Page 47 of Long Story Short

“Ty,” I manage to get out in between kisses. I gasp for air as his gaze meets mine.

“Fuck,” he rasps, his voice rougher than I’ve ever heard it. “I love it when you call me that.” His eyes flick down to my lips again, his gaze hungrily lingering there like he’s already imagining our next kiss. We only stopped kissing a moment ago, and he’s looking at my lips like the distance between us is already unbearable.

A slow smile pulls at my mouth as warmth spreads throughout my body.

He likes hearing the nickname, and I love saying it. It feels good to taste his nickname on my tongue.

The only thing that feels better is his mouth on mine.

I curl my fingers around the back of his neck, my nails grazing his skin as I yank him closer to me. The movement draws a low sound from deep in his throat before our mouths crash together once again.

I never knew a kiss could make me feel so much all at once.

Wetness pools between my thighs at the possessive way his tongue darts into my mouth. He claims me with a simple kiss. Or maybe it isn’t just the kiss. Maybe it’s the way his fingertips dip underneath the hem of my lace panties, just enough to tease me. Or maybe it’s the way his other hand has moved back to tangle in my hair, keeping my head at an angle that ensures I’m right where he wants me.

I never want the kiss to end. I never want his mouth to leave mine. I want to stay pressed up against this brick with our tongues and bodies pressed against each other forever.

I’m lost in the tangle of our tongues and the rhythm of my hips moving against him. The rest of the world fades away as Tyson completely consumes me with his kiss.

Until the sound of a throat clearing, followed by a laugh, quickly pulls me out of the moment.

TWENTY-SIX

TYSON

Josie’s hands press against my chest as we both look in the direction the sound just came from.

I don’t know if I’m relieved or annoyed to find a grinning Jude staring back at us. Charlotte stands next to him, her mouth hanging open as she holds on to the handle of a stroller.

“Tyson,” Jude says, drawing out my name before letting out a whistle. “Was not expecting to find you here…” His gaze moves to Josie as I set her feet back on the ground. “In this position,” he finishes, his gaze bouncing between us.

I clear my throat, stepping only far enough from Josie to ensure she isn’t still pressed up against the wall.

“Hi, Jude,” I manage to get out, my ears feeling hot at being caught. “Hi, Charlotte…and hi, Ava.”

The stroller faces Jude and Charlotte, so I can’t see baby Ava, but she lets out a happy squeal at her name.

“Enjoying the weather?” Jude asks in a knowing tone. He lifts a blond eyebrow as he stares at me, clearly amused.

I look over at Josie, finding her wide-eyed and blushing, but there’s a slight smile that plays on her lips that gives me hope that she isn’t completely mortified about being caught.

“Um,” I say, my free hand scratching the back of my neck as I try to come up with a response. “Yes, very much so.”

Josie lets out the smallest giggle, and the sound brings a wide smile to my face. I can’t believe we were just caught making out like a bunch of teenagers. Something about that is hilarious.

“Are you going to introduce me to your friend?” Jude asks, his gaze moving from me to Josie as the amused look doesn’t leave his face.

My eyes go wide because, in the flurry of being caught, I didn’t even think to introduce Josie to my friends. “Yes, of course. This is my neighbor, Josie. Josephine Russell, actually. Arthur’s granddaughter. Josie, this is Jude Kensington and his girlfriend, Charlotte. And you can’t see her, but in the stroller is the cutest baby in the world, Ava.”

A spark of recognition dawns in Jude’s eyes as he looks at Josie. He nods his head. “I knew you looked familiar. This is the woman you were asking if I knew when we were here golfing the other day, right?”

I swear I blush at his words. My gaze immediately rips from Jude and stares at Josie instead. She’s already looking at me, her grin almost as amused as Jude’s. She stares at me for a few seconds longer before looking back at Jude. “Probably not me.”

A choking noise comes from deep in my throat. She’s amused because she thought I was asking about another woman, not her. “No, it was definitely you,” I add, my voice a little strained. “It was after we first met via Mouse. You were here at the club. Jude knows everyone, so I was asking if he knew your name since you didn’t give it to me.”

The smile on Josie’s lips falters for a moment as she stares at me, her eyes softening slightly.

Before she can respond, Charlotte speaks up. “Are you spending the summer here, Josie?”