It’s hard not to beg him to rip my clothes off and throw me on the desk.

“Alone tonight. No isn’t an option.”

“Yes,” I say, catching my breath.

He smiles again, pressing his excitement against my stomach, and I deny the urge to wrap my legs around him.

“We’re going to your apartment.” His mouth flows down my jaw.

“Bea’s staying there,” I remind him.

He nods. “Hotel then. I’ll get us a room because you’ll be screaming my name tonight.”

My core heats up, and I’m practically dripping from his words. “Okay,” I meek out.

He laughs. “I guess it’s time I share you, huh? A lot of questions are being thrown out there.” He tilts his head toward the door.

I agree, “Let’s get this over with.”

He entwines his hand with mine, and after one more brush of our lips, he opens the door. We follow the noise of people in the kitchen. Then, everyone begins clapping when we come into view, and my face heats from embarrassment.

“It’s about damn time!” Dylan shouts. He puts his fingers in his mouth, releasing a whistle.

“Seriously, do you people have nothing better to do?” Tanner calls out.

Everyone laughs.

As I look around the room, at the people happy for us, I’m unsure what my issue was years ago when I wanted to keep us hidden. Tanner knew it was okay to come out. Why didn’t I?

When my eyes find Brad, he smiles.

I mouth, Thank you, to him, but he only shakes his head. Then, I catch Bayli standing next to him, texting something to someone, and her friends are lingered around her, none of them happy like our family.

Our families come around us, giving hugs and handshakes, while all the friends disappear outside.

“Oh, look at that smile now,” Lana says. “I’ve missed it.” She hugs me.

Now knowing she felt this way, I try to put together the puzzle of random thoughts she’s been spouting all week.

“Thank you, Mrs. McCain . . . er . . . Lana.”

She grips me tighter.

Once everyone leaves us alone and we aren’t some spectacle, I meander over to the counter to grab a drink.

“I’ll make you a drink.” Tanner grabs my hips and pushes me up onto the counter.

“No, that’s okay. I want to remember tonight,” I joke.

He chuckles. His hands land on my thighs, and his fingers part my legs, leaving a line of shivers up my back. Stepping between my legs, he kisses my lips, and I stiffen from the uncomfortableness that our families could witness our affection, but Tanner doesn’t relent until I soften.

When we part, he smirks. “It’s nice to do that without worrying.”

I smile, and lightness washes through my body. “It is.”

“Now, what does my girl want to drink?”

He leaves my body, and I watch him move around the counter. It’s similar to the party from two years ago, and I’m elated from how nice this feels—not only his declaration of me being his girl, but also the fact that my family is okay with us.

“Just a water.” My legs sway back and forth along the counter.

“Nothing else?” He turns my way and then walks over to the fridge.

“Nope.”

He opens the bottle and steps back to me.

“My life is pretty complete right now,” I say.

Placing the water on the counter, he situates himself back into the same position from a minute ago, except his hands reach behind me. I yelp when he thrusts me forward, squeezing my ass.

“Mine, too.” His lips press against mine for the tenth time in the last half an hour.

Not that I’m complaining.

twenty

“YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND, PIPER. I need to be with you tonight.” Tanner is standing in front of me.

I smile at the desperation in his voice.

“I told my mom that I’d help her with the flowers. I’m sorry. The rehearsal is tomorrow.” It’s tearing me apart that I can’t be with him.

“Can I help you to get things done faster?”

His eyes widen in hope, and I shake my head.

I cringe. “Do you think we’d really get it done faster?” All I see is his roaming hands on my body every time my mom turns around.

His head bounces. “Probably not. What if I just sit down with you?” He sneaks his hand out to my hip, lifting my shirt to touch my bare skin.

Fully aware of the shivers shooting up my spine from his touch, I attempt to deter him. “I should spend a little time with my mom. You know how she is.”

He nods. “A little clingy . . . in a good way.” A smile quickly encases his lips, not meaning to offend.

How did I make it two years without him? I don’t want to leave him.

“Of course. In a loving way,” I correct.

He chuckles. “You always have the right words. Text me when you’re done, okay?”

I nod, my voice caught in my throat, as his hand meanders across my skin.

“All right. I’ll go spend some time with your brother.” He bends down and kisses me quick.

“Hey, what’s with the short kiss?” I ask, grabbing his arm and swinging him back my way.

“It will only torture me if I kiss you how I want to right now.”

I laugh and place my hand on his cheek.

“Then, let me torture you.” I inch up on my toes, my lips pressing on his.

He shuts them, fighting my tongue as it tries to break into his mouth. My laughter at his antics doesn’t stop me. My hand slowly moves down his chest, sliding further, and I cup his balls with my palm. His mouth opens immediately, and my tongue takes advantage. Once his tongue dances with mine, I moan, unable to refrain from the pleasure he draws out of me. Stepping up, he pushes me against the wall, pinning me with his hips. As the bulge grows in my hand, my willpower to hold of from having him now grows weaker.

Just as I’m about to say, The hell with my mom and her flowers, he steps back, and my confused body attempts to cool down.

“What?” I ask.

He laughs. “Have to leave you wanting more.”

He winks, and I narrow my eyes.

“You could take me all night, and I’ll still wake up, wanting more.” I walk by him. “I’ll text you later,” I say in a song voice while sashing my ass back and forth.

“I’ll be waiting.”

I feel his eyes on me the whole time I begin to retreat to the basement, and it’s nice to know that I could turn around and be in his arms in a second. But wanting to finish the flower arrangements, I painstakingly take each step.

THREE HOURS LATER, I’M CLIMBING the stairs, holding on to the railing. “I have no feeling in my fingers,” I whine.

My mom laughs. “Hey, you’re young. I’m old, so imagine how mine feel,” she jokes behind me as her hand pushes my ass up the staircase.

“Thank you, Piper” From her relaxed shoulders and upturned lips, I know how much my help means to her.

She follows me into the kitchen, and I spot shadows out by the pool.

My eyes squint to figure who is out there. All the porch lights are off, only the pool lights showing any sign of activity.

“I’m beat. I’m going to bed,” my mom says before kissing my cheek.

“Good night, Mom.” I smile and then peek out to the pool again.

Then, my phone vibrates in my back pocket.

Tanner: Come on out.

Me: Is it only you?

Tanner: Yeah.

I don’t hesitate to open the French doors and escape to the moonlit sky. After I weave in between the tables, Tanner’s body emerges from the lounge chair. His chest is bare, and his body is wet with his swim trunks hanging off his hips. I have a sudden urge to shed my clothes.

“Hey,” he greets me.

I watch the glistening drops fall off his body. “Hi.”

“I was out with Brad tonight and thought I’d wait for you for a little while. I saw you in the window.” He holds his hand out to me, and once I place mine in his, he pulls me into him.