“Come on,” she says from the passenger seat of my truck. “It’ll be fun. You love the lake.”
“I do, but I wanted some time with you.”
“I’m right here.”
“Naked time.”
She throws her head back and laughs. The sound fills the cab of my truck and has my heart beating a little harder inside my chest. “We had naked time last night, and this morning,” she reminds me.
“I can’t help that I crave your body next to mine,” I say, keeping my eyes on the road.
“My sweet Royce,” she whispers, reaching over and placing her hand on my arm.
“I’m always sweet.”
“Uh-huh, you are, but sometimes you take it over the top, and it makes my belly flutter. Like a swarm of butterflies are having a party in there or something.”
Checking my rearview mirror, I move the truck to the side of the road and put it in Park. Taking off my seat belt, I turn and lean over the console. I take her face in my hands and press my lips to hers. Hearing her description just now, it’s exactly what happens every time I’m near her. Knowing that she feels the same way, I had to kiss her. I needed my lips on hers, her taste on my tongue. Waiting wasn’t an option.
A blaring horn pulls us out of the kiss. I turn to look, and I see Marshall’s truck flying by us. “I feel it too,” I say, turning my attention back to Sawyer. “All of it.” I take her hand and place it over my heart. “You feel that?” She nods. “That’s what you do to me. Just looking at you causes my heart to race.” Another blaring horn, and this time I don’t bother to turn to look. I’m positive it’s another one of my idiot brothers. “We should go,” I say as her phone rings. I pull away, giving her space to answer.
“Hello,” she says as I lock in my seat belt and pull back out on the road.
“Hey, Had.” She listens. “Sorry, Royce and I are going to his family’s lake today. We’re taking the boat out.”
“Hey.” I reach over and place my hand on her thigh. “Invite them.”
“Hold on a minute.” She covers the speaker of her phone. “Are you sure?”
“Of course, I’m sure. We have friends out there all the time. Besides, I think it’s time I met your best friend.”
“Are we there?” she asks, smiling.
“We’ve been there. Tell her to join us. You can text her the address.”
“Hey, Had, why don’t you and Derek join us?” She listens. “No intrusion at all,” she assures her. “I’ll text you the address. Come on, and you’ve been dying to meet Royce, so now’s your chance.” Another pause. “Yay. Okay, I’ll text you the address. See you soon.” She ends the call and glances over at me. “Thank you for that. She’s been hounding me to meet you.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
She shrugs. “I didn’t know if we were there yet. I wasn’t sure what this was exactly.” She waves her hand between us.
“This is everything.”
“Everything,” she repeats.
The final mile to get to my parents’ place is quiet. I park next to the building where the boat is stored and put the truck in Park. Removing my seat belt, I lean over and do the same for hers. Reaching next to me, I move my seat as far back as it will go. “Come here, Sawyer.”
“What?” She looks at me with a confused expression on her face.
“Come here, baby.” I tap my lap.
“You’re crazy.”
I nod. “About you. Now come here.” Without further prompting, she climbs over the console and straddles my lap. My arms wrap around her waist. “You and me, we’re official. I don’t care what you call it or how to label us, but we’re together. You’re mine, and I’m yours. Never question if I want to be involved in your life. I don’t care if it’s to tell me you bought a pair of shoes on sale, or if it’s spending time with your best friend and her fiancé, I’m your guy, Sawyer. I want all the good, all the bad, and everything in between.”
“If the employees of Riggins Enterprises could see you now.” She smiles at me. “That silver tongue of yours hits me here.” She taps her chest over her heart.
“This tongue?” I ask, leaning in close and licking the column of her neck.
“Y-Yeah, that’d be the one.”
I chuckle. “This tongue has so many talents,” I say, and she swats at my shoulder.
“You’re terrible, Royce Riggins.”
I shrug. “Grab your phone, babe. We need to send Hadley the address. I’ll text my brothers and tell them we’ll join them out at the dock once they get here.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“Yes. Trust me.” I kiss the corner of her mouth.