Page 26

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I t is a perfect night to go out to the hot tub and drink wine. Tess and I are surrounded by trees, and the Edison bulbs hanging above the massive cedar-planked deck make it all the more relaxing and magical. The stars are so clear and bright, which is not something I am used to. All the city lights in Dallas disrupt the view of the stars. The mountains are silhouetted on the horizon and the base of the range is illuminated by the small town below. The world is quiet–and after that chaotic dinner, it’s exactly what I need.

Tess pours the rest of the wine bottle into my glass. “But seriously, there is something about Oakley that is so appealing to me. He’s so sweet and I normally don’t go for guys like that. I would’ve gone for someone like Hastings in the past, but I like the mystery that Oakley has to offer.” She wiggles her eyebrows and smirks deviously. “Maybe I’ll make a move tonight.”

“May I remind you that you are a little drunk? I have heard that Oakley is a sweetheart and he seems really innocent. So if you do try anything with him, go easy on him, please.” What I have heard from Brad and Tristan, he is the ultimate golden retriever and never hooks up with girls.

“I can’t promise you that.” We giggle.

My head feels a little hazy. I sadly have become a lightweight since college. I think my eyes are deceiving me when I see a shirtless Tristan walk up to us. He still has his hat on and the sight of this perfect, muscular man makes me warm inside. I missed him and although I am having an amazing time with my best friend, I would have loved to go on this trip just with him, so we could spend some time alone, without any distraction.

“Oh hey, Tristan. How is it going?” Tess is the first one to speak because apparently I am unable to form words. I know what Tristan has to offer now and I want all of it. I thought he was another dumb jock with a rotating queue of women at his disposal. Turns out this man has been pining for me for ten years. I have learned his only fault is not pursuing me sooner so I could’ve spent more time falling for him than hating him. Ironically, I hate him for that. I also want to make him suffer a little for that. I want to be the one in control this time.

Tristan’s eyes look extra golden tonight in this lighting, like pools of honey. His eyes rake over me. I knew when I packed this bikini that it was going to drive him crazy. There is very little left to the imagination and by the wolfish look on Tristan’s face, I have him right in my crosshairs. Wanting more.

“It’s going pretty good, Tess.” He takes his eyes off me for a millisecond to answer Tess’ question, and then returns his gaze to me. I am going to spontaneously combust if he doesn’t join me in this hot tub soon. I bite my lip and take another sip of wine, as Tristan slips off his flip-flops and adjusts his swim trunks. I watch as his thumbs slide into the top hem of his shorts, which are dangerously low–so low, in fact, that I can almost see where the lines of his V are closing in on each other. I swallow hard and nudge Tess in the side.

She laughs and places her empty wine glass on the sideboard of the hot tub. “Okay, I better get out of here before you two pounce on each other.” She winks at me before getting out of the tub. She wraps herself in a towel and walks toward the house.

“Is everyone asleep already, Lawson?”

“Oakley is the only one awake right now. Brad and Jen went to their room and crashed out about thirty minutes ago.”

“Oh goodie!” Tess claps out of excitement. “Now you two have fun and don’t make too much noise. It would be a shame if y’all got caught.” She pats Tristan twice on his immaculate pec and saunters into the house.

Tristan steps into the hot tub and glides toward me. “So…Tess knows about us?”

I shrug. “Yeah, I had to tell someone. I was going to burst! I didn’t want to accidentally blurt it out at Sunday dinner.”

“Now that would be an interesting Sunday night dinner conversation.”

“One I am not even close to being ready for.” I suddenly feel guilty for revealing our secret. I liked the bubble we created for ourselves. “Are you mad I told Tess?”

“Not at all. And don’t be mad, but pretty much the whole team, other than your brother, knows how I feel about you and I guess have known for years. According to all the guys, it was obvious. They are surprised Bradley has never caught on.” The steam rising from the water is not helping how hot Tristan looks right now. He looks like he is in one of his promo videos–only shirtless.

“Hmm… I’m not mad, either.” I finish off my glass. Tristan takes it from me and sets it aside. He glides closer to me and pins me against the side of the hot tub. The water bubbles against his tattoos, which I am loving more and more every time I get to see them up close. I graze my finger against my favorite one on his left rib. Then I skim my finger down each ridge of his abs and playfully trace the V I was admiring earlier.

One of his hands meets mine and he says, “How many glasses of wine have you had tonight, Cupcake?”

“Tess and I drank a bottle out here so I guess, I don’t know, four or five total, including what I had at dinner. Why?”

“Just want to make sure you are in your right mind to do what you want to do with me tonight. I saw you undress me with your eyes a few minutes ago.”

“It’s too early in whatever this is to know what me undressing you with my eyes looks like.” I point back and forth between us.

“Too bad, because I know that expression all too well. I invented that look when I mentally undress you every time I see you.”

This man.

