Ten years earlier...
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I turn my head to find Penn watching me so intensely that the sun blaring down on my skin suddenly feels too warm.
“Like what?” A small grin forms on his lips.
“Like you want to eat me?”
“Maybe because I do.” His smile widens as he rolls, arms going to either side of my head while his legs straddle my middle.
Desire pools in my stomach, as exciting as it is frightening.
Penn and I have been dating over a year now and while a part of me is more than ready to take that next step in our relationship, the other part of me is still not sure. That is, until he looks at me, kisses me, touches me, basically anytime he’s in the same vicinity as me.
Today has been an incredible day—the best day. One of those days that you want to press record on so that you can go back to replay it over and over again whenever you want.
Penn picked me up early this morning. We’ve spent basically the entire day lounging on the beach, swimming in the ocean, laughing and talking. I haven’t checked the time recently, but based on the position of the sun, I’d say we’re nearing dinnertime and yet, I have no desire to leave, to be anywhere else than exactly right here, with him.
His lips find mine, hungrier than usual, like he can’t get enough of me, and trust me, I know the feeling because that’s exactly how I feel about him—ravenous.
“You know...” He nips at my bottom lip. “My parents have dinner plans tonight. You could come back to the house if you want.”
“Oh yeah?” I smile up at him. “And what will you do with me once you have me all alone?”
“That depends.”
“On?”
“On what you want me to do with you.” He grins mischievously before his mouth is on mine once more.
He kisses me slowly and deeply, lighting every pore in my body on fire, the heat so overwhelming I have to swallow down the urge to beg him to take me right here and now.
I trail my tongue along his lip piercing, dang near melting right into the sand when he lets out a low groan of approval.
That’s it, that seems to be my undoing. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I kiss him more urgently.
“Is that a yes?” He breaks the kiss after a few long moments, allowing both of us to catch our breath.
“Yes,” I say, meeting his heated gaze.
“Yes?” He cocks his head.
“Yes,” I confirm, knowing he knows what I’m saying.
I don’t think Penn Kade has ever moved so fast in his life as he does in that moment. Standing, he leans down, tugging me off the ground. Within seconds, he has our towels and bag slung over his shoulder as he urges me up the beach toward his truck.
The drive to his house is the most intense car ride of my life. My hands are shaking. My heart feels like it’s beating a new cavity in my chest, and I can’t tell if the churning in my stomach is from nerves or excitement, though I’d venture to say both.
The house is dark when we arrive, Penn’s parents already gone for the evening and his brothers are down the street at his grandparents’ house.
He notices the slight shake to my hand when he helps me from the truck, his expression softening.
“You know we don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for, right?”
“I know.” I give him a reassuring smile because despite how incredibly nervous I feel, I know deep in my soul that this is what I want. Him, right here and now. All of him.
“Come on.” He tugs me toward the house.
Entering through the front door, Penn kicks it shut the moment we’re inside and pins me to the cool wood as he kisses me, hands roaming over my torso in a way that makes me feel like I might literally vibrate out of my own skin.
