Where One Goes(50)

Why did the word ‘waterproof’ just sound so erotic coming out of his mouth?

In an attempt to remain focused, I ask, “Did I mention that one of the first things my brother ever taught me was how to kick a guy in the balls?”

He’s laughing again.

One of those open mouth, I can see his amazingly-white-straight-teeth laughs. Okay, I really am addicted. Damn, him.

“I hate you right now,” I say, as I fight the laughter that’s attempting to bubble up my throat and out my mouth.

“Okay, okay,” he sighs and steps toward the flashlight before sinking in the water and crying out in mock anguish. “My ankle! I can’t move! I’m sorry, Charlotte, I can’t turn off the light.”

Glaring at him, I say, “I should blacken your other eye.”

As he continues to laugh, he swims toward me, causing me to back into the deck surrounding the pool. When I can’t back away any further, I’m forced to wait until he’s just a foot before me. My arms are so tight around me, my boobs are smushed up, the tops completely on display.

George’s brown eyes are trained on me as he stands to his full height, the water’s surface meeting his hips. Keeping my gaze on his, I refuse to let myself look down and see what’s below the water’s surface. “I don’t mind if you see me naked, Charlotte.”

“Shocking,” I say, dryly. “I’m sure you don’t. You’re a guy.”

“Maybe that’s part of it,” he concedes. “But you’ve seen more of me than anyone has in a long time. All the ugly parts. Things I’m not proud of.” When he runs a hand through his hair, my eyes disobey me and move to his abs and the delicious, deep V-shape on his hips. God, they’re beautiful. My fingers itch to reach out and slide down them. Then he says, “I want to know all of you, too. The good, the bad, and the ugly.”

My heart beats wildly with his words. I know deep down this is the moment I should tell him about me, about what I can do, but I’m not ready to come clean for a multitude of reasons. One being, what if he thinks I’m a liar? Or worse, what if he hates me for keeping this secret all this time? Or even worse, what if it speeds up Ike’s crossover? God, that’s such a selfish thing to even think. Ike wants to crossover. He’s been living in limbo for months, but that selfish part of me still isn’t ready for him to go yet. Ike is the only friend I have. I can’t tell George the truth. Not yet. So I stand to my full height and let my arms drop. Standing naked in front of someone makes you vulnerable, exposed. Maybe I can’t tell him everything, but I can show him this, something I’ve never shown anyone before. I can’t breathe as George’s gaze moves down my body and back up again. His mouth is in an even line, his chest rising and falling with each breath he takes. The lighting from the flashlight in the pool illuminates his skin and hair, flickering in his eyes. Even battered and bruised, he’s beautiful.

I’ve never been completely naked in front of a man before. I was a virgin before the accident and probably would have lost my virginity to Will, the guy I had kind of been dating at the time. But the accident took that from me and being a freak that can speak to the dead for the last six years hasn’t helped my love life at all. But feeling George’s eyes on my body excites me, preventing me from being embarrassed.

“I lied to you,” George says, quietly stepping toward me again. I tilt my head. That’s not what I was expecting to hear. “I said I wouldn’t kiss you until I knew I was clean and didn’t look like a punching bag, but I can’t wait that long.”

Swallowing hard, I tilt my chin up, inviting him to give me the kiss I want so badly even though I shouldn’t. George is still recovering and this may all be symptomatic. I may only be a method to cope, and maybe later he’ll regret it. But I can’t fight it. If he wants to kiss me, I’ll let him.

One hand finds the back of my neck and he pulls me toward him. When our mouths collide, his other hand wraps around my back just above my waist and he slams me to him. As his tongue dips in to my mouth, I moan, letting my hands rest on his biceps. In the warm water I can feel his length, hard, pressing against my belly, causing a delicious ache to blossom between my legs. The kiss is fierce and bold, the two of us clinging to each other for dear life. After all, George and I are floating, desperately seeking footing so we can stay planted to the ground. Perhaps we’ll ground each other.

When George pulls away, I tremble, my body missing his warmth against it. The corner of his mouth curves slightly as his soft gaze lingers on my lips. “Thank you,” he says, quietly.

George just gave me the best first kiss I’ve ever had. Will never kissed me like this—with such intensity. I’m pretty sure it’s the best first kiss any girl has ever had. I should be thanking him. So I do. I slam my body to his and kiss him again, my want for him conveyed by the desire on my lips. My kisses tell him there’s more, so much more to me, but I’m not ready to tell him everything just yet. He groans with arousal and I kiss him harder one last time. When I pull away, I say, “Thank you for bringing me here. It’s . . . amazing.”





I stood outside the Jefferson Pools while George and Charlotte were inside. When they exited, they were holding hands, and I could feel my brother’s happiness radiating from him. He’s falling for her. My brother and I are in love with the same girl. I half laugh at the ridiculousness of this situation.