The hand over her stomach moved upward, splaying across her rib cage and resting against the underside of one breast.
How was this real? What were the chances she and James would end up at the same Comic Con? Not only that, but that they’d end up nearly having sex in a storage closet?
“Tori?”
“What do you want me to say?” The words ripped from her. “I can deny it if you want—”
“Why would I ever want that? Look at me.”
He lifted her and turned her so she faced him. Her palms came to rest on his chest as her knees settled on the hot tub seat on either side of his legs.
With a firm touch, he tilted her chin so their gazes connected.
His brown eyes held a mix of shock, desire, and solemnness.
“I’ve been trying to find you on social media ever since last weekend. You’re a ghost.”
He’d looked for her? Something inside her went mushy at that realization.
“I keep that part of my life on the down low.” She hesitated, and then swallowed hard. “Are you disappointed it’s me?”
He exhaled loudly and shook his head. “I’m so fucking relieved. When we were together last weekend, when you were going down on me, I let myself pretend it was you.”
He’d been thinking about her in that moment? At the insanely hot moment where she could’ve been anyone? He’d been thinking abouther.
Heat spread from her belly upward, flushing her chest and face. Her heart fluttered in her chest.
“Likewise.”
He stilled. “What do you mean?”
“When I was orgasming in that closet, I pretended it was you—James, not whoever Aidan was—getting me off. And that we were back in the tent on the beach.”
Dismay, and then pure masculine triumph, flashed across his face.
“God, that’s amazing to hear.” He slid his hands down her waist and cupped her ass, tugging her flush against him. “I’ve been wanting Nadia since Idaho. And I’ve been wanting Tori from the moment I met her. Tonight, I get to have you both.”
Her heart went into triple time at that last low, confident comment.
“Awfully audacious of you, don’t you think?”
“Is it?” He flexed his hips, and the hardness of his erection brushed the apex of her thighs.
Need exploded in a slick ache at her center, and her breasts rose with each uneven breath she drew in.
The shock in his eyes had dissipated. Now they burned bright with desire and anticipation.
What was the point of lying? Of playing games?
Instead of answering him, she cupped the back of his head and drew his mouth down to hers.
A low growl rumbled in his chest as his tongue stroked deep to find hers, while his hands squeezed her ass, which the bikini bottoms barely covered.
Each little nibble and flick of his tongue fanned the flames of her need.
There was a comfort and familiarity with him now. With her eyes closed, she could almost imagine them kissing back at Comic Con with their masks rolled up.
How had she not even suspected it was him that day?