“I can bring you back to shower and get changed,” I offer quickly, without thinking.
Her eyes shoot to me, and I’m pretty sure she can read the ulterior motives right off my face. That I want to get rid of her dirty clothes and lick the sticky sweetness off her skin before letting her shower.
“My place is right across the street,” Andrew says. “She can grab a quick shower there if she wants.”
When Riley tears her gaze off me, I feel it like a physical thing, and I fight to remain still, to not force myself back into her sightline. “Actually, I like Addison’s idea,” she says. “We’ve been out here for a long time. I could use a break. And I’d like to be able to change into clean clothes.”
“All right.” Andrew shoots me a brief, unreadable look. “Sounds good. I’ll see you later then.”
Riley follows me to my car, giggling quietly as she continues attempting to wipe herself off.
“You missed a spot,” I say without looking at her.
She laughs louder. “Oh, shut up.”
“Good thing you like blueberries, I guess.”
There’s a beat of silence, then she asks, “Doyoulike blueberries?”
I almost trip stepping off the curb. I consider telling her that once I get her alone, I’m going to show her exactly how much I like blueberries. How much I likeher, covered in blueberries.
But I don’t know if that’s going too far. I don’t know if she accepted the offer to leave with me only because she simply does want to shower and get changed. So all I say is, “Mmhmm,” as I carefully perch her hat back on her head before we get in the car.
Buckling her seatbelt, she says, “I’ll try not to get anything messy.”
I turn to tell her I’m not that concerned about the car, and she’s just sitting there, somehow looking ridiculous, sweet, and hot all at the same time. And that’s when I lose the grip on my self-control.
Only sparing a cursory glance out the windshield and seeing no one around us, I lean over the console and reach for her, yanking her in closer. The hat gets knocked right off her head as I kiss her roughly.
My hand fists in her hair, bumping against where the scrunchie is holding it up. She gasps in a breath when I release her mouth, the gasp turning into a perfect whine as I move with purpose down to her neck. I lap at the sticky, sweet taste of blueberries on her skin, and when the taste fades, I start sucking on her neck, desperate for more.
“Addison,” she says, sounding breathless as she pushes at my shoulder. “We can’t—not here.”
Coming to my senses, I pull away. “Shit, sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“It’s okay,” she says, squeezing my arm. “But can we get out of here, please?”
I nod, trying to fully clear my head as I start the car. “I can drop you off at the inn, or...”
“Or what?” she asks when I don’t finish.
“Or I could take you back to my place.”
Without missing a beat, she says, “Take me back to your place.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ADDISON
Whenwegettomy house, I take Riley’s hand and lead her right upstairs and into the bathroom. I crank the handle on the shower so the water can heat up, then turn back to face her. She’s kicked off her sandals and is standing there on my black bathmat in her jean shorts and stained shirt. She bites at her bottom lip, watching me like she’s waiting for instructions.
“Do you want me to give you some privacy?” I ask, despite how badly I want to reach for her.
Her lip remains trapped between her teeth as she slowly shakes her head. Then she releases it, and—“No.”
That one word, spoken softly but clearly, is all the permission I need to take a step toward her and curl my hands around her hips. I sweep my thumbs over her hipbones as I kiss her. I’m much gentler than I was in the car, but I still push my tongue past her lips, seeking more of the lingering blueberry taste from her mouth.
She kisses me back like she’s seeking something too. And whatever it is, I’m determined to give it to her.
