Conception (The Wellingtons #4) - Tessa Teevan Page 0,42

too quick for her though, so I’m able to hook my forefinger through a loop on her denim shorts.

“Oof!” She makes the cutest damn sound when I tug her in tight to my chest a little harder than I meant to.

“Babe, it’s not taking advantage. I’m yours to do with as you please.” I give her a wink.

Amelia presses her forehead against my chest, her hands fisting the bottom of my shirt. She grumbles something unintelligible.

“What was that?”

Bashful, green eyes flutter up at me beneath incredible, dark lashes. “Nothing. Just… I’ll remember you said that, and I plan on holding you to it.”

“Feel free to hold me to anything you damn well please.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ve been trying to do that all week.” The frustration in her voice matches what I’m feeling inside.

This has to be the night. For both of us. If we didn’t have plans to meet the gang at Mickey’s, I’d have half a mind to haul her up, take her inside, and bury myself inside her so deep that I won’t be able to remember what sex was like before I met her.

And if I just so happen to ruin her for all other men?

Well, that’ll be the icing on the damn cake.

“Is everything okay? Between us?” Amelia asks, catching me off guard.

She’s sitting between my legs, resting her back against my chest, while I run my fingers up and down her bare thighs.

We spent most of the night playing pool and dancing at Mickey’s. Since it turned out to be a slow night, Joe closed the place down early in order to move the party down to the lake. Even though it neared a hundred degrees today, the night is surprisingly refreshing with a cool breeze coming off the water.

A couple of the guys built the fire we’re all sitting around. Joe and Sam are taking turns playing the guitar, alternating between singing rock-and-roll tunes and making up ones of their own. Sunny’s being…well, from what I’ve learned over the past few days, Sunny. She’s smoking a joint, swaying back and forth to the music, occasionally making cat calls to Joe. Every so often, she gestures to me over Amelia’s head. If I’m reading her correctly, Amelia’s told her of our going slow, and she’s trying to nudge me along in the right direction.

“Knox.”

I take one of her hands in mine, bringing it to my lips and giving her a kiss. “Nah, babe.”

She sits up quickly and turns around, searching my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

I realize I answered the wrong question. “No, I meant nothing’s wrong. Everything’s cool. Better than cool. Why do you ask?”

Amelia looks around then plays with the end of her ponytail. “Wanna go for a walk? Get away from the crowd? Sunny’s pot is starting to make my nose tickle.” She wrinkles said nose for effect.

Before I can answer, she stands up, brushing the sand off her ass. Then I take the hand she’s holding out to me.

“We’re going to head back to the house,” she tells the gang, surprising me. “Turn in for the night.”

Sunny cheers her approval.

I turn to Amelia. “Back to the house?”

“Is it so terrible that I want to get you alone?”

“All you have to do is ask.”

There’s a chorus of goodbyes, catcalls, and whooping as we walk away from the crowd—including my own brother’s interjection that he’ll be fine for the night and doesn’t expect me home. Once we’re out of earshot, Amelia surprises me by tugging me in the direction not towards the house.

“Where are we going?” I ask her, grateful for the near full moon that allows me to see her face entirely.

“I thought maybe we’d savor the slight chill in the air before heading back to the house. A moonlight stroll? That okay with you?”

Though I’m already primed and ready to move things along between us, I don’t mind holding her hand for a little while longer. “Fine by me.”

We walk in silence, enjoying the sounds of the water softly hitting the shore, the crickets singing their midnight lullaby, and the rustles of the breeze on the trees that cocoon the lake. Laughter rings out in the distance.

“You have an awesome group of friends,” I tell her.

Soft cheeks plump up with her smile. “I really do,” she says with a sigh.

Amelia tugs at my hand and leads me towards an errant log on its side in the sand. She sits down in the sand, her back against the log. Our hands separate as I