Strangely Normal - By Tess Oliver Page 0,50
we tried to convince her otherwise, she insisted she caused it.”
“That’s a lot for anyone to swallow.”
He grew quiet for a moment and held me against him. “For Fin, it’s not just the anxiety. She can fall pretty low sometimes. That enthusiasm she gets when she’s in a good mood can plunge into darkness in a second. That’s when I really worry about her. But I know she’s glad to have you around this summer.” He kissed me. “Hmm, I don’t think I’ve ever kissed a brainy girl. I mean calculus— damn. Hey, were you one of those school girls who wore the short plaid skirt and white blouse?”
“Seriously, is there anything about me that says private prep school?”
“I guess not.” His mouth brushed mine. “But you would look so fucking hot in one of those uniforms.” His long, muscular thigh pushed between my legs, and he reached up and pulled the edges of my sweatshirt so that I nearly slammed against his chest. Then his hands slid beneath my t-shirt and he caressed my skin as his mouth covered mine.
My skin felt on fire as his kisses deepened, and his hands explored the bare skin of my back and shoulders. I leaned forward and moved against his hard thigh, gasping softly with the rhythm of his movement. My hands slid up his muscular arms and circled his neck. I felt the desperate need to hold onto him. His mouth moved down my neck and my head dropped back as his tongue flicked lightly at the hollow in the base of my throat. I shifted against him again and again, knowing full well that I was heading to a place where turning back was impossible. My hands tucked beneath his shirt, and I smoothed my palms over the muscles of his chest and abdomen. Everything about Jude made me lose control, and my hands and mouth could not get enough of him.
His hand drifted down my waist and before I could protest, though that was unlikely now, he pressed it between my thighs. I groaned softly against his mouth as his thumb moved over the worn denim. I fought the intimacy of it for a moment, and my fingers tensed around his shoulders.
“Damn, Valley, I need to touch all of you.” His teeth bit lightly on my bottom lip. “Just relax.” Even his whispered command sent shuddering waves of heat through me. I clung tightly to his arms as I moved against his hand until the need I’d built up deep inside sent shuddering waves through me and then exploded in every direction. My fingers dug into his hard arms, and I pressed my mouth against his chest to muffle a small cry.
He wrapped his strong arms around me as I collapsed against him. I felt completely secure in his arms. My fingers traced along his strong jaw. “I’m feeling a bit selfish.”
“Well, you should.”
I looked up at him and he smiled. “I’m kidding. Watching your face through it all made it worth it.” He kissed my lips. “Made me ache for you that much more but still worth it.”
A warm blush rose in my face, and I pressed my cheek against his chest again. “Just so you know, I’m not really the kind of girl who does stuff like that in the center of a public park.”
“No? Why’d you do it this time?”
“Because it was with you. And I can’t begin to tell you how much that terrifies me.”
He took hold of my face. “Like I said before— relax, Eden.”
Badly, I wanted to surrender my heart and soul to him, but my sensible side, a side that always reared its annoying head when I least wanted it, told me to keep my feet on the ground. “I suppose we should head back. Finley and I are going to take an excursion around the grounds.”
He didn’t say anything, but his expression laid bare his thoughts.
“I know it’s not much, just a few steps around the property, but for her, it’s a big deal.”
He nodded. “It’s been good for her, but there’s so much turmoil brewing in my sister, I’m worried she just won’t be able to tamp it down. I worry that one day it’ll all come boiling out of her in one massive eruption.”
“Then maybe these miniscule steps toward normalcy are helping her blow off some steam. Last night, Max upset her and she pouted but didn’t lose it. I’d say she handled it well. Maybe in the long