Page 71 of Midnight Curfew

I lick the side of his spine, biting the skin again.

He jumps, shaking with a laugh. “What are you doing?”

I poke my finger into the bulge at the side of his spine. “I didn’t know these muscles were a thing.”

I run my thumb up the other side, feeling it there, too.

I’m not in bad shape, but he probably has trainers and a chef. There’s barely any fat to burn on him.

Rising up, I sink my mouth into his neck, sucking and kissing.

He gasps, and I love that he’s in great shape. His stamina is very appreciated.

“Your skin is soft, though,” I say.

He looks like he has rock under his skin, but he’s smooth, like velvet.

“But not softer than a woman’s skin, right?”

I bite him again. “I thought we weren’t talking about that.”

He turns over underneath me, and I hover over him, propped up on my hands.

“It doesn’t matter, I guess.” He gazes up at me. “I know that you can say or do whatever you want, and I’ll still be sneaking over here in the middle of the night in five years if you’ll still let me.”

Five years…

Jesus. I might be dead in five years. Who knows.

But in a flash flood, my future rushes my brain. An endless parade of one fuck after another, people’s faces I won’t even remember and him getting out of his expensive car, looking sexy in a suit.

I won’t be good enough for him by then. He’ll find men who are prettier, richer, and willing to be at his beck and call, and we’ll lock eyes once in a while, both remembering this summer when we were young.

But I have to hold back a frown, because I don’t like that future. I don’t want him to stop wanting me.

What am I doing?

I climb off him, grabbing my jeans. “I’ll take you to your car.”

We get dressed and descend the stairs, and I open the front door, letting him duck out before Iron wakes up on the couch. As if he doesn’t know who I had upstairs, but Callum doesn’t want to run into my family, especially in the light of day.

I hear Macon’s tools whirring in the garage, and I don’t know if he’s already up or never went to bed, but either way, he won’t be in a good mood, so I’m not going to ask. I’m just taking the truck.

We hop in the cab, and I pull out the spare on my ring, starting the engine. I jet off before he has a chance to step out into the street and bark.

Low-hanging clouds get darker the farther toward St. Carmen I go, and today’s going to be nothing but storms. Can’t do much work in this weather, and I’m not tired. I used to just use these days as excuses to day drink, but I don’t think I’m feeling that now.

Maybe I’ll go lie on the empty beach, under the rain. I glance at Callum, opening my mouth to see if maybe—

But I close it again.

“My dad and stepmom will be out of town this weekend,” he says next to me. “I’ll be coming over here for the lighthouse party.”

I nod.

“Why don’t you chase us out of the Bay and follow me home?” he teases. Everything in my chest feels light, like my lungs are floating, and I can’t contain it. A grin forms, and I meet his eyes.

And that’s how he’s kept my interest for a month. He knows how to play.