by Holly Renee
Lucas had done nothing to defend me or shield me as my father lost his mind while I packed my bags, but I hadn't expected him to either. Beck had begged to come with me, but I knew that it was something I had to do on my own.
I had to face my father and tell him I was leaving. He reacted exactly like I expected him to, but I didn't care. There was nothing he could do to me now, not with the knowledge that I held over him. I made sure to remind him of that fact too.
I could see the edge of fear in his eyes when I told him that his relationship with Cami was to stop. I didn't care what he gave me or what power he held. I would use whatever I had against him if he continued anything with her.
He told me that he had already ended it as he handed me the deed to my mother's house. The deed that was still in my name from the beginning.
I knew then and there that there wasn't a single doubt in me that I hated my father.
And I would no longer be under his thumb.
Not as I packed my bags and carried them out to the driveway. I thought about him as I drove back to the Clermonts’ house, but I refused to let him have any power over me anymore. For far too long, I had wanted that man to be the father he was never capable of being, and I was finally letting go of that hope.
He would never be anything more than exactly who he was.
"Oh my God." Frankie stood from her seat next to me and cheered. "Olly just got a double."
Allie was cheering too, so I quickly stood and yelled along with them.
Olly looked good in his baseball pants too, but not nearly as good as Beck. But I was sure that Frankie would argue otherwise because she hadn’t been able to take her eyes off him for the whole game.
“Are you all ready for the Halloween party tomorrow?” Allie sat back down beside me as the excitement died down.
“No.” I shook my head as I thought about the costume the two of them talked me into. “Are you all sure we have to wear costumes? Haven’t we outgrown that?”
Frankie rolled and eyes and put her hands on my shoulders. “I told you, we’ve upgraded. We’re into sexy Halloween costumes now.”
"I feel like you made that up."
"I did not. Have you never seen Mean Girls? We don't want to be the girls who show up wearing something lame when everyone else is dressed slutty."
"It doesn't really matter to me, I'm already taken." I bat my eyelashes at them and grinned as Frankie groaned.
"Yes. We know. The two of you are practically attached at the hip. The only reason you're hanging out with us now is because they won't let you on the field."
I rolled my eyes because she was being ridiculous. "You're insane. I hang out with you all the time."
"Allie." Frankie leaned forward and looked at my other best friend. "Back me up here."
Allie shook her head and didn't bring her eyes away from the field. "I'm not taking either one of your sides. I'm just glad Josie is happy. But you two are missing the end of the game."
She was right. Olly had just run across the home plate, and the whole team stormed out of the dugout to celebrate.
"Ballgame." You could barely hear the umpire's voice over the sound of their cheering.
Beck made eye contact with me as soon as he started walking off the field, and I couldn't help but smile. Because Frankie was right. I could barely stand to be away from him most days.
Not that we were ever very far apart.
I had taken Mr. Clermont up on his offer and moved into the pool house. I thought it would give Beck and me a little more separation, but more nights than not, he snuck out to the house after his parents were sleeping. I was sure that they knew he did it and didn't say anything.
But I didn't care. I was far too wrapped up in him to care what anyone else thought.
Especially when he was looking at me like he was now.
He didn't look at anyone else as he made his way toward me and scooped me up in his arms. His warmth enveloped me instantly, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me from the ground.
"Already with the PDA?" I heard Olly's teasing voice, but I didn't care what he had to say. I was too busy bringing my mouth against Beck's.
He kissed me softly before peppering a few kisses along my jaw and on the way to my ear. "He has no idea what kind of PDA we're capable of," he whispered for only me to hear, and I knew he was referring to the side of the school building where we had gone a little too far before the game.
"Don't be a hater just because you can't get laid, Olly." Beck and Carson chuckled, but I noticed Frankie tense up.
"I can get laid. I just don't put it in everyone else's faces."
"Your hand doesn't count." Carson slapped him on the shoulder before hiking his baseball bag up on his back. "Are we heading to get some food or what? I'm starving."
"You're always starving." Allie rolled her eyes. She was perpetually annoyed by him, and I knew that he was the same with her. If they weren’t getting under each other's skin, they were ignoring each other altogether.
"I am." He waggled his eyebrows at her playfully but his eyes were full of steam, and I swear I would have been squirming if I were her. They may have acted like they hated each other, but they wanted each other more.
"You're a pig."
Carson didn't deny that fact. He just grinned harder because he knew he was getting to her.
"Let's go get pizza." Frankie linked her arm in Allie's and started pulling her toward the parking lot. "We'll meet you all there."
"Sounds good." Beck wrapped his arms tighter around my middle. "We'll see you all in a few."
He kissed my jaw again before letting go of me and grabbing my hand. He led us to his car and moved some hair off my shoulder before he opened my door.
"You're being very chivalrous today, Mr. Clermont." I climbed into the seat, and he leaned in against the door.
"I have to keep up good appearances because what I'm about to do to you in this car is not gentlemanly at all."
"We are supposed to be meeting everyone for pizza." I giggled because the look in his eyes promised so many things, and none of it was pizza.
