by Casey Hagen
“Easy for you to say, you don’t know what it’s like to be under a microscope and judged for your father’s transgressions.”
Actually, he did. Only he couldn’t tell her.
They turned into the campground just minutes later. A few kids rode by on bikes, couples walked hand in hand, other couples, probably the parents, looked drained as they tidied up their camps.
They wound through until they found their lots, thirty-eight and thirty-nine. They were the last ones to arrive, but that worked for him. Her friends were in various states of setting up, and his gear wouldn’t take more than fifteen minutes since the bed was already made in the back. He just had to remove the cover from the truck bed and attach the tent made to fit over the sidewalls, and he was pretty much good to go.
He pulled up, the grill of his truck aimed at the trees, giving them a great view of the water with the only thing in between being the firepit. Kind of like that experience she’d longed for.
“What would you rather do first, pick out a place for the tent or meet everyone?” she asked.
He turned on the seat and stretched his arm across the back, his fingers reaching for the curl at the end of her ponytail. “We’re sleeping in the back of the truck.”
She turned and glanced through the window. “But what if it rains?”
“We won’t be completely open. My tent is built to fit over the back. I’ve got a twelve-inch queen-sized memory foam mattress back there complete with sheets, a comforter, a couple extra blankets and six pillows. We have panels that open on the top so we can see the moon and the stars without getting eaten alive, and,” he hooked his thumb toward the view beyond the truck bed, “look at that view.”
“Did I tell you about this that first night at Big Shift?”
“About what?”
“About my fantasy?” she said glancing toward the water.
“Nope, but I’m all ears if you want to share with me now.”
“Nope, it’s private.”
Whatever it was, it had to be good, but she had a point. It was private, and they had people to meet.
And he had a boner to keep in check.
“You said you missed out on moments like this. I wanted to give you a new memory. Come on, let’s go meet this crew of yours.”
15
“You two look cozy,” Cassidy said as she leaned toward Mabel Lee under the guise of giving her a drink.
“You could say that,” Mabel Lee said, thinking about the way she practically mauled him in her entryway.
They’d been at the site for the afternoon, and as time went on, Kellen settled in with the guys to the point where they sounded almost as chummy as she did with her girls.
“Girl, he keeps looking at you like you’re a damned buffet and he hasn’t seen food in a month. Have you done it yet?” Cassidy asked, giving the guys a little wave.
“No,” she said the word sounding all sullen and disgruntled.
“What on earth are you waiting for? He’s not going to hit it and quit it. Not that one. He looks like he’s planning a more permanent arrangement,” Aurora said.
“We’ve been dating for all of five minutes compared to you and Jeff. How can you know?”
Aurora shrugged. “It’s the looks he gives you when he’s not all hot and bothered. Like he’s making sure you’re content. It’s that caretaking thing. I see it in Jeff all the time.”
“I jumped him in my doorway. He put a stop to it, but apparently, without even realizing, my hand wandered to his package.”
“Why did he stop you?” Layla asked.
“He said it was too important. That our first time should be special,” she said, as the feelings stirred up inside, twisting and churning, memories of touching him in a constant loop.
“He respects you. Damn girl, you found a good one,” Heather said.
“We already had our first argument.”
They all leaned in. “What happened?” Cassidy whispered.
“I ran into him at Lulu’s with my mama. I didn’t handle it well.”
“Shit, your mama knows? I didn’t see her obituary,” Aurora said with a snort.
“Very funny. She doesn’t know. I pretended I had just met him, and she lectured me on talking to strange men. Now I’m in a pickle when I introduce them…next week.”
“Nope,” Cassidy said with a firm shake of her head. “I think you’re going to be just fine. You’re ready for this Mabel Lee. You’re breaking free and look how awesome it is.”
“Yeah, you just need to make your mama see that you’ll always love her and you’ll always be there. That he’s not taking you from her, but she’s gaining another person to love and care about her,” Heather added.
“It’s that simple, huh?”
“It really is. She’s going to get over it. Have a little faith in her. After all, you’re all she has when you think about it. You can’t count those stuffy assholes at the church. They keep her close just so they can deliver a right hook every now and then with their derision,” Cassidy said.
“So, wait. If y’all had a fight, how did you make up?” Layla asked.
“I went to Big Shift hoping to find him. I watched some incredible female dancers. I didn’t realize how amazing they were. It was couple’s night. He sat down with me, and we talked. Next thing I knew, Catalina was talking to me—she’s one of the dancers—I gave her a ten. Anyway, she set me up to do a body shot off Kellen, and here we are.”
“‘Here we are,’ she says like it’s the most normal story on the planet. And from Mabel Lee no less,” Heather said with a snort.
“Hey, I think I did great,” she said.
“Why didn’t you call us?” Cassidy asked.
“Because I have to stop relying on you all the time. You guys have lives. I need a life. And I needed to handle my screwup on my own. It felt good.”
“What are you guys over here conspiring about,” Jeff asked before leaning down and giving Aurora a sound kiss.
“We’re talking about Mabel Lee doing her first body shot the other night off your boy here, Kellen,” Aurora said.
