“Hmm . . . I’ll never grow tired of waking up with you.” I tilt my head to rest along Tanner’s cheek as he casts kisses on my shoulder.
“You never have to,” he whispers. His arm travels across my bare stomach as he slides closer to me.
“I will in two days.” My lungs constrict as I think about him getting on a plane for Colorado.
“Hey.” He kisses my shoulder, manipulating my body to face him. His thumb brushes along my cheek. “Come with me.”
My heart warms as I look into his honest eyes. “I just got my job.” As fast as my heart leaped, it sinks faster. There’s no possibility of us being together physically right now.
“Then, I’ll train here.” He tightens his arms around me.
The sun peeks over the trees, and I’m unconsciously counting the limited minutes we can steal before my mom wakes up.
I shake my head with a small smile. “No, you won’t.” He won’t sacrifice his dreams just for us to be near one another.
His lips turn down.
“We’ll just do long-distance for a while,” I bravely answer our dilemma, with the solution we’d rather not use.
Torture packs in his eyes, . “No, we won’t. I can find somewhere here to train. Sure, I’ll have to go back occasionally, but you can come with me.” He gathers me in for a hug and kisses my cheek. “I can’t go another night away from you, especially not in two days.”
His arms snug around me like my own human security blanket. I never thought I’d be a girl who needed a guy, but I need Tanner. These past two years were torment for me, not seeing him or hearing his voice. I desperately craved his sweet kisses, gentle touches and contagious laughter. Only knowing what he’s been up to from Google and off comments from Brad was gut-wrenching, to say the least. How many nights did I lie awake in my bed at night, recalling our short month affair and how loved I felt in his arms? Now, I’m expected to have him for twelve hours, and then ship him on a plane. It tears me up. I may have turned into the clingy girl I hated back in college, but I won’t allow him to put his dream in jeopardy. I’m a big girl and I can handle a little separation until the time is right.
“Tanner, I won’t allow it. You need to be in Colorado if you’re going to make the team.” I pull back from his embrace, placing my hands on his face, the stubble pricking my palm. “We’ll figure it out.” My confidence even surprises myself, but it feels nice being the decisive one.
He maneuvers on top of me, kissing my shoulder. Resting on his elbows, his eyes study me for a moment. “When do classes start?” he asks.
My breath hitches and I rock into his hardness. “September. After Labor Day.” My arms wrap around his waist, grazing up and down his bare back with my fingertips.
“Then, come back with me for one month.” He bends down, his lips scatter moist soft kisses along my collarbone.
“Okay,” I agree.
His head bolts up. “Really?” he questions, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Yeah.” I giggle because he resembles a kid at a candy store.
“Then, we’ll figure the rest out after. Once I’m on the team, we can come up with something permanent.”
“Okay.” I continue to appease him, only pulling a wider smile across his mouth.
He slams his lips on mine, muting my laughter at his overzealousness. Breaking apart, he pins me with his eyes again. “Don’t worry. I’ll make the time for you. You won’t be sitting next to the pool all day, watching me swim back and forth.” His determination and promise that he can carve time out for me, warms me further if even possible.
I smile. “That doesn’t sound so horrible,” I joke.
He kisses me again, making the pit of my stomach whirl with arousal.
“Hey, I like hearing you say that.”
He tilts his head. “What?”
“Once you’re on the team. I like the confidence because you’ve been tossing comments about you being a shoo-in off your shoulder all week.”
He face goes somber. “I hate to get my hopes too high, you know? I did that once, two years ago, and then my whole life crumbled in my hands.”
His body slumps, and I slide my hands up until I’m holding his head to mine.
“All is forgotten now.”
He leans down, our foreheads resting on each other’s once again. “I love you, Piper Ashby, and I promise never to ruin us again.”
“Me, too.”
His fingers dig into my hair, tilting my head back. His tongue licks up my neck until it reaches my earlobe. “I can’t wait to have your clothes in my closet, your toothbrush next to mine, and your body in my bed,” he whispers.
My body melts into the cushion. “Kiss me,” I demand softly.
His lips linger over mine, claiming them.
“Shit! Seriously?” Brad’s booming voice rings in my ears.
Tanner pulls the towel tighter around our bodies as he laughs.
“Sorry.” I cringe.
Tanner continues chuckling while shielding me.
I glance at Brad, who has his hands over his eyes.
“Is this what I’m going to have to deal with?” he asks, his phone in his hands. “I’m guessing neither of you have your phones?”
Tanner looks down at me, and I shake my head.
“Nope,” he answers for both of us.
“Didn’t think so. Get dressed, and come into the house. News isn’t good.” He spins around and disappears.
I hear the door shut behind him.
“What do you think is up?” Tanner asks.
I shrug.
“You don’t think . . .” Maybe there’s a chance Brad came to his senses and called off the wedding.
Tanner shakes his head. “I know the boy is confused, but that’s not exactly something Brad would do. He’s not one to admit his bad decisions.”
I nod, agreeing.
Climbing off of me, Tanner picks up my clothes and places them on the chair. Then, he grabs his trunks, sliding them up his legs. He eyes me as I shimmy my shorts up my body, and I play seductive kitty by biting my lip, and dropping my chin to my chest, as I push my ass out a little more. .
He laughs. “Keep going, even if those are moving the opposite way I prefer them to go.”
I toss the towel at him, and he swiftly catches it. As I slide my shirt over my head, his hands flow up my stomach before the fabric falls.
“Can you spend the day with me today?”
The feeling that he wants so much of my time and body is indescribable. I’m on cloud nine, and I don’t want to come down anytime soon.
“Yes,” I answer.
He beams. “Let’s go up to the university.”
“Okay.” I don’t care where he takes me as long as his hand is in mine.
“I guess we have to get whatever Brad’s doing out of the way. Don’t want him to think I ditched him for his sister.” He laughs.
I nuzzle into his strong arms one last time. He kisses the top of my head, and I push back from his warmth, turning around and walking into the house.
I open the door to my parents’ house, ready for the barrage of questions sure to be thrown our way. My mom isn’t one to miss her daughter in clothes she wore last night. Plus, Tanner is in his swim trunks. Not to hard for them to put two and two together.
Tanner smacks my ass, and I glance back at him, the permanent smile he entices splashed across my face.
When I step in, the smile fades for the first time since last night. Sitting at the table are Tanner’s parents, Dylan, my dad, and Brad. The television is on in each room, and my mom is pouring coffee for everyone. They all silence when Tanner and I walk in, and my mom shoots me a sympathetic look.
“Good morning,” Tanner greets everyone. .
No one says anything. They just stare at us.
I back into his chest, and his hands find mine at my sides. Squeezing tight, we prepare ourselves for whatever has everyone so depressed. Lana stands up to help my mom with cutting the coffee cake.
“What are we missing?” I ask before swallowing deep.