I challenge anyone to tell me there’s anything hotter than a man covered in tattoos. Especially one as hot as James. The intricate swirls and patterns take up the entirety of both his arms, neck and hands has me swooning each time I see them.
With flushed cheeks, I untangle myself from him and sit on the dock, my feet dangling in the water again. James follows, lowering himself down to sit next to me.
“You looking forward to tonight?” he asks as he nudges my shoulder with his, amusement dancing around his eyes.
I roll my eyes as I lean back on my hands, looking out across the water. “You know as well as I do, pretty boy, that these parties are just a way for my dad to network and nothing to do with myactualbirthday.”
“Pretty boy?”
I turn my head slightly. His eyebrow arches as a small smile plays on the edges of his luscious pink lips.
Gazing up at him, I shrug my shoulders. “Yeah, the pretty boy to my pretty girl.”
He chuckles. “Cute.”
My stomach bottoms out.Cute? I would’ve preferred something a little bit better thancute. Beautiful, sexy, gorgeous even, but it’s just a stark reminder of my unrequited love.
James brings his knee up, resting his arm across it, and I can’t help but glance at the way his veins pop. I swallow, quickly averting my gaze, hoping he didn’t notice.
“Come on, pretty girl. Let’s get you back inside. I’ll see if I can swipe you some liquor.” He winks.
James stands up and holds his hand out to me. When my palm slides into his a tingle, almost like static, runs through me and I gasp quietly.
His hand feels warm and steady closed around mine as he hauls me up. As I stand, I lose my footing slightly and tumble into him with an “Oomph.” My hands rest on his chest, and I peer up at him through my eyelashes. My breathing picks up at his closeness, his leather and smoke smell teasing my senses.
“Careful, pretty girl,” he says, his arms sliding around me to keep me steady. “I have a habit of making girls fall for me.”
Don’t I know it.
His gaze pierces me, almost like he’s seeing me in a different light, but that’s just wishful thinking, right?
“Bigheaded much?” I tease, my hands still firmly on his chest, neither one of us moving.
His eyes twinkle as he replies, “Not bigheaded, just stating facts.”
“Your level of conceitedness is showing, pretty boy,” I laugh, my body moving on its own accord and closing any bit of space between us. I’m as close as I can be without jumping into his arms, but it still isn’t close enough.
James chuckles softly, his gaze boring into mine as his hands squeeze my hips gently. “I can’t help that I have a certain way with women.” He shrugs, but the grin that’s plastered across his face says he’s not sorry at all.
I let out a soft chuckle of my own and push away from him, trailing my hand across his chest as I brush past. “Come on, someone said something about swiping me some booze.”
We stroll back to the house in a comfortable silence, the only sounds to be heard are the soft rustling of leaves and the faint echo of laughter from the house. James’s hand occasionally grazes mine in what feelslike a forbidden touch, and I wonder if tonight will finally be the night I get my wish.
Chapter Three
RAVEN
PRESENT DAY
Iremember the first time James went from being the cool ‘uncle’ to a teenage crush. Mia and I had just started our sophomore year, and thought we were so grown up. Boys became the hot topic of every conversation between us, but looking back on it now, I think it was just the hormones kicking in.
We were sitting out by the docks, sunbathing, soaking up the last of the summer sun. I was desperate for a drink, so I made my way up the small winding path to the house, stopping short when I saw James talking to my dad by the pool.
I don’t know why he was there or why he was so… underdressed, all I know is that my lady bits started to flutter in a way I’d never felt before. He was shirtless with a pair of black board shorts that hung low on his hips, showing the perfect V dip going down.
My mouth started watering at the sight, even though only two minutes prior, I needed something to quench my thirst. His dark hair was pushed back out of his face, water droplets were cascading down his muscled arms and back. I’d never seen a more glorious sight, and I wanted more.
Everything went downhill after that day, and I wish I could take it back. Things were never the same.