“Nice, man,” Hunter said, raising his fist to Kellen.
Kellen shoved his hands in his pockets after bumping Hunter’s fist and shuffled his feet in the pine needles. “Yeah, nothing like nudging the glass with my swelling bone.”
Cassidy shot up straight in her folding chair. “Oh. My. God. Mabel Lee…where was that glass?”
“It was in that little pocket—”
“Hold up,” Jeff said, putting his palm in the air. “I’m going to have to insist on a different word. No guy wants any woman to talk about his boom boom factory and in the same sentence use words like little. Cute is also out. Now go.”
“Did you really just say boom boom factory? Because I have to tell you, that might be worse than little. It was between thigh and nut,” Kellen offered.
“Yes! That was the spot. And I went on in there with Catalina guiding me and bam! The shot slid right down.”
“Yes, and I stood under a cold shower for an hour after I got home that night.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, getting a kick out of the fact that she had that much of an effect on him.
“Don’t be…for you, Juliet, I’d gladly fall on that sword,” he said, reaching for her hand.
He gave her a tug and pulled her right out of her seat. Caressing her face, he tilted her head back and kissed her chin. “You look overheated. Did you bring your bathing suit?”
“It’s in my bag.”
“How do you feel about taking a swim?”
“Sure. How about you guys?” she asked, turning to their group.
“We’ve all got our suits on and are ready to go when you are,” Layla said.
Mabel Lee started backing toward the truck. “Why don’t you all head down, and I’ll go change in the bathroom and meet you down there.”
“We can wait,” Cassidy said.
“No, please, go ahead. I’ll b
e just a minute.”
She ran up to the bathrooms, grateful she’d brought her flip-flops so her feet didn’t have to touch the floor, and shed her clothes. She knew her friends would be in bikinis, but she’d never been comfortable like that. So she stuck with one pieces, particularly one she took a risk on after finding it deeply discounted at the end of the swimming season last year.
The mid-section tapered her in just a tad more, giving her more of an hourglass. The high cut actually showed off more of her bottom than she had wanted, but she’d paced the dressing room, and it had stayed in place. That had been the deal: if it didn’t try to climb in, she’d take it home.
The bodice dipped a bit low, showing off a hint of side boob.
Basically, it was the suit she’d always wished she dared to wear, modest in some ways, risqué in others, and with her newfound freedom and Kellen’s complete adoration, she had the confidence to wear it.
For swimming that was. She pulled the cover-up out of her bag and slid it over the suit until she got to the water.
Making her way back to their site, she tossed her bag in the truck and headed for the lake. They’d all gotten in, the guys tossing a football between them, catching it with dramatic dives, splashing her friends in the process.
She walked out to the end of the dock, shed her cover-up, and caught Cassidy shrieking her name just as she hopped cannonball style into the lake, holding her nose.
Cold water swallowed her, normally a shock she enjoyed, but not on the heels of panic that Cassidy’s scream induced. She kicked hard, propelling herself above the surface, sputtering water.
“What’s wrong?” she reached for the ladder and hoisted herself up a couple rungs as she blinked away water from her eyes.
“Your bathing suit. It’s white,” Aurora said.
“So?”
“So, when white gets wet, it’s see-through,” Cassidy added.
“Not this. It’s lined.”
They swam in a cluster over to her. “I’ve yet to meet a white bathing suit, even lined, that managed to hide the goods. And I see your butt crack,” Cassidy said from behind her.
“What?!?” she craned her neck to double-check, and the guys starting coughing and clearing their throats.
Jeff, Dave, Hunter, and Kyle all looked in her direction, but not directly at her which meant they saw it, too.
Kellen’s jaw hardened. “You just keep your eyes that way,” he said, pointing at the guys.
He swam over and climbed the ladder up behind her, blocking her from their view. “Grab your cover-up.”
“Is it bad?”
“Nothing on you is bad, and that’s the problem. I don’t want everyone here to see it, so you better get that on fast.” He held his arms around her, shielding her from anyone who might look while she grabbed for her cover-up.
Sliding the fabric over her head, she waited until it brushed her thighs before giving in to total mortification and curled into his chest. Her skin burned, and she felt the telltale signs of embarrassment creeping up. “I can’t believe I just showed you guys everything; that means you saw my—and my…”
“Relax,” he said, rubbing her arms up and down. “It was quick. They’ll never remember what they saw.”
“And you won’t either, right?”
A laugh rumbled from his chest. “I, on the other hand, will be seeing that in my mind every time I close my eyes for the next fifty or so years.”
It took five hours, two hot dogs, potato salad, two beers, and two chocolate packed s’mores later before she could carry on a conversation without choking on embarrassment.
Kellen tracked her every move, something she was sure he did out of worry, but his rapt attention was short-circuiting her entire system, leaving her in a constant state of want that one more s’more wouldn’t help.
A beer it was. She grabbed a bottle from the cooler and popped the top. When she moved past Kellen to her seat next to him, he snagged her wrist and tugged her into his lap.
