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“I have two people on mine.” I’m swinging wildly, not wanting to address the obvious.
The left side of his kissable lips rises. He’s enjoying our banter. We could go back and forth like this all night and never tire. “And does that make it better or worse? Won’t your future boyfriend think we’re a couple?
He’s toying with me, and I’m enjoying the tease. No one else presses my buttons like him. “The picture is six years old. Anyone with a brain would see it for what it is.”
His hand lands on my knee and remains. It’s a warm night, but it’s nothing compared to the heat of his touch. When his index finger traces circles, butterflies invade my stomach. “And what is it?”
I feel the pull on my upper lips, not wanting this moment to end. “It isn’t a picture of a stunning beauty dressed in your clothes making you dinner after an evening of unforgettable sex.” It’s my turn to tease. It’s a line we’ve crossed a million times, only now I feel the danger.
“Unforgettable sex, you say. For some reason, I don’t seem to…”
I toss a soft jab to Lucas’ chest. “Don’t you dare finish that statement.”
Lucas catches my playful punch; his reflexes faster than I remember. He wraps his hands around my wrist and gives it a gentle pull. The joy of our conversation has me leaping forward, surprising him.
He falls backward, and I land on top of him. My chest presses against his stomach as he wraps his hands across my upper shoulder. Laughter fills the tent and echoes across the empty mountain trail.
“Oh my god, I’ve missed you so much, Adrienne.” He pauses with a long exhale, and I adjust my position. I slide a leg between his and tilt my head, resting my chin on his chest so I can see his gorgeous face. “I’ve missed so much in the last five years, but most of all, this. You. Us.” My body melds to his, pressed tight, a perfect fit.
I don’t reply, letting the words set the mood. This is what makes us so unique. Lucas is not like other guys. He speaks his mind. He has no fear of being vulnerable in front of me. We’ve built a special foundation, comfortable in being silly one moment, just as satisfied sitting in silence the next. “Me too,” I finally respond, my finger poking his rock-hard abs as if I was tapping a drum set. “You’re home now—for good. I have so many plans for us.”
“I like the sound of that.” He runs his hand through my hair, his fingers massaging my scalp. He’s the only man I allow to do this; he’s the only man who knows how. I hear the purr from my lips and lower my head to his chest.
The strong beat of his heart is the soundtrack to this moment, a comforting melody that has me squirming to bury my head further into his chest if that is even possible.
“What did you have in mind?” he asks.
My eyes blink out from the haze swirling in my head. “W-w-w-what?”
His chuckles lift me up and down like we are in a bouncy house. “Plans for us—should I clear my calendar?”
“Right. Calendar.” My hand lands on his chest, and I can’t believe with him home I get to do this anytime I want—that is unless I mess it up. I push out a breath, the force of it causing his T-shirt to ripple. “Friday night. Do you have any plans?”
He scoffs with a chuckle. “I don’t—now.”
I poke him in the side, forcing his leg to lift, his hand poking my side. Laughter fills the tent. So much laughter. So much joy. So much us. Lucas sticks his tongue at me like we are thirteen again, and I lift his shirt and blow raspberries on his stomach.
It’s an impulsive response. Lost in the moment and feeling like a kid, it feels natural for all of 3.2 seconds. The moment my lips land on his warm skin, I realize my mistake. The raspberry lasts only a second, but my traitorous lips remain on his skin. A soft kiss on his perfect abs.
One… more… harmless… peck. My heart wins the vote before my head can stop it. My lips press on his abs and linger much longer than a peck. They remain as he takes a slow inhale, my lips magnetized to his heated skin.
It’s only when a low growl escapes his throat I realize what I’ve done. I lift but not before I feel his lower body react to the kiss. I roll off him and avoid his gaze. My eyes seek an escape and spot the cooler. “I brought snacks. I had to drive two towns over to find the Mars bar with almond. When you left town Mr. Johnson stopped stocking them.” My fingers dig deep, briefly squeezing the ice pack, the cold a welcome and necessary reprieve to lower the heat we’re generating. I focus my attention on the treats buried deep in the cooler’s bottom, keeping my eyes away from the true treat it wants to devour.
“GND,” he whispers my nickname, girl next door. “Come back here.”
I twist to face him. Lucas props himself up on his elbows, brows furrowed. Heat rushes to my chest, and once again I move on autopilot toward him. You know the whole magnet/north star thing. I don’t make the same mistake. Mounting him is officially off the table—another concession to age. My knees land on the blanket, and I lower to a safe spot, my head on his shoulder. He immediately wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me in tight.
My hand betrays my head, and it lands across his abs. The scent of sandalwood and coconut brings with it a wave of nostalgia. Damn, this feels so good.
“That’s more like it.” He lowers and places a kiss on the top of my head, forcing me to scream to the heavens for the strength I’m going to need. “Now, back to Friday night. You’ve got me intrigued. You’ve never been so formal with a request before. It feels almost like a…”
“Date.” I say the word before he does. The words that will seal my fate with him. “Because it is.”
4
My hands freeze, intertwined in Adrienne’s hair. My body follows suit.
Date?
