Tell the Stars to Shine (Summer Lake Seasons Book 6)

by SJ McCoy

  She smiled. “After telling my family that we’re engaged, I can hardly complain when yours makes it obvious that he’s clearing out so we can be alone together.”

  He smiled and went to her. “You won’t hear me complaining.”

  Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. “Or me.”

  He slid his arms around her waist and drew her against him. “So, we have the place to ourselves for the rest of the weekend. What do you want to do?”

  She pressed herself against him, and for a moment he thought she was about to suggest that they take it upstairs. He should have known better. She might want to, but she wasn’t the kind of girl who’d say so.

  She smiled. “I brought my swimsuit.”

  He nodded. It was hot, and he wouldn’t mind a swim himself. He looked down at Roscoe who was watching them and panting. He’d no doubt have fun in the pool, too. And besides, he’d love to see Amber in a swimsuit—especially if he got to take it off her later.

  “Do you want to get changed, then? I’ll fix us some drinks and see you out there.”

  “Okay. I’ll just get my bag.”

  He’d forgotten that her bag was still in the SUV. He went with her to get it and took it upstairs for her. She carried on toward the spare room she’d slept in last night, but he stopped at his bedroom door and raised an eyebrow at her.

  Her tongue darted out and ran over her bottom lip again, making him want to take her into the bedroom and forget about swimming.

  There was hesitation in her eyes when she met his gaze.

  “It’s okay if you don’t want to.”

  She shook her head rapidly and came back to him. “I do want to.”

  He set her bag down on the bed and closed his arms around her. “You have to take the lead, Amber.”

  She leaned back to look up into his eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, you already know what I want. I’m going to leave the rest up to you. I already know you well enough to know that you like to make people happy—you’re a pleaser. I don’t want you doing anything just to please me.”

  She reached up and landed a peck on his lips. “You told me that I’m sweet-natured, but I hope you know that you are, too?”

  He shrugged. “I just … I don’t want …” He didn’t know how to explain to her that he hated feeling that she’d been with someone who took advantage of her. He didn’t expect anything of her.

  “I know. And I love that about you.”

  His heart pounded in his chest. For one crazy moment, he’d thought she was about to say that she loved him. The craziest thing about it was that he wanted to say it back.

  He let go of her and stepped away. He needed to put a lid on that! Here he was saying that he didn’t want to pressure her into anything. How much pressure would she feel if he told her that he loved her? And where had that even come from? The L word had nothing to do with it … yet.

  “I’ll go and fix those drinks.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Amber felt self-conscious when she came downstairs. She also wanted to strangle her sister. She’d put her one-piece suit into her overnight bag—the safe one, the one that covered everything and was better suited to swimming laps than lounging by the pool. Jade must have made a switch on her. The bikini she was wearing left nothing to the imagination. Amber had never even seen it before. She’d had to smile when she looked herself over in the mirror. There was no denying that it made the most of her figure.

  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before she slid open the patio door and went out onto the deck.

  Austin was sitting on one of the loungers. Her heart beat faster at the sight of him. She was glad that she’d already seen his bare chest this morning. It had taken her breath away then. Now it did so again. He was lean and muscular. He was wearing swim shorts, but her body reacted to him as if he were wearing just underwear—ready for her.

  He looked and smiled when he saw her. She stood still as he let his gaze travel over her. Her body reacted as if it were a caress. Shivers ran down her spine and goosebumps covered her arms. She wanted to hug herself to cover her nipples which tightened, and to her embarrassment, pointed straight at him.

  She forced herself to smile back at him.

  He shifted on the lounger and gestured for her to join him on the other one.

  She sat down and hugged her knees to her chest, hoping to cover up the most obvious signs of her attraction to him.

  He held her gaze for a moment. “Wow!”

  She chuckled. “Thank you, and ditto.”

  He smiled and leaned forward. “I want to act all cool and confident here, but that’s not who I am, and you know it. He folded his arms and rested them on his knees. I think I’m better off admitting the effect you have on me than trying to hide it.”

  She gave him a puzzled look, and he chuckled and looked down at his lap. “I’m very pleased to see you.”

  She glanced at his shorts and understood immediately. “Oh!” her heart raced to think that she could have that effect on him. She laughed. “Well, just so you know.” She let go of her knees and leaned forward so he could see her chest. Then dropped her gaze toward the two embarrassing peaks sticking through the thin fabric of her bikini top. “I’m pleased to see you, too.”

  She drew in a sharp breath as he looked, and his eyes darkened. The green and gold shimmer turned a deep shade of green as he looked at her breasts.

  When he dragged his gaze away, he looked up into her eyes. “It’s mutual, then?”

  She nodded eagerly. “Very.”

  “I wouldn’t want you to go along with anything just to please me.”

  She felt her cheeks color, but she had to say it. She needed him to know what she wanted—that she wanted him. “I’m looking forward to pleasing you.”

  “Damn!” he breathed. His expression looked almost pained. For a moment she thought she’d done wrong, but he smiled and patted the space between his legs. “Perhaps you’d better come sit here, then. Because I’m not sure I can wait to please you.”

