Page 90 of Rhodes

Libba's already turning. She didn't call me out, and I didn't give her anything to call out. But when I push off after her, I know the secret isn't quite as invisible as it was five minutes ago.

Libba texts me at nine.

Wade, Birdie, and I are staying in town to see a band. Take a cab and meet us.

I look around the quiet villa and smile.

I'm cooked from the boat and still need to pack. Y'all have fun and be careful.

Don't wait up. Band doesn't even start for an hour.

I text Rhodes instead of writing her back.

Clear.

He's there in ten minutes and doesn't knock.

"No timer tonight," I tell him. He shuts the door with his heel and crosses the room as if he's got all the time in the world. We've snuck in stolen moments together all over this resort, but this is the first time in my bed.

His lips land on mine without hesitation.

He walks me back to the bed and takes my shirt off without fumbling, then works the rest of it down over my hips and drops it somewhere behind him.

His mouth finds the spot under my ear that undoes me, the one he learned Tuesday, and I feel him grin against my skin when I make the sound.

"There it is," he says.

"Unfair advantage." I get his shirt over his head and press my palm flat to his chest, pushing him down. "Lie back. I want to take my time for once."

He watches me while I work his jeans open and get my hand around him. I don’t have to ask what he likes now: the slow drag, the twist at the top. His breath catches on cue.

"You're smug about that," he says.

"I earned it, don't you think?"

I take him into my mouth. His whole stomach tightens beneath my hand.

He tastes faintly salty already, and when I run my tongue over the tip, his hand closes on the back of my neck.

“Jesus, Tallulah.”

I like that. I like knowing I did that to him.

I take him deeper, slowly, until the length of him makes my throat tighten and my eyes water. I pull back just enough to breathe, then do it again.

His hips jerk once before he catches himself.

“Fuck.”

I glance up at him.

That might be my favorite part. Rhodes Stone flat on his back, jaw tight, watching me like I’m doing something miraculous instead of putting my mouth on his dick.

I drag my tongue along him on the way back up, tasting the slick drop at the tip before taking him into my mouth again.

His hand tightens in my hair.

“You’re enjoying this way too much.”