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He expertly unknotted my bikini top in one pull, but he didn’t move it completely out of the way. He scootched the right side up to reveal the tattoo scrawled along the underside of my boob.
“Oh my God,” he said breathlessly. “I was right.” His voice was laced with awe as he rasped out, “Claire Anne Kessel has a tattoo.”
I laughed at his surprise.
He pulled me closer to get a better look at it and smoothed his rough fingertips over the Russian lettering, making me shiver. “What’s it say?”
“Guess,” I replied.
He held my ribs with his outstretched hand and studied the writing, then my eyes. “Something about strength… or beauty… or both…”
“Be tough,” I told him.
He shot me a wicked grin before bending down to kiss the lettering, making my entire body tremble. “God, you’re so beautiful,” he whispered against my skin, and I practically felt my knees buckle. He held my waist. “Careful,” he said with a chuckle.
When he stood back up, he pulled me into his chest and rested his chin on my head. We stayed there for a beat, just enjoying each other’s warmth.
“I’m sorry about today,” he finally said.
I felt a bubble of laughter in my chest because I didn’t even care what happened before. We were now in the after, and I was just so happy to be here with him. I cherished feeling wanted, and not just by anybody… but by Duke Callahan.
“And happy birthday, Kessel,” he added.
I closed my eyes and smiled against his chest, memorizing everything about this moment.
His fingers lightly brushed my hair behind my ear. “I love the new style by the way.”
I rolled my eyes and was about to make a smart remark, until I saw the look on his face. He looked at me like… he adored me. He kissed the top of my head, and something inside me cracked.
I reached up and smoothed his floppy hair. “I always loved how your hair would—”
“Get lighter in the summer,” he chuckled. “I know. I remember. Thought of you every summer after that.”
I smoothed his eyebrow and his face completely disarmed. He closed his eyes, enjoying my touch. I could see the little boy he used to be when he looked innocent like this.
He smiled and nudged my hand with his head, like he was a puppy who wanted me to continue touching him.
I laughed and happily obliged, running my nails through his hair.
He leaned toward me and started slowly kissing my neck. Goosebumps erupted on my skin, and I shivered.
“You cold?” He chuckled against my skin, making it tingle pleasantly. I nodded. I still had my damp bikini top and shorts on.
“Here, put this on.” He wrapped his hockey zip-up around me, and his warmth and smell immediately enveloped me.
I turned to face him and touched the back of his neck. He leaned in to kiss me, and I smiled against his lips.
We would’ve probably continued to make out for the next hour if someone hadn’t chosen that moment to start pounding on the bathroom door.
“Sorry to interrupt guys, but I really gotta go! I broke the seal!” TJ’s voice sounded desperate.
Duke leaned back and groaned in annoyance. I immediately felt ten degrees colder and missed his closeness.
He looked back down at me. “Maybe I’ll see you at Bullfrogs after this?”
It was too windy for fireworks tonight, so Max and Paige changed the game plan.
I grinned up at him and nodded, then stood on my tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “And maybe after, you can find my other tattoo.”
