Bad Influence (Bad Love 3)

Smiling, I turn my head to give him better access. “I thought butterscotch reminded you of old ladies.”

“Not anymore,” he says, lifting me by my thighs as he stands. I tighten my hold on his neck, squealing as he walks us out of the hot tub.

“Where are we going?”

“You said no to the hot tub. I’ll just have to fuck you on the next closest surface.” He bends over, still holding me close, and digs a condom out of his discarded jeans.

“You just walk around with condoms in your pockets?” I tease, then I bring my tongue to lick the thick column of his neck, peppering kisses in between.

“I do now.”

He lowers me to one of the padded wicker chaises on the far side of the patio. I look over toward the gate. It’s dark outside, but anyone walking by would have a clear view of us thanks to the lights in the yard. Jess smirks, reading my mind as he teases the tie on the side of my bathing suit bottoms.

“Scared, Allie?”

I slip out from underneath him, then push on his chest until he’s lying back on the chaise. He scrapes his teeth along his bottom lip, watching intently as I bring one knee to the edge of the chair. Reaching behind my neck, I tug on the string, letting my top fall open, my nipples tightening as the cool night air hits my overheated skin.

Jesse lunges for me, hooking an arm around my waist, causing an unexpected laugh to spill out of me. “I’ll take that as a no.”

“Jess!”

Lo’s voice jolts me from sleep. I jerk away from Jess’ warm body, heart pounding, and hold the blanket to my naked chest. We fell asleep out here last night after he pulled me onto his lap and told me to ride him.

I look down at his sleeping form, shaking his shoulder. “Jesse!” I hiss, hopping off the chair to find my bathing suit. I spot the pieces peeking out from under Jesse’s shirt, and I snatch them up, getting dressed in record time.

What the hell are Lo and Dare doing back so early? I mentally calculate the days, having lost track of time without school as a gauge. Saturday. That means Jess and I have been holed up for almost an entire week.

Adjusting my top, I nudge his ass with my foot. “Get up!”

He finally starts to stir, sitting up with a groan. I throw his shirt at his chest, followed by his jeans, but he’s in no such hurry, lazily scrubbing a hand down his face as he yawns. I glance back toward the patio door, knowing we’re about two seconds away from getting caught red-handed. Jesse moves as slow as goddamn molasses, shoving his legs into his jeans before pulling them up—not bothering to button them—and I have to pry my eyes away from the sight.

“There you are,” Lo says from behind me, right as I notice the used condom from last night on the ground. I cover it with my foot, bringing a hand up to shield my eyes from the sun as I turn around to face her.

“Hey,” I say, forcing a smile, kicking the condom underneath the chair as casually as possible—making a mental note to come back to dispose of it later. “You guys are back early. How was it?”

“It was all right,” she says with a shrug. “Ate some good food. Hung out at the pool. Got married.”

Jesse’s head whips up at that last part, and Lo laughs, holding out her hand, showing off a dainty gold band with a single diamond.

“Oh my God.” I laugh. “Congratulations!” I give Lo a big hug and she squeezes me back, smiling like a lunatic. I hug Dare next who gives me more of a shoulder pat, but even he looks thrilled. Well, for him, anyway.

“Jess?” Lo questions, a nervous lilt to her voice.

He gives a tight smile, standing to give Dare that handshake slash hug thing guys do, and then he’s moving toward Lo, hugging her around her shoulders as her arms circle his waist. “I’m happy for you,” he says—his tone sincere but somehow sad—before placing a kiss to the top of her head.

He pulls away, sliding a hand through his disheveled hair. “I gotta take a piss.”

Dare and Lo exchange looks as he turns for the door.

The bubble has popped.

The awkward meter rises to an all-time high as I s

tand here in my bathing suit, not having the first clue what to say.

“I’ll talk to him after he has a chance to digest the news,” Lo says.

“Congratulations,” I say again. “I’m going to put some clothes on.”