“How are you feeling after the first two?” he asked, while his hands roamed over her hips until his fingertip brushed skin just above her shorts.
No telling her he didn’t think she should have another. No admonishment. Just a gentle reminder to check herself and make sure she was okay.
Lust threatened to leave her breathless as he drew lazy circles over her skin. “Buzzed enough to not melt into a puddle of humiliation, but not drunk,” she managed to choke out.
“Okay, good,” he said, his heated gaze landing on her lips. He blinked a couple times and met her eyes giving her a reassuring smile.
She tried to get up, but his arms circled her and held her fast. “Stay.”
She settled in and against his chest and smiled down at him. “I guess it’s not that bad. After all, you see naked women at work.”
“Yeah, but the shock value of naked wears off. But seeing my stunningly beautiful Juliet, with her modesty and manners, giving tantalizing peeks at her deepest secrets,” he sucked in a rough breath and shook his head. “That’s a whole new level of singular focus, and damned if I didn’t have to fight dropping to my knees and just watching you.”
She leaned back and looked into his eyes. “And how much have you had tonight?”
“Same as you so don’t try to blame it on the alcohol. You really don’t realize how important you are to me, do you?”
The fire crackled in the background, the scent of woodsmoke heavy in the air as the party wound down and people quieted, their muted conversations indistinct with the snaps of logs in the inky dark night.
His face grew so serious. Her heart hammered in her chest and her skin grew hot. “I know you like me. That you think I’m pretty—”
“I love you, Mabel Lee,” he said quietly.
A wave of dizziness flooded her and she wished he could slow time down and savor the once in a lifetime moment. “But it’s only been a couple weeks.”
“So?”
“You haven’t even met my mama. I haven’t met Rosie.”
“So?”
“But, but—”
His hand curled around her neck, and he drew her in until her lips hovered just above his. “I’m in love with you. I’m not confused. I don’t care how short a time it’s been. It just is.”
The words took on a fresh intensity as they flitted over her mouth on his warm breath. He didn’t give her a chance to say it back and instead sucked her into a languid kiss that had the fine hairs over her skin standing on end and her heart pinching in her chest as everything he said came to life with each slide of his lips and teasing glide of his tongue.
Everything around them disappeared, leaving just the two of them, with the feelings tangling between them calling the shots.
She searched his eyes the minute the kiss broke, and what she saw staring her back in the face set her on fire.
The sound of zippers caught her attention. She found Cassidy and Dave a ways off disappearing inside their tent. Layla, Hunter, Heather, and Kyle were nowhere to be seen.
Aurora stood and winked. “Good night.” Hand in hand, she slipped into the darkness with Jeff in the direction of their camp site.
Kellen took her full beer and gulped a third of it down. Tipping the bottle in her direction, he offered it back to her.
“I thought I wanted it, but now, not so much.”
“So, what do you want, Mabel Lee?” he asked. He kissed his way along her jaw, stopping just short of her ear.
She sifted her finger through the short hair at the nape of his neck. “I want to go to bed.”
“Tired?” he mumbled against her cheek.
“No.”
He froze next to her, his muscles flexed and locked beneath her. Pulling back, he held her stare. “You’re sure.”
She didn’t have polished responses or experience in flirting. She knew one way to convey what she wanted. No games. No subterfuge. Just pure honesty. “Positive…take me to bed, Kellen.”
He stood with
her still in his arms and let her slide down the front of him until her feet met the pine needles crunching under her flip-flops.
Lacings his fingers with hers, like every time he ever walked with her from the moment they first met, he led them to their cozy bed in the back of his pickup.
She lifted her knee and pulled herself up, with his hands on either side of her hips keeping her steady.
Making sure she didn’t fall.
God, he was good at that. He stood between her and certain humiliation the night they met, then again on their reverse date when the alcohol went straight to her head, even when she’d been horrible to him in front of her mama.
He helped her shine.
With that realization settling in her heart, and his singular focus on her needs, she let the last of her fears fly away.
He was fulfilling a dream of hers, making love under the stars, with a fire crackling nearby.
She didn’t wait. She didn’t need him to peel her clothes away one article at a time. All she needed, all she wanted now was to be skin to skin, racing heart to racing heart, and whole.
With him.
Shedding his t-shirt, he watched her as her fingers unlaced the string along the neckline of her shirt. The flaps fell open, revealing the curve of her breast.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he watched her. Almost as if he’d never seen this before and it was just as new for him. Fingers drifted to his button and zipper, but his attention stayed locked on her as she peeled the fabric over her head.
His pants open, hanging low in his hips, he leaned back against the pillows and settled in, his avid gaze never wavering.
She thought she’d be shy, but not with him. Never with him. Dragging the straps of her bra down her arms, she let it fall from her fingertips and knelt before him.
Bare. Open.
His fingers hovered over her skin as though he were afraid to touch her, so she reached for him, for his hand, and laid it over her breast.
Rough pads of his fingers sent tremors through her as he grazed over her skin. This was her first time. Her real first time. With someone who loved her, who wanted to give her pleasure, who took the time to study the cues so he knew how to satisfy her.
