♥♥♥
An hour later, we’re drifting across the lake on Liam’s pontoon boat. The sun is high, breeze soft, with a blue sky and mountains in the background. It could be on a postcard.
Soothing sounds from the rushing in the boat’s wake soothe me as I begin to finally relax. I look out over the water. It glitters like it’s been sprinkled with stars from the gleaming sun. It feels like summer used to feel.
Liam cuts the engine and drops anchor right where we are in the middle of the lake. I stretch out on one of the padded benches, shoulders bare, sunglasses slipping down my nose. Liam reaches into the cooler, tosses me a root beer.
“This counts as bribery,” I say.
He shrugs. “Guilty.”
I take a sip and sigh, letting the sweetness hit the back of my throat.
“You missed a spot,” he sayssuddenly.
I sit up straighter. “What?”
“Sun block. You’re going to fry.” He gestures to my back.
“Oh. Right.” I dig through the tote bag for the bottle.
“Here, allow me,” he says, as I turn around.
I slowly turn, sitting forward while he kneels behind me. The moment his hands touch my skin, I feel activated. All my senses are on overwhelm.
His palms are broad and strong, smoothing lotion over my shoulders, the nape of my neck, the curve of my spine. He moves with controlled strokes that feel more like deep massage.
A breeze blows against my body suddenly and I bite my lip, trying not to shiver.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah. Just … that breeze. And, your hands.”
He huffs a quiet laugh and keeps going. Down the small of my back, up across my shoulder blades.
It’s not just sunblock application. It’s definitely a massage that feels like a tease … or maybe a promise.
I lean into his touch before I can stop myself. His hands pause. Then one of them slides around my waist, slow and sure, until he’s wrapping his arms around me from behind. I let out a soft sound that’s half sigh, half need. Liam presses a kiss to the back of my neck.
I wonder how far he’s going to take this touching and kissing.Should I give him a status report? Should I just remain quiet.Suddenly, I blurt it out.
“I’ve never gone all the way, Liam.” I turn my head, pushing my sunglasses up to my hairline and meet his eyes.
He hesitates for a few seconds, then calmly says, “That’s perfect. I won’t push you into it. That’s something you should only give to a man youreally love.”
“My whippoorwill mate?”
His arms tighten around me, and I feel his chest rise against my breasts as he takes a deep breath.
"In a perfect world," he says quietly, his voice a little rough. "It’s a big thing … your virginity. It should be with who you want and only if you're sure."
My eyes search his deep blue ones for sincere feelings. He’s lustful with our body closeness, but I do think he’s considerate of me as a woman. Very considerate. I want to tell him about my crush on him. But I feel a little foolish admitting it.
The boat rocks gently beneath us, but everything else feels perfectly still. I look down at our bodies pressed together and then up into his eyes once more.
"I've been sure about you since I was fifteen," I whisper.
His eyes search mine, intense and careful. "Tessa..."