I lift my legs and wrap them around his lower back, pulling him toward me. I want to feel his body against mine. I missed his hard sculpted body. I reach up and take off his backwards hat. “Although I am a sucker for you in a backwards hat, I really like grabbing your hair more.” I run my fingers through his hair and press my lips to his.

His scruff tickles my face and he pushes back some tendrils behind my ears. He is soft and gentle with his movements with me. Almost like he knows I am teasing him and he is playing the same game. His tongue grazes mine and my core is liquid and all I want to do from this moment on is to keep my fingers running through Tristan’s hair and pull him closer to me and not let go.

Tristan trails kisses along my collarbone, making it harder to focus. His rough calloused hands caress my back and play with the strings of my hot pink bikini. “You should not be allowed to wear this bikini, Cupcake.”

“Well maybe you should take it off, Hot Shot.” I playfully trace every ridge of his abs. I can feel them tighten under my touch as I go lower and lower.

He laughs against my lips. “You realize your brother is inside right? Are you trying to get caught? Because I’m not above taking you right here and now.”

“I really don’t care if we get caught anymore.” My hand slides into his swim trunks and I wrap my hand around his already hard dick.

Tristan exhales sharply. “Cupcake. What are you doing?”

I start to stroke him and he lets out a moan and utters “fuck” under his breath. His mouth lands on my collarbone, sending a jolt throughout my body, similar to the one that I felt earlier tonight when his hand squeezed my thigh under the dinner table. I tighten my grip and stroke harder.

His hand grips my wrist to stop my progress.“If you continue doing that, Brooke, I’m gonna…”

“You're gonna what?” I keep my hand on his dick and bite my bottom lip. I like playing with him and I love that he lets me.

“You know what. And I’d much rather come inside of you.”

I love teasing this man. I also want him inside of me more. I reluctantly let go and slide my hand back up around his neck. His eyes turn dark and his hands move along my outer thighs and hips. He growls, “I fucking love your curves, Cupcake. They definitely make my favorite things list.”

“There’s a whole list?” I nibble his ear. “What’s at the top?”

He leans back and looks at me intently. “Your eyes. Sometimes they are like honey. Sometimes they are the prettiest shade of green. I love not knowing what they are going to look like on any given day. I look forward to what version I am going to get whenever I see you.” He brushes some hair behind my ear, then presses his thumb on my bottom lip. “They are unpredictable. Just like you.”

That’s probably the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. My lips cover his again and pull him closer with my legs. I rock my body against his and I can tell that he is about to unravel and I love that I am the one doing this to him.

I press my forehead to his as my fingers gently brush the base of his neck. “No one has ever called me unpredictable. I am usually pretty measured.”

He pushes his body against mine so my back is pressed firmly into the sidewall of the hot tub. His massive hands cradle my face. “Not with me.”

He’s right. He’s always pushed me to my breaking point. Any stability I had, he would disrupt it. He met me when I was a mess. Flour in my hair and on my face. No makeup. No facade. He has always liked me, even when I was at my worst. Isn’t that when you know you have found your person? Despite all my best efforts to stay away from the notion that I could ever fall for Tristan Lawson, it happened anyway. I am not measured with him, yet I feel like everything is going to work out and be okay. Monarch butterflies take flight in my stomach, and I realize from this moment on, no one else will ever live up to Tristan. He sees me for who I am, and I am finally seeing him for who he is. And he is everything.

“I want you, Hot Shot.”

“You already have me, Cupcake. I’m not going anywhere.” He grabs the back of my neck and kisses me. “But I think we do need to take this back to my bedroom, because I can’t take it anymore.”

“What do you want to do to me that we can’t do in this hot tub?” I playfully raise my eyebrow and smirk at him.

“Pin you down.”

I purse my lips and nod. “Hmm.” I push against his chest and he gives in, allowing space between us. I step out of the hot tub and wrap a towel around me.

“Where are you going?” He rests his forearms on the edge of the hot tub. I glimpse defeat in his eyes. I grab his hat from the ledge and place it back on his head. I barely touch his lips with mine, and when he tries to grab the back of my neck to pull me closer, I quickly move away and begin walking toward the house, giggling in the process.

He pops out of the hot tub, practically creating a deluge on the deck. “You better be going to my bedroom.”

I decide to tease him more. I pick up the pace and reach the sliding glass door handle. “What are you going to do about it if I’m not?” I slide the door open and step onto the hardwood floor. The living room is empty, so either Tess went to her room alone or with Oakley. Either way, I’m glad no one can see me as I quickly tiptoe toward the staircase. I hear the door close and lock and know that Tristan is not too far behind.

I giggle on my way upstairs and run as quickly as I can on my tiptoes down the hallway to Tristan’s bedroom. I run in and attempt to shut the door, but Tristan reaches the door before I can fully close it. He steps into his bedroom and closes the door behind him and locks it. He rips the towel off my body, sweeps me off my feet and pins me against the door, just like he did at my parents’ house a few weeks ago. But this time is different. Tristan isn’t going to hold back, and I don’t want him to.

