The way I loved you. (Book 2 of the Illicit Affairs Series)

Chapter VIII

Throughout the vacation, Rebecca and Steve couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other. They'd find ways to hide their linked hands under the table at lunch with Bucky, Steve would "innocently" offer Becca piggyback rides at the beach to avoid her burning the soles of her feet on the scalding hot sand when she'd forget her flip-flops near her lounge chair, they'd even managed to sneak a few pecks here and there.

Still, they craved each other's touch, both spending most nights twisting and turning around the sheets of their separate beds and thinking back to their first night. They both agreed that sneaking into each other's room with Bucky around was too risky, especially since the man was a light sleeper, so they had resigned to settling for whatever they could get. That was, until the last night in Santa Monica.

The moon was already up high in the sky as Rebecca went through her bags. She had stupidly packed her overnight cream in one of her bags, and was rummaging through them in vain when light knocks resounded through her room. Her lips split up in an uncontrollable grin as she skipped to the door. It could only be one person.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered at Steve, who was leaning his shoulder on the doorway, his hair ruffled and his white t-shirt highlighting his newly tanned skin. His eyes lit up at the sight of her smiling face, and he wasted no time in pulling her in by her hips.

"I had to see you." he explained, relishing in the feeling of Rebecca's arms spontaneously snaking around his neck, right where they belonged. "Who knows when we'll be alone once we get back in New York?".

Rebecca tried to pout, but her lips didn't seem intent on budging. "I don't wanna think about that right now." she whispered, nudging his nose with hers.

"You like it here, uh?" Steve chuckled, nudging her nose back.

"Well, duh!" she responded, pecking the corner of his lips before slipping out of his hold and taking his hand to pull him into the room. She nudged the door close with her hips before spinning around to face Steve. "I wish we didn't have to go back."

"We'll come back." he promised, before faking a pout, "We're changing beaches, though."

"Why? The one we've been going to is so nice."

"The lifeguard keeps checking you out." Steve sighed, pulling her hand up to his lips and kissing her knuckles, "Not that I blame him."

"Are you jealous, Steven?" Rebecca gasped dramatically, snatching her hand back to pull it over her mouth.

"Well, duh." Steve quoted, making her snort. He wasted no time in pulling her back in his hold, his palms splayed on her hips as he pressed his lips to hers like he'd been wanting to do every second of every day. A moment later, he pulled back just enough to whisper against her lips, "I wanna keep you."

Rebecca's cheeks hurt from smiling and blushing, and she couldn't help but try to hide them in the curve of Steve's shoulder, standing on the tips of her toes. "I wanna keep you, too." she admitted, her lips brushing against his neck. She felt his palms sliding over her back, pulling her even closer, and she leaned on him as he swayed them around, slow dancing to the tune of cicadas buzzing and wind rustled leaves outside the window.

Rebecca's lips planted soft kisses on Steve's neck as her hands slid over his chest, the air around her suddenly feeling all too hot. Her lips trailed to his jaw as his hands slid back to her hips, his voice strained when he whispered her name warningly. Rebecca didn't really care for warnings, though, she'd never had.

"C'mon, handsome, you said it yourself," she murmured, kissing the spot just beneath his ear and earning a shiver, "we don't know when we'll be alone again. Let's make use of the time we've got."