First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 99

  The drive back is quiet, but not the heavy kind. It's charged, like every touch, every look is humming with what's waiting for us. Dani's hand rests on my thigh, her thumb tracing slow, lazy circles that keep me fighting for steady breaths.

  When we pull up to the cabin, the lantern lights glow soft against the porch, shadows stretching across the wood. Dani hurriedly steps out, heels clicking against the gravel, her black dress hugging her in a way that makes me forget everything but her.

  I catch her hand as we head inside, pulling her close before she makes it to the door. My lips find her jaw, then her ear. "Want to try out the hot tub before bed?"

  She lets out a low laugh, already catching my tone. "That depends," she murmurs, tilting her head to give me more room. "Are we actually going to relax in it?"

  "Probably not," I admit, grinning against her skin.

  Her laugh is softer now, warmer, and she squeezes my hand as we step into the cabin. We move through the space quickly, both of us knowing exactly where this is headed. Dani kicks off her heels by the door, then disappears toward the back deck.

  I grab us a couple bottles of water from the fridge and by the time I follow, she's already slipped out onto the patio, the cover of the hot tub pushed aside. Steam rises into the cool night, the stars above scattered thick and bright across the Hill Country sky.

  Dani glances back at me over her shoulder, one brow raised, a teasing spark in her eyes. "Well? You just gonna stand there staring, or are you getting in with me?"

  "Staring's tempting," I say, tugging at the buttons of my shirt, "but I'd rather be in there with you."

  Dani bites her lip, watching me strip down. By the time I've taken off my shirt and slacks, left in nothing but my underwear and sports bra, her eyes are dark and hungry, and she doesn't even try to hide it.

  "You're making this unfair," she whispers.

  I grin, stepping closer. "Unfair would be you in that dress and me not tearing it off."

  Her breath catches, just for a second, before she slips the straps of the snug dress off her shoulders. She pushes it down and the fabric falls in a whisper to the deck, pooling at her feet. She's in a black lace bra and matching underwear, simple but devastating and the way her breasts are nearly spilling out of her bra just does something to me.

  I swallow hard. "Fuck, Dani..."

  "Get in," she says, her voice low, a little rough around the edges.

  We slide into the hot tub, the water wrapping us in heat, the jets bubbling low. Dani settles across from me at first, hair dampening in the steam, skin glowing in the soft deck lights. But it doesn't last as she moves over to me.

  The water is warm, bubbling against our skin as Dani leans back into me, her hair damp where I've brushed it away from her neck. The night air is cool enough that steam curls up around us, making it feel like our own little world. My hands slide over her shoulders, down her arms, before resting on the curve of her belly. I press a slow kiss to the side of her neck.

  "You're glowing," I whisper, and she laughs softly, tilting her head toward me.

  "You're just saying that because I'm pregnant," she teases, but there's a shy edge in her smile.

  "No," I murmur against her skin, brushing another kiss there. "I'm saying it because it's true. You're so beautiful, Dani."

  Her fingers find my thigh under the water, tracing lightly, a touch that makes my whole body tighten. She shifts, turning toward me, her lips finding mine in a kiss that starts soft but grows hungrier. When her hand slides higher, I groan into her mouth, pulling her closer but careful, always careful, to support her.