“Did you think you could outrun me, Cupcake?” His hands lock my wrists above my head, firmly against the door.

“Kinda,” I say playfully.

His mouth crashes into mine and he lowers my feet to the ground, holding my hands in place with one hand while his other hand travels down the length of my body. Teasing me. Taking his time with me. Payback for me teasing him outside. I like this game. I could play this game all night. His free hand reaches behind my back and unties my hot pink bikini top and lifts it up toward my wrists. He ties a knot with the bikini top while looking me straight in the eyes.

“Hmmm. You’re adorable for thinking that,” he whispers along my jaw as he runs his fingers back down my arms and torso, tracing the hem of my bikini. I desperately want to grab onto his hair and pull him toward me, but his other hand is still pinning my tied hands to the door. He is entirely in control now. But I want him to be. “Keep your hands up there, Cupcake.”

He finally lets go of my wrists and slowly slides off my bikini. He lifts each leg to take it completely off. He stays on his knees and props one of my legs onto his shoulder. “Stay quiet for me like a good girl.”

Tristan’s tongue glides into me and my hips rock toward him. This is the type of “I missed you” sex that is so worth the wait. Tristan holds onto my hips and digs his fingers into my skin as his tongue goes deeper inside of me.

“Oh my God!” I breathe out, trying to stay as quiet as I can, but Tristan is making it almost impossible.

He pauses for a split second and looks up at me with devilish eyes. “Is this what you wanted?” He licks me again.

My core is tightening more and more. He is not letting up, and my body finally releases. I try to catch my breath. Tristan is lucky that I didn’t scream out his name with what he just did to me. Now, it is my turn.

“I want you to untie me so I can touch you, Hot Shot. It’s not fair that you put your hands and mouth all over me, and I can’t do the same.”

“Who said I wanted to play fair, Cupcake? What if I love being in control?” He stands up, slowly caressing my body again. This man doesn’t even have to touch me and I am so turned on by him – so when he does have his hands on me, my body goes into full blown overdrive.

“I know you do. But I do, too,” I tease back.

Tristan bites my bottom lip as he unties my hands. His hands grab the back of my head and I follow suit. I have been wanting to run my hands through his hair and tug and never let go. I take off his hat and throw it off to the side. My self control is out the window. I wrap my arms around his neck and practically climb onto him and he groans. He squeezes my ass and tightens his grip on my hair. I let out a little squeal.

“Shhh, Brooke. We are definitely going to get caught if you continue making those sounds.”

“So?” I crush my lips onto his lips and let my tongue get entangled in his. It is a fierce and demanding kiss. He holds me up with ease and carries me over toward his bed, which looks identical to his bed back home. He matches my kiss with every movement and I hook my legs tighter around his strong back. Tristan makes me feel safe in the midst of being wild and vulnerable. He holds space for me to enjoy every aspect of sex and not feel ashamed for wanting what I want. It is never rushed with him and he always takes care of me first. Every. Single. Time. I feel flushed and my mouth falls open in anticipation for what Tristan said he is going to do with me. So I decide to teasingly remind him, “I thought you were going to pin me down, Hot Shot.”

He licks his swollen, perfect lips. “You’re right, Cupcake. Just let me hold you in my arms for a minute.”

I hungrily look at him. He is everything I want and could ever ask for.

He brushes his thumb against my bottom lip. My body is pulsing from what he just did to me against that door and with the anticipation for whatever else he is going to do with me tonight. He starts kissing my neck and I take out my hair tie to let my tresses fall along my back. I move my hands along his tattoos on his bulky arms. I smile as I reach each ridge, each muscle of his biceps and triceps. He tugs on my hair and it almost sends me over the edge again.

Tristan finally looks me in the eyes. There is something different in this look–it is loaded with something important he wants to say and I realize that this is what love feels like. Being completely lost in the moment with the person who, despite all your flaws, looks at you like you are the best thing life has to offer.

I don’t care if I am going to be the first one to say it. It’s how I really feel. “Tristan…”

“I love you, Brooke.”

I smile, pressing my forehead to his. “God, I was hoping you would say that, because I love you, too.”

He places his hands firmly behind my neck and on top of my head and pulls me in close. I am in his little cocoon and that’s where I am planning on staying for the foreseeable future. My breathing becomes uneven again, as does Tristan’s. Everything from this point on will have a different kind of weight attached to it, but I’ve waited long enough for that truth to be present in my life. Especially with this god of a man holding me in his arms right now.

Tristan leans in slowly, as if this is our very first kiss, and I meet him halfway. This kiss is sweet, but laced with uninhibited passion. Our bodies become pliant against each other. I want him on top of me right now.

“Pin me down, Tristan.”