  She had to swallow as she sat between his legs and leaned back against him. One arm slid around her waist and the other brushed her hair away from her neck. His warm soft lips brushed over her skin and she couldn’t help but let out a low moan.

  “Oh, God, Austin, that feels so good.”

  “I want to make you feel good.”

  She wriggled her backside against him. She could feel how hot and hard he was as he pressed against her. “We could swim later,” she suggested.

  “I think we should.”

  She bit down on her bottom lip as his fingers found their way inside the bikini top and circled her nipple. She closed her eyes to enjoy the sensation, then opened them again in a hurry when his other hand slid inside the bikini bottoms. She moaned as he traced her entrance.

  “I want you, Austin.”

  He nibbled her neck and made her shudder. “I want you, Amber.”

  She turned to look into his eyes. “Do you want to take it inside?”

  Her tummy flipped over when he smiled and shook his head. “I’d rather take you right here.”

  ~ ~ ~

  The surprise in her eyes when he said that, made him even harder for her. She wanted him. Everything about her confirmed it, but she was shocked that he would want to do it here. He brushed his lips over hers and then looked down into her eyes.

  She nodded. Her breath was coming slow and shallow, and he couldn’t help but watch her breasts rise and fall. He unhooked the bikini and sucked in a sharp breath when it fell to her lap. He filled his hands with her plump breasts, and closed his eyes as she wriggled against him, her ass tormenting his cock as she pressed back on him.

  He wanted to take his time and get to know her body. He teased her stiff nipples between his fingers and thumbs and then dipped his hand back between her legs. She was hot and wet as he stroked her. She squirmed against him again, and he couldn’t take any more. Sitting behind her like this wasn’
t going to allow him to do all that he wanted to. He shifted so that he was sitting beside her and claimed her mouth. He kissed her more deeply than he’d allowed himself to until now. Her hands came up around his shoulders, and she clung to him as he lay her down. He got rid of his shorts and her bikini bottoms and then sat back to drink in the sight of her. She was beautiful.

  She held her arms up to him. How was he supposed to say no to that? He lowered himself to lie beside her, but she made a needy little moan and pulled him closer, working her way underneath him. He positioned himself above her and looked down into her eyes. The way she smiled at him filled his chest with warmth.

  “I feel like you want to do all kinds of things to me, and I have no doubt that they would feel so good.” She stopped and he could see her swallow before she continued. “I hope that we’ll get to them later, but right now, Austin …” She swallowed again. “Right now, I want you to … I need …” Her fingers closed around him and her eyelids drooped. “I want to feel you inside me.”

  How was he supposed to say no to that? Why would he want to?

  He nodded and spread her legs with his knees. He closed his eyes when he pressed into her wetness. He wanted to take his time, make her feel good. She surprised him when she lifted her hips. They both gasped as he dipped inside her.

  Her arms tightened around his shoulders. He clenched his jaw as she nibbled his collar bone and breathed, “Please, Austin.”

  He thrust hard. He had no choice.

  She let out a little yelp that only spurred him on. She felt so damned good. So wet and so tight. Her body moved with him as he lost himself inside her. He caught her mouth in a kiss. His tongue mirrored the movements of his cock, thrusting deep inside her, plundering her as she gave herself up to him. She brought out something in him—a need to become a part of her, to fill her with pleasure, as he took his own pleasure in her. She was taking him to the edge, and there was nothing he could do but make sure he took her with him.

  She tightened around him with every thrust of his hips. She clenched him tighter and tighter as her gasps became moans. All the pressure that had been building inside him spilled over when she gasped his name. “Austin! Oh, God! Austin. Yes!”

  Her body trembled under him and pulsated around him as he let himself go. Waves of pleasure rushed through him, flowing into her as she clung to him. Their bodies frantically melded into one, until they finally lay still.

  He rested his head on her shoulder and tangled his fingers in her hair. If he’d thought he was in love with her before, he knew he was lost now. He turned and kissed her cheek.

  “Damn, Amber!”

  Her body quivered when she chuckled. “If what we just did means I’m damned, then I hope I’m damned for all eternity.”

  His heart felt like it might have exploded in his chest when she said that. He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face, but then he got a grip. She didn’t mean it like that. Just because he’d gotten carried away and somehow fallen for her, it didn’t mean that she felt the same way—not yet. All eternity was just an expression.

  She gave him a puzzled look. “Are you okay?”

  He nodded and brushed the hair away from her forehead. “More than okay. I was just contemplating the possibility of all eternity with you.”

  Her eyes widened. For a moment he’d swear that she felt it, too, but then she smiled. “That’d be a lot of sex.”

  He frowned. He wasn’t just talking about sex. She was though, and he could hardly blame her. As far as she knew, they were just joking around.

  Chapter Sixteen

  When Amber woke on Sunday morning, it took her a moment to figure out where she was. It came back to her when she started to move, and Austin’s arm tightened around her middle. She smiled and relaxed back against him, then shivered when his warm lips kissed the back of her neck. Her body woke up in a hurry. Memories of yesterday and last night flooded her with heat.

  “G’morning,” he breathed.

  “Good morning.”

