Out of Breath (Breathing, #3)(63)

‘I know,’ he said breathily into my hair, running his warm hands up my back, peeling my T-shirt off. ‘I’m not that guy.’

‘No, you’re not,’ I said with a slight gasp as his tongue trailed down my neck. He pushed the shorts over my hips, and I kicked them to the end of the bed. His mouth made its way towards mine, consuming me.

Suddenly I couldn’t get enough of him, pushing my hands through his hair, and kissing him fervently.

I could feel his boxers slip away, and I pushed him onto his back. A moan escaped as I slid my leg over the top of him. His hands caressed my body, making me arch my back as I lowered myself on top of him, inhaling quickly at the intensity.

‘Emma,’ he gasped in pleasure as I worked into a slow rhythm. I closed my eyes and gripped his thighs behind me as he guided me with his hands on my hips.

My entire body was on fire with a tingling heat. I could feel it spread through me, igniting my flesh. Every fibre taut. Cole sat up, and I wrapped my legs around him, our rhythm slower and deeper. I opened my mouth to gasp as he slipped his tongue in, capturing my breath. My body tensed around him, and he held me tighter. My back arched, peeling me away as he ran his lips down my chest. I groaned loudly and he grunted beneath me, his fingers pressing into my back. I waited for his body to ease before sliding back down to the bed, my head on his chest.

‘Good morning,’ I said with a contented sigh. Cole laughed.

‘Spend the day with me?’ he requested, running his hands along my bare back.

‘What did you have in mind?’ I asked, though I knew the answer.

I was anxious to talk to her. I waited as long as I possibly could, but there was only so much Xbox I could play. I walked over to the small white house down the hill and followed the walkway, pausing at the door, hoping Cole wouldn’t be the one to answer it. I knocked, and a few seconds later it swung open.

‘Hi,’ the girl with the auburn hair said to me. I ran through the names introduced to me last night and came up with …

‘Meg? Right?’ I gave her a small smile, trying to put her at ease, since she continued to look at me like she didn’t trust me.

‘Yeah,’ she said, not making any move to invite me in. ‘Emma’s not here.’

‘Evan!’ Sara hollered from the other side of the room. ‘We’re sitting on the beach. Come on in.’

Meg stepped back to allow me access with a tight-lipped smile.

‘Emma’s not here, but you can hang out with us if you want,’ Sara offered, a beach towel slung over her arm and a magazine in her hand. I could hear the music coming from the deck as she continued out.

I wanted to ask where Emma was and when she’d be back. But I knew who she was with, since all of the girls were here. Now I wasn’t sure I wanted to be here when they got back.

‘She’s with Cole,’ a chilled voice spoke behind me. I turned to find Peyton glaring at me with a malicious smirk. She wasn’t exactly hiding the fact that she didn’t like me, despite not even knowing me. I could only assume she had some connection with Cole and didn’t want me around to screw things up between him and Emma.

‘I figured.’ I nodded, trying to appear unaffected by her hostility. ‘Since, you know … they’re dating.’

‘They’re not dating,’ Serena’s voice chirped behind me. I turned to find her with an umbrella in her hand and dressed in a black bikini that reminded me of those classic movies Emma liked to watch. Her skin was so shockingly white, she almost glowed.

‘Shut up, Serena,’ Peyton snapped. ‘They’re together, and that’s all that matters.’

Serena shook her head in annoyance. ‘Will you help me set up this umbrella?’ She didn’t wait for my reply, but handed me the umbrella and strutted out onto the deck. I remained still for a moment, trying to process what had just happened.

‘You shouldn’t be here,’ Peyton grumbled, walking by me and out the sliding glass door.

Wow, I mouthed, thinking Xbox sounded pretty good about now.

‘Evan, are you coming?’ Sara called to me from outside.

I glanced towards the couch, where Meg sat quietly, pretending to read her book. I didn’t think I could feel any more unwanted.

‘Yeah,’ I hollered in return, heading towards the beach with the umbrella in my hand.

I followed the girls to the spot they’d picked for their beach chairs and towels. I angled the umbrella and shoved it in as deep as I could into the packed sand, casting a shadow over Serena to protect her ghostly skin.

They were all set up and ready for an afternoon of sun – or shade – worshipping, and the thought of sprawling on a towel next to them wasn’t exactly appealing, considering the mixed hostility.

‘I think I’ll go for a run,’ I announced, not intending to come back.

‘Really?’ Sara asked, but when she looked up at me, she understood and nodded.

I had just taken off down the beach when I heard, ‘Evan, wait!’

I slowed to a stop and turned to find Serena approaching with a quick stride.

‘What are you doing tonight?’

‘Have fun with the girls,’ Cole said, leaning down and kissing me while Sara waited for me at the door.

‘Thanks,’ I returned with a smile, my legs feeling the fatigue of surfing all day. But it was exactly what I’d needed, to be out in the water wrapped in silence, the rush of the waves the only sound. ‘I’ll see you when we get back.’