push my hand inside. His dick is deliciously hard, and he lifts his hips allowing me better access. I wrap my fingers around him and stroke gently until he groans.
“Babe, I don’t have a condom.”
“I’m on the pill…” I stop. “But that’s okay, we don’t have to have sex. I can be creative.”
I have every intention of getting to my knees, but he pumps into my hand.
“Thank fuck. I didn’t want to ask, but I’ve been thinking about being inside of you without a condom. I’ve never slept bare with anyone.”
I’ve seen his stash of condoms back at Valley, so I believe him.
His thumb circles my clit and then one long finger slides under the material and pushes it to the side. I shift and he guides his dick into me slowly. At this angle he fills me so completely. I hadn’t expected it to feel different for me without a condom, but it does. I close my eyes and enjoy every sensation before slowly moving.
“So good,” he says as he nips at my neck and collarbone. “You feel incredible. Hot, wet, fucking amazing.”
His hands roam all over my body and settle on the curve of my waist. He lets me set the pace even though I can tell he wants me to move faster. I’m enjoying it too much. I don’t want to rush it. Just us on the boat, nothing around, nothing between us—it’s perfect and I want to hold on to this perfection before I go back to worrying about all the stupid things trying to make me forget why it’s worth the risk.
The next two days, Tara and Corinne go out on their own more than they hang with us, which honestly is fine by me. It feels like good fortune to escape with Tanner back into our little bubble.
My good luck runs out on the day Emily is set to arrive. A downpour of rain that starts in the early morning continues on and off into the afternoon.
Tanner and I are snuggled up on the couch while Tara and Corinne are in the kitchen baking cookies that smell amazing but are probably laced with her disapproval and contempt for me.
I’m looking forward to Emily getting here so that I’ll have someone to talk to. If Tanner has noticed the lingering weirdness between me and Tara, he hasn’t mentioned it., and I haven’t brought it up again. How do you tell your boyfriend that his sister called you his fuck buddy anyway? And even if I told him, what could he do? He might talk to her and then she’d just dislike me even more. I think I’m going to have to accept that Tanner’s sister may never like me. I hope he’s okay with that. I get an awful feeling when I try to picture holidays together or meeting his parents. Can we really make a relationship work when someone so close to him dislikes me?
“What time is Emily getting here?” Tanner asks. “Going out on the boat is probably out but we could take her to The Cove.”
A knock at the door gets all our attention.
“Guess that answers that.” He stands. “I’m going to jump in the shower while you two catch up.”
I hurry to the door and fling it open with a big smile, but come up short when it isn’t my best friend on the other side, but Tanner’s ex.
“Amelia?”
“Sydney?” She glances around as if she might be at the wrong house. “Is Tanner here?”
“Yeah, of course, come in.” I manage to be polite despite my shock.
Amelia gives a small, awkward wave when she sees Tara and Corinne. “Hey.”
“Oh my gosh, you came!” Tara comes forward and hugs her like they’re long lost best friends.
My eyes prick with tears. “I’ll get Tanner for you.”
I keep my head down as I walk through the living room and toward the bedroom. Tanner’s pulling his T-shirt over his head and starts to smile, but then pauses.
“What’s wrong?”
“Amelia is here.” My voice sounds weak even to my own ears.
“Amelia?” he asks as he goes to the door and looks out. His brows pull together. “Be right back.”
Sitting on the bed, I let out a shaky breath. I can’t make out exactly what they say, but I can tell from their tone and exchange that Tanner’s as surprised that she’s here as I am. I have a choice. I can sit in here and hide until she’s gone, or I can go out there and sit beside