Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(35)

I sighed. “I love that. I think you’ll find it someday, Bear.”

“We’ll see. I’m not in any hurry, and I’m sure as shit not forcing it. Life is good right now.” He yawned, and I wanted to move onto his lap so badly it was almost painful. I wanted to breathe him in and feel his arms wrapped around me.

“It is. We’re going to be just fine. I should let you get some sleep. We can skip the movie.” It was way too late to watch a movie, and I knew he’d just asked me to watch so that he could make sure I wasn’t upset about what happened between us.

But a part of me wished he’d ask me not to leave.

Beg me to stay.

But, of course, he wouldn’t. There was nothing going on between us. Why would he?

His eyebrows pinched together, and I wanted to rub my finger over the little line forming between his eyes. He was stressed about what had happened, and my stomach churned at the thought that I was the cause of that. He’d always been good to me. He’d offered me a free place to live and a job. He’d gone down to the cove because I’d pushed him to come with me. And then I’d practically violated the poor man by begging him to let me rub myself all over him.

Jesus.

I was the worst.

A horny, virgin monster.

“Hey,” I whispered, and he looked up. His brows were pinched together, and it was impossible to miss the torment on his face. “I’m heading to bed, but thank you for talking things out.”

“Of course.” He wasn’t looking at me; he was somewhere faraway. I pushed to my feet and reached for my mug.

“Hugh,” I said as I looked down at him.

“Yeah.” His green gaze met mine.

“It was a one and done. I give you my word. I would never do anything to hurt you and Travis. I know how close you are. It will be our secret, and it won’t happen again, okay?”

He studied me for the longest time before his lips turned up a little in the corners. “We’re good, Snow.”

Yikes. He really does want to forget this ever happened. I’ve tortured the poor man.

“All right. Good night, Bear.”

He forced a smile and reached for his mug on the coffee table and drank the last bit in the cup. “See you in the morning.”

I leaned down and reached for his mug. “I’ll take that for you. You’ve done enough.”

The hard body.

The orgasm.

What more could a girl ask for?

He nodded. “Thanks. I never cared for tea, and now you’ve got me drinking it every night.”

I held both mugs in my hands and went to walk past him, but his hand clasped around my thigh, and I sucked in a breath. He lowered his head and pressed it against my belly as he stroked my leg. I had both hands filled with these damn mugs, and I wasn’t sure what to do. So… in my typical uncool fashion, I just leaned down and kissed the back of his head, and he chuckled.

“Get some sleep,” he said, his voice gruff as his hand moved away.

“Yeah, you, too.” I made my way to the sink, rinsed the mugs, and loaded them in the dishwasher before I looked back one more time to find Hugh watching me.

What was this? Damn it. I couldn’t even ask Del or the girls because I couldn’t tell anyone. It was our secret. It’s the least I could do for him.

I smiled before walking toward my room, stepping inside, and closing the door behind me. My phone rang, and it was Del FaceTiming me. I plopped down on the bed, my back resting against the headboard, as her face came into focus.

“How was the date?”

The date? Oh, yes, I’d completely forgotten about my date with Kline. That was before the X-rated, skinny-dipping, porn-worthy make-out session with my brother’s best friend.

“It was good,” I said, chewing on the back of my thumbnail. I hated keeping anything from her, especially something as great as what happened tonight.

“You’re all flushed. Oh my god. You did the deed?” she shouted over a fit of giggles.

“No. What? Of course not.”

“Lila Mae James, I know when you’re lying. Spill it, girl.”

I shook my head, and I could feel sweat gathering at the nape of my neck. “There was a hot make-out session. That’s it.”

It was the truth.

She just didn’t know who I made out with.

“Shut up!” she shouted. “Like a heated make out where you wanted more to happen?”

I covered my face with my free hand.

Oh, I wanted more to happen, no doubt about it.

“Let’s just say that it ended with quite the fireworks.” I chuckled over my words. We’d always shared everything, and this was no different, aside from trying to be respectful to Hugh and protect his friendship with my brother. I could share the details without getting into the specifics.

“Noooooooo.”

“Yeeeees,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“Um, speaking from someone who has had several boyfriends and her fair share of sex… orgasms don’t happen from making out all that often. He didn’t, er, have the fireworks, did he?”

“I’m fairly sure that he did.” I shrugged.

“Damn. That’s not common. He got off on you getting off.”