Page 30 of Under My Skin

Chapter Thirty

EVERETT

A smile lingers on Lucy’s lips, and it takes everything in me not to taste them again. She readjusts her ponytail. “Well, just let me know whenever you need another pick me up.”

The only thing stopping me from taking her up on that deal now is the invasive thought that she’s not mine to kiss. She’s Simon’s sister, and as good as that just felt, I’ve crossed some sort of invisible line. I groan, and my head falls back against the wall. “Your brother’s going to kill me.”

Her nose scrunches, and I try not to dwell on how cute it is. “Why would he care?”

I sit forward and clasp my hands in front of my lips, my foot bouncing against the wooden floor. “Because you’re his sister, Luce. He’s protective of you.”

She scoffs. “I love Simon, but I don’t think he’s ever ‘protected’ me from anything.” She puts air quotes around the word. “And besides, we’re all adults. It’s not like I’m going to steal you away from him.”

I nod as I take in her words, but they don’t bring me much comfort. Simon’s already been suspicious of something going on between us, and we both told him no. That simple truth just turned into a lie, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

I must be quiet for too long because Lucy catches me off guard, climbing into my lap and straddling me. I relax my position to make room for her, but my heart is in overdrive. “Luce,” I say in a weak attempt to protest.

“No,” she says firmly. She rests her arms on my shoulders, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of my neck and goose bumps scatter down my spine.

Why does everything have to feel so good? “What are you trying to do to me?”

She shifts her weight slightly, and my cock begs for more friction. “Look,” she says with all seriousness. “If you want to forget this, I’m fine with that, but it has to be because that’s what you want. Don’t think about Simon or anyone else. What do you want?”

It’s such a simple question, but I don’t know how to answer.

She doesn’t get it. It’s not just about me.

My actions affect people. My decision to avoid my mom’s house had a direct impact on her, and doing anything more with Lucy will have a direct impact on Simon.

And I’m probably still too much of a mess to be with anyone.

What if I let her in and then I shut down again?

What if I push her away the same way I pushed away my ex?

Simon would never forgive me if I hurt her.

“There’s more to it than that.” It’s all I can bring myself to say.

She frowns, but she doesn’t look annoyed with my answer like I thought she might. Her eyes search mine, but I don’t think she’ll find what she’s looking for. I don’t think I can offer anyone much of anything right now. “What if I wasn’t his sister?”

“But you are.”

She shakes her head. “How would things be different if I wasn’t Simon’s sister?” Her expression is so open and vulnerable. She isn’t asking it like she’s trying to force something out of me, she’s looking at me with those big, blue eyes like she genuinely wants to know.

My fingers twitch against the outside of her shirt as I grip her waist. They’re dying to slip under the material and drag over her smooth skin.

I want to explore her every curve, but instead, my grip tightens where it is.

I keep my stare fixed on my hands like if I look away, they might misbehave.

By the time I answer, my voice is rough from the strain of holding back.

“If you weren’t Simon’s sister, we wouldn’t be talking right now. ”

It’s the truth. I haven’t felt this good around someone in a long time. I might have been able to distract myself from time to time, but this is different. Lucy is different, and if I didn’t think it was such a bad idea, there’s no way I would have stopped kissing her.

When she doesn’t say anything, I dare to look up and check for her reaction. Her teeth dig into her bottom lip, and without thinking, I gently pull it free with my thumb.

“Maybe I don’t want to talk.”

“Luce . . .” I say, my tone warning.

She runs her hands through my hair as she continues. “If you don’t want Simon to know, don’t tell him. No pressure. No expectations. If it falls apart, nothing changes.”

My resolve wanes with every word. I should tell her no. I shouldn’t see her as anything more, but as much as I try to hold onto that thought, it seems to waver the longer I look at her. Because in this moment, I don’t see her as anything other than who she is.

Lucy.

And right now, she feels a little like my Lucy , which might be even better. Reaching for a lock of blonde hair that’s fallen over her shoulder, I gently rub my thumb over the strands. “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“Then don’t.”

I meet her stare again. She makes it sound so simple. Maybe it is. Maybe it could be .

“Everett,” she says, her voice low as she leans toward me. “Please don’t treat me like I’m anyone’s sister.”

Hearing her say my name is like finally having a soft place to land.

That’s all it takes for my resolve to snap.

Before I can talk myself out of it, my mouth is back on hers.

The sweet smell of her fills my senses, lavender and vanilla.

She gasps at the contact, and I take full advantage of her open mouth.

My tongue drags over hers, deep and dominating.

Her body arches into mine, her hips tilting in a delicious way that has the front of my jeans tightening.

“How do you want me to treat you?” I ask against her lips before going back for more.

Her lips are soft and perfect in the way they move against mine.

I don’t want to pull away, but I move to kissing her neck to give her a chance to answer.

She struggles to catch her breath, and her fingers weave into my hair, gripping it at the roots.