  She turned over to face him. He was so gorgeous. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was to be here in his bed.

  He smiled and dropped a kiss on her lips. “I’ve been thinking.”

  “What about?” The way he smiled made her guess that it was about something they could do together—here in bed. He’d already proven to her that he had some good ideas about that. Well, to be fair, not necessarily in bed. So far, they’d also made the most of the sun lounger, the sofa and … the kitchen table.

  He dropped a kiss on her lips and held her closer to him. She loved the way his hard chest felt against her breasts—and the way his hard cock felt against her stomach. “I’ve been thinking that Jade may have been right when she said you should stay here for the week.”

  Amber’s smile faded as she remembered why Jade had suggested that. It was to help them convince her parents—help them pull off the lie that they were engaged.

  Austin’s smile disappeared. “Unless, of course, you don’t want to.”

  “No!” She wrapped her arms around him and held him closer. “You must know that I want to—that I’d love to, but …” She hesitated. She wanted to tell him, but … No. She couldn’t hide it. She was just going to tell him. She met his gaze. “When you mentioned Jade, it reminded me that this is only for my parents’ sake. To make them believe the lie that we’re engaged. It’s just for a minute there … God, I hope this doesn’t freak you out, but I have to be honest with you. I wished … I wished it was for real.”

  His expression softened and he dropped a kiss on her lips. “I do, too. I want it to be for real, Amber.”

  Her heart raced in her chest.

  “So, why don’t we make it real? Stay here with me—because you want to, because I want you to.”

  She nodded slowly. “Do you really?”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more in my life.”

  She wanted to melt into him when he claimed her mouth in one of those kisses. She got lost in it, got lost in him. He was so gentle and yet so strong. She stroked his shoulders and rubbed her hips against him, hoping that they might start today the same way they’d ended yesterday.

  All of a sudden, the bed started to move. She couldn’t understand what he was doing, it was as if he was making love to her, but he was lying still. He broke the kiss and turned to look over his shoulder.

  “Roscoe! Get off me, you old perv!”

  The bed stilled and Roscoe stepped over Austin and lay down in between them. He licked Austin’s face and then turned to lick Amber’s. She laughed and pushed him away. Unfortunately, once he got up, he mounted her leg and started humping her through the covers.

  “Roscoe!” Austin swatted his ass. “Stop it! I’ll put you out and close the door.”

  Roscoe panted at him and then half-heartedly humped her leg again before jumping down from the bed.

  Austin gave her a rueful smile. “Sorry about that.”

  She laughed. “It’s okay. I’m flattered that he likes me. Lenny says he’s not always friendly with people.”

  Austin laughed. “Lenny’s being kind. Most people think he’s a menace. That’s why I don’t bring him into town with me much.”

  “Aww.” Amber turned to look at him. “He’s a big softie.”

  “He is, but he’s also a bit too protective of me.”

  “Oh. I didn’t think about that. I’m lucky he likes me then.”

  The way Austin smiled at her melted her heart. “He’s a smart dog. I think he knows that I don’t need protecting from you. What I need is all the help I can get to encourage you to stick around.”

  “Aww.” She planted a kiss on his lips. “I’ve already told you. I want to stay the week.”

  He nodded. “And what about after—”

  Roscoe cut him off when he let out a loud bark and ran out of the room. Amber could hear him racing down the stairs barking all the way. She looked at Austin, but he was already out of bed, pulling h
is sweatpants on.

  “I’d better go see what it is.”

  Amber watched him go and then lay back on the pillows. Had he really been about to ask her if she wanted to stay here even after next weekend—after her parents had been and gone? She smiled to herself. She’d love to! But perhaps that wasn’t what he’d meant at all? Perhaps she was just getting carried away.

  He was so wonderful, and she was so caught up in him, it’d be easy to get carried away, to start believing that this was for real. She gave herself a shake and got out of bed. It was bad enough that she’d roped the poor guy into being her pretend fiancé; she didn’t need to go putting him under pressure by letting him know that she wished it wasn’t just pretend.

  ~ ~ ~

  Austin dived into the pool and swam the length of it before he surfaced. The water felt good. He needed something to cool him off—both physically and emotionally. He’d been about to ask Amber why she didn’t just stay with him—even after her parents’ visit. Perhaps he’d been right about how smart Roscoe was in protecting him. The damn dog had run off barking, just like he did whenever anyone came to the house, but when Austin had followed, there hadn’t been anyone there. He’d just saved Austin from making a fool of himself.

  Would he want her to stay here with him? He knew the answer as he made the turn and dived back under the water. Yes. He did want her to. He already knew it, but he also knew it was too soon to ask her. He should wait. He should see what she even wanted to do after her parents had been and gone.

  When he reached the other end of the pool, he hauled himself up onto the side and sat there enjoying the warmth of the sun beating down on his shoulders.

  “You swim like a professional.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her in that bikini. That was part of the reason that he’d made himself dive in in the first place. All he wanted to do was undress her and make love to her again.

  He smiled. “I used to compete as a kid.”

  She nodded. “I should have guessed.”

  She came and sat down beside him and dangled her legs in the water. He slung his arm around her shoulders.