The Girl Next Door
Chapter 13

My breathing evens out as my body melts into the warm plastic of the raft. After a string of quiet mom body.

The heat of his stare lingers on my breasts, which spill from the cups of my bra. I glance down and rea He leans over and captures one tightened peak between his lips. The moment he touches me, my brea pulls the material aside until my n****e is exposed. Then his lips are back, sucking the bud deep into He scoots closer, giving the same attention to my other b****t. Except this time, he pulls the material needing to close the distance between us.

His fingers caress the valley between my breasts before sliding lower to my navel. He circles the inder beneath his touch. Every movement drives my senses into delirium and scatters my thoughts. "You're so f*****g beautiful, Mia."

It's almost a relief when his fingers drift lower until they're able to trace the seam of my lips. An ache the soaked flesh before sliding upward to circle my pulsing clit. The moment he touches that throbbin

Beck rolls toward me. The float trembles with his movements. He props himself up with an elbow, and warmth fills me as his gaze rakes over my nearly naked at the pale pink material has turned sheer.

comes clogged in my throat. A moan slides from my lips as my fingers tangle in his damp hair, drawing him closer. Once he releases the stiff little peak, he uth. It's as if there is an invisible string connecting my b***** to my core. Every tug of his lips sends shock waves of pleasure reverberating through me. before drawing the tightened bud into his mouth. Sensation ricochets through my body until it reaches my toes. My eyes feather shut as I arch my back,

a few times before one hand slips beneath the elastic band of my thong. Back and forth, his fingers arc from one hip bone to the other. My body trembles

in my core and I widen my legs, wanting to give him more access. Not once do his fingers dip inside my body. They circle around my entrance, gliding over ile of nerves, a moan escapes.

His mouth fastens onto mine. I open so our tongues can tangle as his fingers feather over my flesh, forge to the brink. When I can't stand another moment of this sweet torture, he lifts his face from mine and presses his thumb on my clit, sending a surge of shivers through my body. His fingers continue to move until every bit of pleasure has been wrung from nd I'm nothing more than an exhausted heap on the raft. sucking them clean.

I crack my eyes open when Beck slips his hand free from my thong before lifting his fingers to his mou

"So damn delicious," he murmurs, watching me the entire time.

He leans closer and captures my lips. The taste of my arousal explodes on my tongue, sending yet and Who knew something like that could be such a turn-on?

He pulls away enough to say, "Maybe I should have led with this earlier, but I'd like to take you out." "Out?" I echo dumbly as if unable to string those words together to figure out the meaning. "Like on a Amusement dances in his eyes as his lips bow into a smile. "Exactly like a date."

pple of pleasure through me.

My brain is telling me to walk away, but my heart is leaping for joy. I tamp down my excitement before it can become infectious.

The higher you fly, the harder you fall, I remind myself.

"You don't have to do this," I force myself to say.

The humor filling his face turns serious. "I know, but I want to."

Walk away and don't look back, girl.

You know it's the smart thing to do.

Beck Hollingsworth isn't someone you can depend on. He's proven that time and time again. He'll flake, and I'll be left holding the bag in my hands.

He lowers his face until everything around me is blotted out, and he's all I can focus on. His warm breath drifts over my lips. "Let me take you out and prove I'm serious about this. About us." Every ounce of good sense flees. "Okay."

"Good." His mouth brushes over my top lip before doing the same to my bottom. Then he sucks my lower lip into his mouth before giving it a gentle tug with his teeth and releasing it with a pop. Need bursts to life in my core. Apparently, it doesn't matter if I just came. I want him all over again. He pulls away enough to say, "Open."

I do as he instructs, and his tongue delves inside my mouth to tangle with my own. One hand slips around my head to cradle my skull with his palm. The kiss unfolds lazily until I lose all sense of time. The only thing I'm aware of is the feel of Beck's lips coasting over mine, drawing me deeper into this caress until I'm drugged with the taste of him.

From the far recesses of my brain, a noise penetrates the thick fog that cocoons me. It's only when Beck jerks away that reality crashes down upon my head. He swears harshly under his breath as I try to replace my bearings.

"It might be a good idea if your friend took off, don't you think?"

Oh, God.