A soft moan leaves her lips when I claim the spot just below her ear, and that sound alone shoots straight to my groin. I need her to make it again.

“Treat me like I’m yours for the taking,” she finally says through heated breaths.

My Lucy.

I pause, my lips lingering on her neck before pulling back to look at her.

Delicate pink patches of flushed skin decorate her cheeks and neck as her chest quickly rises and falls with each breath.

Her blue eyes look a shade darker than usual, and everything about seeing her this way fuels me to want to keep exploring her body until I’ve tasted every patch of skin and heard every sound she makes.

But my eyes still search hers. Two days ago, I wouldn’t give her a tattoo because I knew it was a reckless decision she’d later regret. I don’t want her to regret this. She seems to have come to better terms with everything going on, but I can’t tell if how badly I want her is clouding my vision.

Seeming to read through my hesitation, she nods, answering an unspoken question. I groan, and my hands move to cup her perfectly round ass, loving the way she fits there. God, I want her.

Slowly, her hands trail down my chest. I’m torn between watching her or watching her hands, but I’m completely captivated by the concentration laced in her features as she trails her fingers lower.

As soon as she reaches the front of my pants, they slip into the waistband of my jeans, accidentally teasing the tip of my cock.

My eyes flutter shut at her touch, and when I open them again, her innocent blue eyes have flicked up to watch for my reaction. My voice is thick and rough when I say, “You’re mine for the taking?”

Her cheeks flare, and her voice is barely a whisper when she says, “Please.” Without waiting, she unbuttons my pants and opens the zipper enough to slip her hand inside.

She’s only touching the outside of my boxer briefs, but fuck it feels good.

She knows exactly what she’s doing, and when she leans in and kisses my neck, I suck in a breath, my thoughts dissipating.

As much as I want her to keep touching me, I pull off her cardigan. The oversized material lands on the floor next to her, and I groan at the sight. She’s perfect. All she’s wearing underneath is a thin strap tank that barely contains her perfect breasts, the material clinging to her taut nipples.

I kiss her chest, loving the way her breath catches in her throat. My mouth trails lower until I’m at the scooped neckline. Pulling down, I free one of her breasts and suck her nipple into my mouth.

She lets out a small cry, her head falling back as she gently grinds against me.

I tease, and nip, and suck, all while palming her other breast. She’s so soft.

When I switch to the other side, pulling her other perfectly pink nipple into my mouth, she curses under her breath, and I fight the smile it brings to my lips.

When I’ve had my fill, I sit back and gently fix her shirt before letting my hands trail down to the waistband of her leggings. My eyes stay trained on my tattooed fingers near the ivory skin of her stomach, and something about the sight has my cock twitching.

As I slowly pull down, I’m met with light purple underwear covered in avocados, and I huff a laugh.

She smiles at my reaction, her voice still breathy when she says, “If I had known this would happen, I would have worn different ones.”

A smile still lingers on my lips as I shake my head, keeping my eyes fixed on the avocados.

“No, these are perfect.” Gently trailing a finger down the front of her, I circle where I know her clit is hiding beneath the fabric, and she gasps.

Then, turning my hand over, I reach further into her pants until I can feel where the cotton of her underwear turns damp.

“This is all I want anyway,” I say, my voice gruff. “You, wet.”

Pushing up on her knees, she holds my face as she kisses me, and there’s a desperation behind it this time.

With her hips lifted, my fingers move more freely and slip into her panties.

I tease her warm and wet opening with the tips of two fingers, taking my time because everything about her feels like a dream, and the last thing I want to do is rush this.

My fingers barely dip inside her before they’re out again, spreading her slick heat to her swollen clit.

Her kisses slow as she hangs in the balance of anticipating my next move.

I’m dying to plunge my fingers inside her and hear her cry out, but not yet.

I tease her opening with my two fingers again, my thumb gently circling her clit.

Her eyes flutter shut and her forehead rests against mine.

Gradually I give her more of my fingers, taking turns between circling her clit and pushing deeper inside her.

I know she’s close when her walls clench every time I give her clit a little more attention.

She whimpers, and her kisses have completely stopped.

Her eyes shut, and her lips part with every shallow breath.

“Everett,” she pants, her eyes screwed shut. “Please.”

Hooking my fingers inside her, I add pressure on her clit while I pick up the pace.

“Fuck,” she hisses, her nails digging into the back of my neck.

“That’s it. Be a good girl and come all over my fingers, Luce.” Fuck, she’s beautiful like this. Her hips buck as she chases her orgasm, and just the thought of her riding my cock this way has my head reeling.

With one last sweep of my thumb, her eyes fly open, her body convulsing as she cries out.

Keeping my fingers gently hooked inside her, I slow my thumb on her clit, giving her soft circling movements while she rides out the waves.

Catching her lips with mine, I flood her with kisses, soft and slow, until she comes down from her high.