“He what? You guys just… just like that? Just went on a yacht ride ?”
“Can you believe it? Doesn’t that sound totally outrageous ?”
“Oh, girl,” she sighs, fanning herself dramatically. “Well, maybe I need to rethink my position on this. I mean, if you’re going to go all Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous , maybe a summer fling isn’t such a bad idea after all .”
“That’s what I’m saying !”
“And you’re sure, absolutely sure, that you can keep it light? No strings? No heartache ?”
I wave my hand in the air dismissively and roll my eyes. “Shoot. If any
body’s going to be breaking anybody’s heart, I’m gonna break his. This is strictly for research and educational purposes. That’s it .”
Bea stands up, walking to the French doors that lead out onto our private patio, shifting her weight from hip to hip, sort of looking in silhouette like some French director’s idea of a thoughtful, college-age woman .
Now that she’s not looking at me, my fatigue returns. I crawl up onto the bed, sliding along it diagonally until my muscles just begin to sink into the luxurious down .
“Your phone,” she tells me. “It’s ringing. Here it is .”
I feel my bag land on the mattress next to me and fumble in it blindly until my fingers find the cool plastic case .
“Thanks,” I mumble as she leaves, apparently satisfied by my obvious display of fatigue .
I’ve got three missed texts from my brother. My eyes don’t quite focus right for a few seconds, but just before I fall asleep, the words sort of piece themselves together .
Ethan is at the conference .
Stay away from him .
Stay away .
Chapter 27
ETHAN
A s I wake up, I dream of Ava wrapping her thighs around my hand, grinding her hips against me until she comes, her lips pink and parted, her eyes half closed. Her hair falls back over her bare shoulders as she sighs my name .
I’m always hard in the morning, but today feels like it might just break off. Ava never really left my mind, I guess. And now that I’ve had a taste of her, I only want more .
My hand slides down my body, unconsciously seeking my hard-on and wrapping around it. I’m not even all the way awake, but I wrap my fist around myself automatically, imagining her soft fingers, her full lips. Her little gasp, her, wet, pink …
Fuck.
I come immediately, right into the sheets, shuddering and twitching like an animal, like a teenager, like I had to do it. And as soon as I’m done, I’m ready to go again. I’m so thirsty for her, I wonder where will it end .
Sliding out of bed, I automatically grab my phone and stare at it for a few seconds. I want to say something, but what am I supposed to say? Just now, I had a flash, an image of her in my private estate, just north of here. Among the evergreens, away from everyone, just the two of us. I wonder if she would go for that ?
I just want to get her away from everyone and have some peace and quiet, some time to explore. Maybe I can shake this crazy, feverish feeling. I like it and hate it, all at the same time .
But I’m not sure she’d ever go for that. I’m pretty certain anyone in her family would rather see me drawn and quartered than making time with their little Ava .
But, fuck it. I’m gonna try. I grab my phone to text her .
Come to my room. Five minutes .
Without even waiting for a response, I head into the bathroom for a quick shower. The water feels amazing on my skin, and I realize I’m still hard. If she’s on her way, though, I don’t really have time to beat off again .
As I’m wrapping a towel around my waist, dripping in the middle of the bathroom, I hear her soft rap at the door. I can feel my smile, wide and triumphant .