Archibald.

And this time, it's not the ringer on Beck's phone.

Heat scalds my cheeks as I realize that he just witnessed me making out with his son. In my underwear. The humiliation is almost enough to swallow me whole. Why haven't I burst into flames yet? That would be preferable to brazening out this situation. Beck rolls off the raft and into the water, leaving me exposed and vulnerable. Even though the sun strokes over my warmed flesh, a chill slithers down my spine. I sit up and band my arms around my knees to cover as much of my body as possible. "Don't move," Beck mutters, "until I get your shirt."

"Okay." I stare at my folded legs until Archibald's loafers come into view.

"Mia?" Shock reverberates throughout Archie's voice. "Is that you?"

Please kill me now before this situation becomes any more excruciating.

I wince, unable to meet his eyes before lifting my hand and giving him a half-hearted wave. "Hi, Mr. Hollingsworth." Barely can I squeak out the greeting.

Beck's father stuffs his hands into the pockets of his khakis and rocks back on his heels as his narrowed gaze bounces between us. "What are you doing here?"

"We were swimming." Amongst other things. Even though I don't tack that on, I have the feeling he knows exactly what we were up to.

"I wasn't aware you two were friends." His voice becomes stilted. "I'd assumed you traveled in different circles."

"We've always been friends," Beck shoots back, glancing at me with a slight frown. "Right?"

Yesterday the answer would have been an unequivocal no, but I can't bring myself to say that. "Yes."

"Hmmm." Archibald's lips bow into a frown. The heaviness of his gaze is enough to make me squirm.

Once we reach the edge of the pool, Beck hauls himself out. It would be impossible not to notice the way his muscles flex and bunch as water rolls off his sun-kissed flesh. He grabs my tank from the cement and tosses it to me. I snatch it from the air and thrust my arms through the thin straps before yanking the flimsy material over my body. It doesn't cover much, but it shields my bra and thong from sight.

Sort of.

As soon as I'm covered, Beck extends his hand for me to grab hold of before hoisting me from the raft. The moment my feet touch the concrete, he releases me. I stumble before replaceing my balance.

I peek at Archibald and tug the back of my tank, so it covers more of my a*s.

A thunderous expression settles on Archie's face as he bites out, "I'm going inside." His attention shifts to his son. "See me in the office after Mia leaves."

Beck jerks his head into a tight nod. Once his father disappears through the French doors, I force the air from my lungs, not realizing it had become trapped.

"I would seriously like to die right now," I whisper, afraid of being overheard.

"Yeah, sorry about that." He shoves a hand through his hair. "I thought we had more time."

Nausea stirs in the pit of my belly as I consider how mortifying it would have been if Beck's parents had arrived home ten minutes earlier. Archibald and Caroline are like family. How could I ever look either of them in the eyes if they saw me getting off? Unsure where to go from here, I search Beck's expression for clues as to what he's thinking. All the lightheartedness has been sucked from the atmosphere. There's a pervasive feeling of tension that has settled over us like a heavy blanket. Beck scoops up my skirt and tosses it to me. "You should probably head out."

He's right, but I'm reluctant to leave. If I walk away, this will end up being nothing more than a dream. And I'm scared of that happening.

"Okay." I yank the skirt up my thighs and over my hips until it settles at my waist.

Awkwardness descends. There is so much I want to say, but I have no idea how to express my thoughts. Instead of taking that leap and putting myself out there, I turn away. With every step, doubt and fear rain down on me. "Mia?"

I swing around, unsure what I'll replace.

"I meant what I said about wanting to take you out."

A burst of giddiness chases away the misgivings that creep in at the edges.

Uncertainty flickers in his eyes. "You want that too, right?"

"I do." More than I'm willing to admit because as much as I want to believe in Beck, I need him to prove me wrong.

"Talk soon?"

"Yeah."

A hint of a smile curves his lips and touches his eyes, softening the hardness filling them.

When he remains silent, I raise my hand in a wave and return home. My head spins as I relive everything that has transpired in the last twelve hours.

I'm no longer a virgin.

Beck and I are going on a date.

Alyssa will s**t her pants when I tell her what happened.

It's enough to bring a gurgle of laughter to my lips.