I want everything.
I push my sunglasses up my nose. Fix my pony tail. Smooth my leggings. “They’re prescription.”
“Still.”
“I need them to see.”
“You can see in your glasses.”
“If I want to squint in agony because it’s so bright.” I motion to the big lemon sun. It’s late morning now, but it could easily pass for afternoon. The sun is oppressive. It’s bright. Hot. Cloudless.
Shadeless.
“You ever think you should get dressed according to what my dick wants?” He slides his arm around my waist.
“Gee. I didn’t. I wonder why.” I shoot him a you’re ridiculous smile.
“Smart people can miss obvious truths.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’ve got your backups in the car.”
“In your dreams.”
“Hmm.” He pulls me closer, so my hip bumps his. “You’re wearing glasses in that one. But you’re only wearing glasses.”
“You’re obsessed.” Truth be told, I like his obsession. No, I love his obsession. I always felt awkward and dorky in my glasses. His gushing makes me feel like a sex goddess.
“I know what I like.”
“You always have a thing for glasses?”
He shakes his head. “Just yours.”
“Oh.” My cheeks flush. My gaze shifts to the dusty path. I’m getting better at flirting, but I’m nowhere near Wes’s confidence level.
“How about we negotiate?”
“You have no bargaining power here.”
“Yeah, that could be a problem.” He makes a show of scratching his head. “You gonna wear them when we get home?”
“I’m not going to wear sunglasses inside.”
“Thank fuck.” He turns to me. Leans in to press his lips to mine.
It’s a quick kiss.
But, God, I feel it everywhere.
He tastes like tea and honey.
And Wes.
And, God, I do have it bad.
Sure, this ends in two weeks. I can still enjoy the now.
I don’t have to think about the expiration date.
In theory.
“Here’s a deal. You skip the sunglasses, I skip the sunglasses,” I say.
“Quinn, you can negotiate better than that.”
“Oh.”
He nods as he leads me around the bend.
The path is quiet. It’s a particularly hot weekday, but it’s still strange seeing the landmark quiet.
I guess we’ve got a ways to go until we’re actually there.
I can just barely see the Hollywood sign, a few hills away.
Thank God for my usual workouts. Wes is fast, and he has near infinite endurance. And not just when we’re naked.
Whatever it is, he can go all day.
Or all night.
“How about, I skip the sunglasses, you skip the pants,” he suggests.
My blush deepens. “How about I’m not going to manipulate you into taking your clothes off.”
“You could just ask.”
“Yeah.” I swallow hard. “Of course.”
“So…” He raises a brow.
“Here?” I want to. But it’s even less private than the car and the exhibitionism is more awkward than sexy.
He nods. Motions to the empty trail. Why not?
“I hear people.” Sorta. It’s mostly the wind. But there’s the faintest sound of conversation. It might be one of the giant houses on the other side of the hill. But it’s something.
“Probably a movie star sunbathing naked.”
“Where do you get this stuff?”
He laughs. “They’ll probably get off on our show. Start fucking themselves.”
“Probably.” I shake my head. Wes is so… Wes.
“That would be hot, but I gotta be honest with you, Quinn.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not willing to share.”
Desire spreads to my chest. And something else too. This warmth. He likes me too. He wants more too. I just… have to articulate that at some point. “I have bad news for you.”
“Yeah?”
“I have self-control.”
“No.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “And patience. I can wait until we’re home.”
His fingers brush my hip. “You daring me?”
No. Yes. Maybe. Honestly, my patience is… not great. Not when it comes to Wes. I try a coy shrug. “Maybe.”
“You know I have a strict policy of taking dares.”
“I can only assume.”
“Gonna have to wind you up and leave you wanting now.”
I shrug like I don’t care, but I completely fail to sell it.
Wes chuckles. He pulls back enough to take my hand.
Then he gets closer. Too close for a hike, but I don’t care.
I walk in time with him. It’s a hot day. I’m already sweating bullets.
The breeze helps, but only so much.
Still, I want him closer.
It’s pretty much my motto at this point.
Besides the we’ll always have the summer before med school thing.
My gaze shifts to the rolling hills. “It’s beautiful here.” I hold my hand over my eyes to block the glare.
We’re not up that high, but I can see so much. The skyscrapers downtown. Century City to the west. The Pacific Ocean past that.
The mansions.
They’re gorgeous.
And way out of my price range.
I guess, one day, if I’m some sort of high earning doctor—a plastic surgeon or a radiologist—I’ll be able to afford a place like this.
Hell, I could work in a free clinic and marry a plastic surgeon who will keep us afloat. (Going into medical school single seals my fate. I’m either marrying a doctor or staying single forever).
I try to imagine that future. Coming home from a long day of work to my giant all glass house. Stripping out of my lab coat and shoes and sitting by the pool.