Lies We Tell (Thistle Cove 3)

A loud thud draws me from my sleep. I blink at the noise outside the window. Probably a tree branch or a dream. I sit up, pull off my shirt and push down my sweatpants, before getting back in bed.

I’m not sure how long it’s been when I feel the edge of my bed sink and a warm hand on my stomach. I jerk up and see the glint of blonde hair on someone sitting on the edge of my bed.

“KK?”

“Expecting someone else?”

This may be a dream too.

I rub my face and feel her hand slide around to my side. Nope. She’s real.

“I just wasn’t expecting anyone, but wow,” I reach out and touch her face, “this is a nice surprise. How did you get in here?”

“I jumped.”

“You what? Alone? Are you crazy?” My heart leaps into my chest. That jump—it’s not terribly hard, but if she’d fallen…

“I’m stronger now that you’ve been working with me. And I wanted to surprise you.”

“Next time let me know, I’ll open the basement door.”

“That’s kind of the opposite of a surprise.”

“Trust me, Ken, you showing up in my bedroom is always welcome. You could’ve been hurt. I can’t handle that.”

“I’m fine. Promise.” She smiles down at me—a little bit nervous, and I pull back the cover and scoot over, giving her room to get in.

There’s not much room in my narrow single bed and I try to keep a bit of distance. The last thing she needs to be is assaulted by my overeager, hormonally charged body. Kenley has other plans.

“You smell good,” she says, sniffing my shoulder. “Clean.”

“You always smell good.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is, even covered in sweat I can’t get enough of you.” I kiss her nose, her jaw, her lips. Her mouth is minty, her tongue warm. I move my hand to grip her hip and pull her to me.

“Sorry,” I say, grimacing.

“Don’t be sorry,” she says. I can feel her smile. “He’s happy to see me.”

“Ecstatic.”

I kiss her again. She has no idea how hard I try to keep myself under control around her, but tonight? Coming to me in my bed? It’s testing every ounce of willpower I have.

Her hands run over my chest, nails grazing my nipples, I pull her to me, on top of me, and her hair hangs over her shoulders. She reaches for the zipper on her hoodie and tugs it down, revealing pale, perfect flesh. My mouth goes dry when I see the intricate lace and the thin straps holding up her breasts. I’m still processing as she lifts up and removes her shorts, revealing the sexiest lingerie I’ve ever seen.

I’ve seen Kenley in a bathing suit before. She lifeguarded all summer at the pool and although she wasn’t mine to look at, I did. Wistfully. But having her here, straddling my hips in pale blue panties with lace barely covering the parts of her that I’m dying to explore, may kill me.

I swallow and lift myself, so I can kiss her on the mouth.

“You like?” she asks with a knowing smile.

“So much.”

“Good.”

She pushes me back down and comes with me, tongue licking against mine. I feel the heat between her legs and I know for damn sure she feels the steel rod between mine.