"We'll get there eventually." He closed my door, then walked to the driver's side of the car while unbuttoning his jersey.
Watching him was like an aphrodisiac. I had no idea how he could make something so simple so damn hot.
He climbed into the car wearing his baseball pants and a white t-shirt, and he didn't say another word as he started the car and drove. He just reached for my hand and laced his fingers with mine before resting them on my thigh.
I had no idea where we were going until we passed the pizza place on the left and pulled down to a public beach access. He parked the car before leaning his head back against the headrest and looking over at me.
"This isn't pizza."
"Nope." He exaggerated the word with a devilish smile on his face. "It definitely isn't."
"We'll be alone at home tonight."
"I can't wait until then." He leaned across the middle console and gripped me by the back of my neck. He pulled me closer to him and I didn't put up any sort of fight. I let him pull me exactly where he wanted me, and I was instantly met with his sinful and insatiable mouth. He kissed me like he hadn't seen me in months, and I let the feeling of his want wash over me.
This was the way Beck always kissed me. Like he was scared he could lose me at any moment.
He buried his hands in my hair and tilted my head back to give him better access. His mouth moved over me, kissing my mouth, my jaw, my neck, and I was a squirming mess under his tongue.
"Beck," I whispered his name even though no one else could hear us.
It was all he needed, though. That one simple word, breathless, on my lips. He pulled me forward until I moved over the console and into his lap. He quickly scooted his seat back so I could fit comfortably between him and the steering wheel.
"You drive me crazy." He was talking to me, but he was staring at my body. He pulled my top
down just enough so he could taste me, and I settled down against him.
I ground down against him as I looked out the window and noticed other people milling about on the beach. "Beck, we can't have sex here. There are people everywhere."
"We're not." His words were muffled against my chest. "I just have to touch you before I go insane."
I ran my fingers through his hair as I laughed. "You've been touching me all day."
He ran his tongue over my nipple as he gently pinched the other in his fingers, and I forgot my argument altogether. I moved my hips harder against him and held onto his head for leverage.
"It's not enough." He looked up at me and kissed me again as his hands worked their way down my body. He quickly unbuttoned my shorts before sliding his hand inside, and I held my breath as his fingers felt how wet I already was.
He moved his fingers against my clit, and I rode his hand like I didn't care who saw me. I was far too concentrated on the way he was making me feel to be concerned with anyone else.
I moved my hands down his body and fumbled as I undid his belt. Those baseball pants that made his ass look so good were easy to undo, and I pulled his cock out into my hand.
His growled as I worked him in my hand. There was no room between us. Our bodies and hands were cramped in the small space we had, but neither of us cared. We were a rush of movement and chase, and I felt like I would lose my mind if he stopped.
"I love you," he whispered against my neck as his breathing rushed in and out against my skin, and his words made my chest ache.
"I love you too." And God, I did. I love him more than I ever thought was possible, and it went far beyond this. Beck loved me without judgment or fear, and I was doing my best to love him back just as fiercely.
I had no idea what my future held, but I was sure about him.
"Beck." I could feel my body falling over the edge, and Beck knew it. I pumped my hand harder up and down the length of him as his fingers pumped inside me. He pushed the palm of his hand against my clit, and I was gone.
I kept working him as I rode out my orgasm and he followed right behind me. I leaned against his chest, not caring about the mess between us or that our hands were still resting against each other.
I nuzzled into his neck and wrapped my opposite hand around the back of his head to pull him closer.
"Are you ready for pizza now?"
He chuckled at my question and pulled my face up to look at his. "I'm ready for anything as long as I'm with you."
What’s Next?
If you loved Josie and Beck, then you’ll love the rest of the Boys of Clermont Bay.
The Taste of an Enemy is coming on September 2nd, 2021.
Preorder Carson’s story now!
THANK YOU
Thank you so much for reading Josie and Beck’s story!
Don’t worry! There will be more from the gang at Clermont Bay. I will have an announcement coming soon!
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About the Author
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Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of contemporary romance, Holly Renee brings readers a pinch of angst, an indulgence of heat, and the perfect amount of heart in every book.
Born and raised in East Tennessee, she is a married mom of two wild children. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, pretending to be a dragon for the hundredth time that day, being disgustingly in love with her husband, or chilling in the middle of the lake with her sunglasses and a float.
Holly is a lover of all things romance, Mexican food, Harry Potter, and yoga pants.
Acknowledgments
Thank you for taking a chance on reading this book!
I owe so many thanks to every blogger, bookstagrammer, and reader who shares, reads, reviews, and loves my books. I will never be able to express my gratitude.
I have so many people to thank for having my back and being a part of the best team ever.
I would like to think my wonderful family for always being so supportive and encouraging my dreams.
A big thanks to my beta team, Megan, Katie, Rita, Aundi, Heather, Elizabeth, and Christina.
Thank you to Christina Santos!
Thank you to Ellie and Rumi for helping make this book what it is!
To my author friends who keep me sane and pushing forward every day. I love you all.
And to the best street team ever, thank you for everything you all do! I am so thankful for you all!
