I wanted him.

I shoved back enough that he let me down, and I led him the rest of the way. It wasn’t too far. When he saw the water, his eyes rounded. “Whoa.”

It was a small waterfall. The foliage around it kept it private, and there were rocks jutting out so we could sit and dangle our feet into the water.

“This is beautiful.” He pulled me against him.

“This is where I bathe if I don’t want to go to the house.”

“I can see why. It’s amazing.” He looked up. The pines towered high above us, the tops opening to a small circle where we would be able to see the stars in a few minutes. “Morgan, wow. Thank you for showing me this.”

The need for him was still there, but it ebbed a little, enough for clear thinking to return and self-consciousness to take hold, but he was right. This pool was like a home, or one of my areas I considered mine. It was the first time I had shown anyone.

I stepped back from him, but his hand caught mine. He kept that one area of contact, lacing our fingers together as I stepped into the pool.

“You don’t take your clothes off?”

I shook my head. “I keep stuff out here. I’ll be fine.”

He let my hand go, but only to toss his phone and headphones to the side. His shoes and socks were next, then his shorts and underwear. He stood, almost proudly in his nakedness, and gazed at me, watching for my reaction.

I didn’t shy away. I knew I would be feeling him all over. I was almost trembling, knowing he would be inside me that night. Stepping out of the pool, I traced a hand down his chest, lingering on his waistline, drawing closer to him, and then, as my eyes went to his, I wrapped my hand around him.

He gasped silently, but he didn’t do anything else. He held still, waiting to see what more I would do.

I began to rub my hand over him, softly, going up and down.

He closed his eyes, and as I kept caressing him, his head tipped back. His mouth fell open, and he groaned.

I rubbed my thumb over the end of him, hearing him hiss for a small second. His body reacted to me, making me feel powerful. He was hard already, but he only got harder and harder as I kept stroking him.

My own pleasure was pulsating through me, and before I thought about it, I knelt and took him into my mouth. His head reared forward, his eyes almost black from desire as he watched me. His hands caught the sides of my face, and then paused before he pulled my mouth away and guided me back to standing. As if I weighed nothing, he lifted me into his arms and carried me into the water.

His mouth found mine.

It wasn’t like anything I’d felt. A graze of his lips over mine. It was a tingle, spreading through me, and before I realized it, I acquired a thirst for him. I wanted more of this touch and somehow, I knew after this first kiss, I would always hunger for him.

He whispered, “Not this time. Later, trust me. Later.” His eyes held so many promises as he pulled back to look me in the eyes.

I nodded, my legs tightening around his waist.

I felt him moving, seeking me out, and if I didn’t have my pants on, he would’ve sunk into me already.

“God, Morgan.” He panted softly, sinking into the water and moving so my back was resting against one of the softer banks. “You have no idea how much I’ve thought about this.” A hand slipped under my shirt so he could pull it off. I didn’t wear a bra, and after tossing the fabric aside, he grasped one of my breasts, his hand cupping it fully. His thumb went over my nipple, almost teasing me like I had with him.

His mouth found mine again, pressing to me.

I shuddered in his arms.

His lips opened over mine, and his tongue swept in. I was kissing him back, relishing every taste of him. I was moving in his arms, grinding against him.

I wanted to be just as naked as he was.

His hand ran the length of me, a soft rub, and tingles trailed behind. He went to my waistline and paused, curling his fingers around my pants. “Is this your first?”

I shook my head. “A drunken mistake at a barn party once. It was stupid.”

His eyes softened, and his hold on my pants gentled too. He began to peel them down, trailing kisses over the length of me as he went, pausing between my breasts. He kissed both of them, his tongue licking, teasing me briefly before he continued. As my pants and underwear were pulled from my legs, his mouth explored my stomach before moving lower and pausing right over my opening.

He looked up at me. The same dark promise there as before. “This won’t be a stupid mistake. I promise.”

I nodded. I already knew. There was something about Brody that made me not regret anything. Regret seeking him out. Regret looking out for him. Regret feeling myself being pulled more and more into their world. Regret following him tonight, even his stupid mistake of going too far and for too long—I wouldn’t regret not stopping his run earlier than when I did.

I leaned down, my hands raking through his hair as I pulled him up to me. He stretched out, half on top of me, but I felt him nudging me. He went to slide inside, but he held back, waiting.

I nodded, letting my lips brush over his. “Yes.” I opened my mouth, and he was inside me. He pushed all the way in, and I gasped, feeling him fully. He held still, letting me get used to him, then his lips brushed over mine again.

“Yes,” he repeated my word, grinning against my lips.

I felt my own matching grin, but I kissed him, opening my mouth against his.