were the words I needed to find my confidence, to pick up my movements against his hard length.

“You feel…so good,” I moaned.

“You feel like you were made for me,” he groaned, pressing hot kisses along the side of my neck, nipping and sucking at the skin, down to my breasts. He moved one hand between us, his thumb finding my clit and adding pressure.

I let out another cry. Steadying myself with one hand, I moved the other to Wes’s hair, tugging on the strands. “Wes, you’re going to make me come,” I breathed.

He grunted against my skin. “That’s the goal, baby.

” He made circles with his thumb, causing my hips to move more erratically.

Wes never took his eyes off of me, staring up and looking at me like I was the most breathtaking thing he had ever seen, more mesmerizing than the lights dancing in the sky.

“Oh, fuck!” I gasped, the familiar warmth and pleasure overtaking my body.

My breaths were quick and shallow as I chased my orgasm, tightening around his cock with another cry, chanting his name.

At the same time, his cock stiffened inside me, his chest rumbling with a groan as his hips moved quickly to push him over the edge.

“Juliette,” he groaned, his hold on me tightening as he finished.

We were both panting, a sheen of sweat coating our bodies. I let out a huff of a laugh, and Wes grinned over at me. He gripped the back of my neck, pulling me in for a slow, tender kiss. “I can’t get enough of you,” he said, pulling away.

“I could say the same about you,” I said breathlessly.

I pressed a kiss to the side of his neck, lifting my hips and sitting down next to him.

Wes pulled his briefs and jeans back on and buckled his belt.

Once he was done, he wasted no time in pulling me into his side, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head.

I couldn’t think of anything better than being in his arms.