Page 56 of Stealing Summer
“Shit,” I gasped, my voice barely above a breath, “you’re... you’re making it impossible to be mad at you.”
“Good,” he responded with that signature smirk of his. “Don’t fight it.”
The pressure was building and Reese’s grip on me tightened, not just physically but emotionally too, as if he was determined to hold me together while simultaneously pulling me apart at the same time.
“Stay with me,” Reese whispered against the curve of my neck, his breath hot on my skin. His words were more than a request. They were a lifeline as I felt the waves beginning to crash over me.
“Reese, I—I—” The rest of my sentence got lost in a moan as the tension spiraled, coiling tighter and tighter.
“That’s it,” he urged, his tone commanding yet laced with something soft and tender. “I’ve got you.”
And with those three words, it sent me spiraling. The world was closing in on me with his arms securely around me and the overwhelming rush of release. I clung to him, nails digging into the warmth of his skin, as wave after wave of ecstasy tore through me, leaving me breathless and spent in the aftermath.
“That was so hot,” Reese said softly, with a grin.
“Can’t argue that,” I whispered back, feeling like I could barely stand.
As we broke apart, panting and soaked to the bone, reality rushed back in like the water around our feet. “I leave tomorrow,” I said weakly.
“I know,” Reese said, his thumb tracing my jawline. “Let’s not ruin the moment.”
I couldn’t help myself from asking, “But where do we go from here?”
The question hung between us with uncertainty.
“I don’t know,” he said gently. “But I have you right now, and that’s what matters.” And with that, he pulled me into his arms, the strength of his embrace shielding me from the relentless downpour.
I understood why it might have been so easy to fall under his spell, why once you started going down a path with him—there might not be a way to turn back. As much as I hated to admit it, the overwhelming desire I had for him consumed me.
“By the way,” I kissed him on the cheek, “thank you for the gift.”
“That was not easy to get,” he said, his voice low and slightly amused. “But you’re worth it.”
At that moment, surrounded by his warmth, listening to the raindrops and racing heartbeats, everything felt perfect—impossibly, irrationally perfect. And although I knew that perfection was fleeting, I allowed myself to savor it, to hold on to it for just a little while longer.
twenty-nine
My eyes fluttered open, but my heart immediately sank with the weight of the inevitable. Today was the day we had to pack up and leave the cabin—and head back to Stillwater. I pulled the covers over my head, wishing the morning away, not wanting the endless summer days to end.
I listened to the shuffle of feet on the wooden floorboards outside my room as Parker and Boston began their morning—like it was just another day. The scent of coffee made its way into my room, but it couldn't lure me out of bed—not today.
All I could think about was last night—the way it felt like Reese and I were the only two people in existence. I should have felt excited about getting back to school, about another new year, but my heart ached with uncertainty. Reese and I, whatever 'we' were, would now be separated by a relentless two plus hour drive. And then there was the argument with Boston last night—that was still on my mind.
When I finally got out of bed, Parker was putting away dishes. He raised an eyebrow when he saw me—contemplating something.
"Hey, Chan, do you ever look at me and wonder if we had our own language as babies? Before we could actually talk?"
I rolled my eyes, allowing a small smile to break through despite the bittersweet morning.
"No, Parker, I look at you and wonder how you made it to adulthood."
His laughter eased the tightness in my chest, just for a moment.
"Hey, where’s Boston?" I asked, uncertain if he’d even want to speak to me.
"He left early," he said with a shrug, his attention returning to the dishes. "Said he had an errand to run or something."
“Well I guess I’ll get started on packing then.” I sighed.