slip out the back door with my phone and the key Connor gave me, cutting across our yard into his.
My heart races as I use the key to get in. Any second I’m ready for someone to ask what I’m doing in the Bishop’s yard without an invitation.
Once inside, I leave my key by the door and go to the full-length mirror. It still smells like Connor in here. I lick my lips and sit down in front of the mirror with my legs to the side in a sensual pose, feeling the pinup vibe I have going on right now. I allow one of my straps to slip off my shoulder and angle my boobs forward.
After snapping a few pics, I pick one and send it to him. No caption. It doesn’t need one. He’ll know where I am.
It doesn’t take Connor long to arrive. The door squeals when he opens it in a rush. I haven’t moved from my spot by the mirror, and I watch him through the reflection, pressing my fingers to the glass.
“You came,” I murmur.
“Did you think I wouldn’t when you sent this?” He waves his phone and tosses it on the bed as he crosses the room to me. On the way he loses his black muscle shirt, leaving him in only his short swimsuit and a perfect view of the sculpted indents in his hips. “Shit, I’ve been thinking about you all day. About this.”
He pulls me to my feet and swoops in for a kiss that leaves me breathless. His skin is warm from an afternoon in the sun.
Putting my hand on his chest, I lean back from his kiss. “You know, I opened Instagram to see if my friend Maisy had posted, but I saw the party at the lake instead.”
“Yeah?” Connor is distracted, kissing his way down my neck. He hums against my heated skin and makes me shudder.
“Well, I was surprised to see there was a party. That you were there.” My breath hitches when he finds a sensitive spot. “And…the girl you were with in the pictures I saw.”
Connor stills. “What girl?”
“Bailey? She’s on the dance squad.” I suck my bottom lip into my mouth as he stares at me. “I’m not the girl you were with at the lake.”
“No. You’re not.”
A sound rumbles in Connor’s chest as he wraps me in his arms, picking me up. I squeal when he lifts me off the ground, surprised by his strength. He crosses the room and deposits me on the bed. Another growl leaves him while he fumbles with my jumpsuit.
“Always with the complicated outfits,” he mutters, figuring out he needs to yank down the straps.
Once he has me down to my bra and underwear, he descends on the birthmark on my thigh, sucking on it until I’m pretty sure I’ll have a hickey. I like that, the idea of him branding my skin with his marks. Proof that we had this moment.
Lifting his head, he pins me with his gray eyes. “If I wanted that chick, I wouldn’t be here. Why would I want her when I only want a little beam of sunshine who drives me fucking crazy?” He keeps his gaze locked with mine as he licks my birthmark. “You’re who I’m with. No other girl matters to me. Only you, baby.”
My fingers claw at the bedding, a hazy fog of desire clouding my head. But this is important and I have to make sure he understands.
“How can I believe you really want me? You only kiss me in the dark.” I sit up and face him in only my bra and panties. “The hall when no one was around. The coatroom. In here.” My chest rises and falls. “You pretend I don’t exist otherwise, like you always have.” My voice cracks and my eyes sting. “I can’t be invisible anymore, Connor.”
“Sunshine,” he rasps, cradling my face in his hands as his brow furrows. “I swear, I wasn’t keeping you a secret. I’m sorry I made you doubt I want this. What will it take to prove it to you? I’ll kiss you at school whenever I see you. You’ll be dizzy from my kisses.”
The fear clogging my throat vanishes. I give him a wet, breathy laugh. “You don’t have to go that far. But a date to the dance would be nice.”
“Dance?”
“Winter formal. It’s not for a while still, but…”
Connor gives me a lopsided smile and climbs off the bed to sink to one