“I just thought maybe you couldn’t get into the water with your… piercings.” The beat caused me to glance at him. There was a flush running up his neck and ears which was most definitely not from the sun.
I bit my lip to hold back my grin.
“They’re not a problem,” I laughed, brushing my leg against his under the water, “But they can be…distracting.” My foot grazed up his calf.
He shuddered, staring at me heatedly.
“That they are.” He muttered, brushing his hand along the small of my back.
On the opposite bank, Chris was hauling herself up the slope with the rope.
“Do you like them?” I asked, my tone casual.
He sucked in a deep breath, giving me another heated side eye.
“Yeah,a lot.”
The way he said it made me pause. He’d acted so strangely when he learned I had my nipples pierced. At the time, I’d just brushed it off as heat exhaustion or being tired from the basketball game, but, what if?
“You said last night that you’d had an enlightening experience.” I started, sending a thumbs up at Chris when she called out to us to pay attention.
“Did that experience maybe happen on a basketball court?”
For a moment, the only sounds around us were the lapping water, the music over the speaker, and Chris’s babble as she convinced herself to jump.
I thought he wouldn’t answer and was trying to wrack my brain for a way to apologize for prying when he practically whispered,
“Maybe.”
Chris’s scream as she launched herself off the slope and into the water matched the one going through my head.
CHAPTER 13
Derek
Things with Coltondidn’t change much after our encounter on Fourth of July. Well, things weredifferent, but our routines were still the same, with just a few extra things involved.
When he dragged himself from his room the day after our river-outing, with his ridiculously cute bedhead and goofy smile, I’d realized I could finally pull him into my arms and kiss him till we were both breathless. So, I did. It had been the best way to start my day and I’d kept it up every morning since. Though, it did mean I was painfully hard on my drive into the office.
He’d come home late the other night to find me on the couch—working, but barely—as I’d waited for him to come through the front door.
We’d shared a moment where we’d just grinned at each other as he took his shoes off, the unabashed joy in his smile causing my heart to flutter. Then he’d come over, blanketing himself on top of me for a few quick kisses. Those small, simple pecks had caused my brain to go numb the same way all his kisses had and left me wanting more. But, Colton’s stomach had growled loudly and he’d pulled away with asheepish look.
“The cafe was so packed tonight for some reason. I didn’t have time to take a break.” He’d explained.
And while my cock and I were disappointed things hadn’t gone further, it wasn’t like I could fault him. I wasn’t an asshole that’d expect him to choose making out with me and a potential handjob over basic human functions like eating.
When he’d heated up some food, he’d come back over to the couch and snuggled into my side while we’d watched a movie as he ate. It wasn’t as stimulating for my dick, but my heart had prattled away in my chest like I was sixteen again over how comfortable he was with me already.
Something else new was that we'd started texting each other more throughout the day. Before, we’d sent each other a few texts here andthere, mostly about minor things like dinner ideas or if one of us needed something from the store. Now we sent each other little memes and snippets about our days. Every time Colton’s name appeared on my phone, I couldn’t suppress the smile on my face.
I had been surprisingly turned on after realizing Colton had left so many hickeys on me, but I’d know I had to cover them for work. I’d done my best with some makeup I’d bought, but it’d somehow made it more obvious. Ultimately, I had decided to just wear my collars tighter with ties, but someone had noticed them. The whispers through the office made their way back to me, and coupled with me grinning at my phone so regularly, it seemed people were putting two-and-two together. But, I held my tongue, neither confirming nor denying I was ‘shacking up’ with anyone. Still, a few had asked me who the lucky ‘lady’ was, which had caused a feeling to sit heavy in my stomach that I couldn’t really understand.
A month ago—heck, two weeks ago—it wouldn’t have even phased me. Now, though? It felt like it was erasing something pivotal in my life, even if I wasn’t correcting anyone.
Charlie had also been sending me these pointed looks thatmade me wonder what he actually knew. He didn’t outright ask or say anything, though.
Tonight, Colton had been graced with another night off—which was a rarity to have more than one in so many days. There was something about Mitchel needing more hours, so he’d switched with him. I wasn’t complaining, since it meant Colton was currently pressed against my back with his arms around my waist as he watched me cook. His head was propped comfortably on my shoulder, small puffs of breath sending shivers down my spine. He’d taken to wrapping himself around me and telling me about his day over my shoulder while I’d cook us dinner.
