River's End (River's End Series, #1)(84)

She didn’t like that. “You have to try, Jack. You can’t just roll over and play dead about this. It’s too important.”

“It’s really important to you, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “I think Ben deserves better. He needs to be older so he can understand how important it is, and enjoy it. Maybe even be in love first. It should be when he’s good and ready.”

“And that’s where Ben will disagree with you, Erin; he thinks he’s ready now.”

She glared at him. “You’re his father.”

He nodded. “I’m well aware of that. Don’t you think I’d hog-tie him to his bed if I could? It just doesn’t work like that.”

She shoved her foot into the loose sand before flinging it. “I just hate to see him look back and regret this. It’s too important. And that Marcy girl should want to wait too. What kind of girl is she? Why didn’t you teach Ben to only go for the nice girls? He shouldn’t go after girls like me. He should like girls like Kailynn. Or Allison Gray. Not girls like me who will do it just ‘cause the guy asks.”

His hand came to her shoulder and she looked up, confused, when he said softly, “You’re not bad, Erin.”

“I’m not good either. If Ben ran into my equivalent, I’d have already slept with him, and dumped him long ago. Look what I did with your brother.”

“I remember.”

“Well, don’t forget it,” she said, not liking the gentle timbre to his voice.

Silence followed and she dug her feet deeper into the beach. Her toes hit the wet sand underneath. She dug deeper still.

“Let’s swim.”

She glanced up with a scowl at Jack. “Now? It’s dark.”

“Almost, but the water’s still warm from today. Trust me,” he said, his cocky smile beaming on his face. She wanted to stop talking about herself and reminding Jack of who she really was, so she agreed without further argument.

She followed Jack to the water’s dark edge. A rim of white light hung over the hills across the river, leaving the trees and hills in darkened outlines. He was right; the water was warm. It was nice. She followed Jack in. The water felt refreshing and pleasant in the warm air. The air and water were about the same temperature. And it was fun to dunk and paddle around in the dark water as the night engulfed them and twilight started to fade. After half an hour, she started to finally grow chilled.

She headed towards shore, only to bump into Jack. He stood on the sandy bottom, his shoulders raised above the water as he swayed with the current swirling around him. She froze when his hands clenched around her upper arms, catching her and pulling her back towards his body. Her stomach tightened in uncertainty at his touch, and the soft way his fingertips brushed over her skin. She felt his body so close behind her, she was unable to move. What if he was just mocking her? What if she suddenly turned towards him and he rejected her? Or made fun of her? Or… well… what could Jack possibly be doing?

His hands came to her waist and her bare stomach. He lifted her, turning her towards him as he dropped her along the front of his body. Their wet bodies slid together and she groaned at the sensations. She was surprised sparks didn’t shoot off them and sizzle in the water. He was aroused. She could feel him against her middle with the water supporting her weight. Finally, his mouth came down on hers. Warm, wet, and soft at first. She sighed at the pleasure, and the ease of it. How right it felt. He held her there, kissing her for long moments as the chirping crickets grew louder around her, and the light totally faded.

Then suddenly, his hot tongue hastily entered her mouth. He moved his hands until they were at the back of her swimsuit. He undid it and threw it towards the shore in seconds. His hand came around to her wet breast. Her nipples were hard and small already from the cold water. The sensation of his warm, rough hands on her cold, wet nipples had her nearly screaming with the sheer ecstasy it sent towards her center.

He moved, then walked, easily carrying her towards the shore. He took her to the big beach towel, where they ate their dinners previously. Setting her there, his hands took off her swimsuit bottom. And that quick, that unexpectedly, she was naked. With Jack.

The sand felt soft and lumpy against her back. Jack lay down beside her, putting an arm under her head, and leaning in before he started kissing her again. His hands roamed everywhere, touching her, caressing her, igniting her. His hands were very large, with deep calluses that should have scratched her, but instead, only incited her more feverishly.

And he could kiss. His mouth was warm as he moved his lips over hers, complete and thorough without ever overpowering or gagging her.

When he ran his tongue over her lips, and started kissing down her neck, she thought she might melt from the sensual pleasure. His hands caressed her breasts, rubbing over her nipples, until his mouth finally took over. He licked and kissed her, using his teeth with the perfect amount of pressure. She felt it all spiraling deeper into her womb.

She grabbed his head, her fingers digging into the silky strands of glossy red hair. She had to think and stop this. They could not do this. They could not have sex. She knew that more than anything else. This was Jack. He didn’t want to have sex with her. He’d hate her tomorrow. He’d kick her out. He’d… well, he had the authority to ruin her life. And the potential to break her heart.

She gasped out, “Joey.”