PROLOGUE
8 years ago
Megan was glad she felt bold enough to wear the light blue summer dress she’d picked out for Caleb’s going away party. She’d caught him staring at her a few times, and it sent a delighted thrill through her every time. The lack of embarrassment when he saw her catching his stare, and the desire, heated her blood.
The day had been hot, and though they’d all jumped in the pool for a bit, Megan had changed out of her bikini top and shorts hours ago.
Megan knew Caleb was about to move out of state to pursue a program he’d worked hard to get into. His flight was the next morning, so Megan figured it was her last chance to be brave.
The party lasted hours, with drinks, food, quick dips in the pools, and a lot of laughter. Tucker and the rest of the group had gone to a bar to keep the party going, but Caleb had begged off. They only accepted it once he said he had an early flight. Megan stayed to help clean up, hoping Caleb had the same thought she did.
The cups and plates had been strewn everywhere in the backyard, and it took the two of them a half hour to clean it all up.
Instead of asking Megan to leave once they were done, Caleb climbed on the trampoline and invited her next to him. Her entire body flushed with heat as they ended up colliding a few times before finding a balance.
They watched the stars blink into existence and talked about the future and everything they hoped would come true. Her heart pounded, and her skin was on fire from being so close to him. She could listen to him talk for hours, his voice a low rumble.
Their fingers tangled together as they spoke about their fears and what they hoped to leave behind as they grew, and what dreams they wanted to make reality.
Caleb listened quietly as Megan opened up about how her parents weren’t supportive of her dream to become a pastry chef and how it made her doubt herself.
“You can doanythingyou want, Megs.” Caleb locked his gaze on her, a soft smile on his lips.
Time slowed. There was only one thing Megan wanted.
Megan closed the space between them and kissed him.
It had been the one thing she wanted to do for as long as Megan could remember. His lips were soft, and he didn’t pull away. Instead, Caleb pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around her waist to rest on her lower back.
Caleb swept his tongue across her lips, and a thrill ran through Megan. She opened for him, and a moan escaped as their tongues met. He growled and tightened his grip on her back.
Megan ran her fingers through his hair, the softness lovely against her skin, and dragged her nails along his scalp. Caleb let out a low groan, the sound reverberating against Megan’s mouth.
Emboldened by his response and despite the frantic beat of her heart, Megan hooked her leg around his waist and pressed harder against his body.
With a growl, Caleb rolled himself on top of her. Her legs opened automatically for him to settle between.
Megan was grateful she’d worn a short sundress because she could feel his hard cock through his shorts as he pressed against her. She rolled her hips, aching for friction, for him to be inside of her. Any hesitation she might have had about her first time disappeared. Her body needed him, and it was all she could do to stay focused as he found her lips.
“Fuck.” The word was a gravelly whisper against her mouth.
Megan looked up at him, her fingers still tangled in his hair. “Yes. That.”
“Are you sure?”
It didn’t matter that he was a few years older, or that he was her brother’s best friend. Megan refused to acknowledge that they would only have tonight, that her heart would break when the sun rose. Only tonight mattered.
She pulled him down for another kiss before she whispered her answer. “Yes. More than anything, yes.” To emphasize her enthusiasm, Megan wrapped both of her legs around his waist.
He slid a hand up her thigh but stopped himself before he got to the line of her underthings.
“Oh, no.”
“What?” Megan was worried he thought sleeping with her would be a massive mistake and was trying to find a way to tell her.
“The condoms are inside.”
“Oh.” Grateful, Megan groaned, still desperate to have him. “Then let’s go inside.”
