I smile but this is all too much. He feels too much. “Maybe we just need a bit of space. We’ve been spending a lot—”
Dylan’s eyes flash to me, full of pain, before he cuts me off. “Yep, I get it,” he says, his voice now void of emotion. “I’ll leave you be.” And with that, he walks away.
I sink back into my seat as Joel walks into the room. His sympathetic expression tells me he heard everything. “Dylan really cares about you.”
“I know.” I don’t blame him for leaving. I basically pushed him to leave.
“He shouldn’t have spoken to you the way he did, but Summer…he was so concerned about you. I’ve never heard him as panicked as he was when I told him what had happened.”
I stand to head home. “Joel, I appreciate—”
“No, please just hear me out,” he pleads.
I nod and sit back down, giving him my full attention.
“Dylan’s been through some family stuff. He will kill me for telling you this, but the reason he doesn’t want to pursue an NFL career is because he doesn’t want to be away from his family.”He doesn’t?What?
“But his sister’s in—”
“No, his future family. Wife, kids…”
I scrunch up my nose. “Okaay.”I don’t know what this has to do with me.
“Now, imagine he learns that his BFF…“—he pauses, a small smile on his lips, that I can’t help but return—“Imagine he discovers someone he cares about was attacked, and he’s hours away and helpless. It’s his fear coming to life.” He pauses again, letting his words sink in.
I swallow a lump in my throat, and my pulse quickens. Trying to ignore the feelings that are stirring, I pull Joel toward me and hold him tight. “Thank you, Joel. For everything tonight.” I stand to my feet and iron out my skirt with my hands.
“Don’t even think about trying to head home.”
“I’m not; I was going to see Dylan.”
“Good to hear.” He smiles, and I shove his shoulder before walking away.
I quietly open the door to Dylan’s room. The light from the hall shows me he’s asleep, or pretending to be, with his back to the door. When I step inside, the door closes behind me with a soft click, plunging the room into darkness. I pause for a second beside the bed and think about my next move. Deciding I don’t care about the consequences, I pull back the covers and slip in behind Dylan, wrapping my arms around him. “I’m sorry, Dyl,” I whisper and give him a gentle kiss on the shoulder, just like the kiss he placed on my head the last time we were here together.
Dylan doesn’t stir for a moment, so I make myself comfortable to sleep. I’ve barely closed my eyes when he rolls over and pulls me into his arms, squeezing me tight. “God, Summer, you have nothing to be sorry about.I’msorry. I was so scared. If something had happened…” He stops suddenly, but he’s said enough for me to hear the emotion in his voice. My chest tightens at the thought of someone caring about me like he does.
“I’m here, Dylan. I’m here,” I say, gripping his shoulders, trying to pull him closer, like it’s possible. Dylan does the opposite and moves away from me slightly, taking my face in his hands. My eyes have adjusted to the darkness, so I can make out his face. He’s staring down at me. His eyes are full of an emotion I’ve never seen before. No one has ever looked at me the way he’s looking at me now. My heart races as my own emotions bubble.I can’t handle these feelings.
Dylan takes a breath and speaks. “Summer, I—”
Nope. Not ready for whatever you’re about to say.I don’t let him finish; instead I grab his face in my hands, exactly like he has mine, and press my lips to his.
The kiss starts off gentle, tentative, with neither of us knowing where this is going. Sliding my hand around to the back of Dylan’s neck, I pull on the short hairs, deepening our kiss. He reacts instantly, groaning before dropping a hand to my waist and squeezing me tightly. When he pulls me closer, I wrap one leg around his body and curl into him, bringing our bodies flush. I moan at the feeling, and Dylan uses that to his advantage, his tongue brushing with mine. He tastes like a mixture of berry sports drink and peppermint, flavors that wouldn’t normally go together, but taste delicious on his tongue.
My grip on his hair tightens as the need for him increases. I wait patiently for him to make a move, but when he continues to keep his hands in the safe zone, I let mine roam instead. I run my hand down the grooves of his abs and feel him tense under my touch. He’s shirtless, and the feel of his skin under my fingertips sends my pulse into overdrive as I picture his body dripping in water and my tongue licking a free-falling drop. The memory of the only time I’ve ever seen his ripped chest is clear in my mind.What I wouldn’t give for the lights to be on, so I can properly marvel in his beauty.Removing my leg from around his hip, I push him onto his back and secure my knee right over his groin, continuing my exploration. Gliding my hand lower, I’m met with a dip that I know is the ridiculously hot V that’s been haunting my dreams, pointing me toward my destination.
Dylan grows harder beneath my leg and takes in a sharp breath, grabbing my hand before I reach the waistband of his briefs. “Summer…” he warns, but I ignore him and pull my hand from his grasp, returning to my previous position. I keep my hand still, for now, but bite Dylan’s lip, sucking it into my mouth to distract him. After another minute of making out, I slide my hand into his briefs and wrap my fingers around his length.
“Fuck!” Dylan groans and bucks into my hand. I once again hold still, giving him a chance to stop this. If he removes my hand a second time, I’m not going to force it. I’ll play nice. But he doesn’t do that. No, instead he pulls at my hair, to angle my head the way he wants me, and then punishes me with a bruising kiss. And it’s the best punishment I’ve ever had. Taking this as permission to proceed, I squeeze him tight and pump my hand causing Dylan’s hips to buck again, and a string of curse words leaves his mouth.
I bite back a laugh, loving the feeling of having him under my control until… “That’s enough!” he roars and rips my hand away.
Before I even have time to ask what’s wrong, he flips me onto my back and bites my nipple through my top and bra. “Oh God,” I moan. Now it’s my turn to curse. Dylan focuses on my breasts for a minute, massaging one while he bites the other, working me into a frenzy.
I’m writhing beneath him, desperate for something to relieve the pressure building inside me. As if hearing my prayers, Dylan rises to his knees and moves down the bed until he’s positioned between my legs. Taking his time, he pushes my skirt slowly up my thighs, placing delicate kisses along the same path. The feel of the soft material and his lips against my already sensitive skin causes a shiver to run through me. He must notice because he releases a breath that I feel between my legs.He’s so close.As my skirt moves higher, I stiffen slightly and move my hands into position, ready to stop his pursuit. He won’t be seeing me naked tonight. Not a chance.No one does.Thankfully, he stops at my waist and I inwardly sigh.
I forget my small freak-out as soon as the tips of Dylan’s fingers move across my hips to the apex of my thighs. Both of us take in a sharp breath when his fingers reach my core. He takes his time moving his finger in and out, while continuing to kiss my thighs and stomach. It feels amazing, but I can’t take it anymore. The teasing I can handle, but the intimacy is too much. Gripping under his arms, I pull him up my body. I’m expecting a fight, but he complies, without even questioning my motives.