Conception (The Wellingtons #4) - Tessa Teevan Page 0,67
hope like hell he’s not already there.
“Besides, I said I wanted to get to know you better,” he says, interrupting my thoughts.
“You already know more about me than most people.” Ha. Two can play coy.
He raises an eyebrow. “Pretty sure I haven’t even scratched the surface, babe.”
“You’ve scratched plenty…”
Just as Knox moves to close the distance between us, we’re illuminated from the shore. We both turn towards a vehicle’s blinding headlights. The contrast in the darkness makes it impossible to make out the two figures standing on the beach, seemingly waiting for us. My eyes widen when one of them bends down by our piles of clothes.
“Um, Knox…” I begin, stopping when his fingers grip my hip.
“It’s fine, baby.”
I momentarily forget our visitors. It’s the first time he’s called me that. I want to relish in how possessed it makes me feel.
“We received a few calls of loud noises coming from the lake. Everything okay out there?” a deep voice booms from the shore.
A deep, familiar voice coming from a body standing way too close to my clothes.
“Sam!” I yell. “What are you doing here?”
“Dammit, how’d you know it was me?”
A third silhouette steps away from the car. A more petite one, and I roll my eyes. Why am I not surprised?
“We closed up the bar and figured we’d take a dip in the lake sans clothes. We had no idea you two beat us here first. I thought you were going home because you were exhausted.”
“Took a detour, Sunny,” Knox tells her. “Now, if you’ll be kind enough to let us get dressed, the lake’s all yours.”
“You guys want some company? We could totally play naked chicken!” Sunny exclaims.
We wait a few minutes to make sure they’re truly gone. I wouldn’t put it past Sunny to stick around to try to get a glimpse of Knox’s goods. Not that I can blame her. Fortunately, we get back to our clothes without incident and stumble back to my house, holding hands and laughing. I can’t remember a time I’ve felt so carefree.
For the second time today, we find ourselves in my shower. As I reach for my shampoo, Knox scoops up the bottle and squirts product into his hands.
“Turn.”
I obey the one-word command and fall into bliss when Knox’s large hands work the shampoo into my hair. I’m putty in his hands, proven as he turns me and rinses my hair. It’s wash, rinse, repeat with my conditioner.
“All clean,” he declares, and I’m too tired to make a joke.
“Your turn.”
Dark eyes soften and gaze down at me. “Amelia, you’re exhausted. I got this.”
I grab the shampoo bottle from him. “Tit for tat, baby,” I tease.
His lips twist into a grin, and he doesn’t protest, turning so his back’s to me. I have to raise on my tiptoes, and I’m still not tall enough to give as good of a head massage as he gave me.
We spend the next few moments lathering each other up with soap and slowly rinsing off. Neither of us says a word, and with that, I’m content. The silence continues out of the shower, each of us rubbing the other with a towel before falling into bed, exhausted and satisfied.
For some reason, that felt more intimate than what we did earlier. I’m not so sure that’s a good thing. Because I know it’s a great thing.
As I drift off, I replay our conversation at the lake and realize we’re two peas in a pod. I don’t want to talk about my past. Knox doesn’t want to talk about his future.
All we have is the present. I already know it won’t be long enough.
“RISE AND SHINE, SLEEPYHEAD.”
Knox’s voice comes way too early in the morning for my taste. I slowly open one eye and find him sitting on the edge of the bed, looking down at me. He’s already dressed, in a loose pair of tan shorts, a black tank top, and a ballcap. I want to kiss every inch of golden skin weeks of summer sun has blessed him with.
“No. Too early,” I groan, placing the pillow back over my head and rolling away from him.
He pounces just like I knew he would. “Come on, Melia. The sun’s been up for hours.”
“So,” I grumble, adjusting my body so his weight shifts, forcing him to sit on my ass. “We’ve been working nonstop at your