“CAN you put some of this on me?” I lean down to grab a bottle of sunscreen beside Lily’s beach chair, swiping grains of sand off my palms.
“Have you forgotten how to use your hands?” Her eyes remain focused on the waves washing up on the shore, but there’s playful sarcasm in her voice even as she takes the bottle out of my fingers and uncaps the tube.
Always such a sweet little brat.
“They’re a bit sore from this morning.”
It’s been a few days since Lily decided to spend the rest of the summer with me, and things seem back to normal—apart from the fact that I’m making a conscious effort to be different around her. But Lily seems to be opening up to me again.
The most obvious move in the right direction was when she supposedly forgot to put on underwear last night when we sat down to watch Interview with the Vampire.
“This is the second time you’ve forgotten sunscreen this week.” Annoyance sticks in her throat now.
“I appreciate you letting me use yours, Lily. It’s nice having you around.”
“Fine,” she huffs. “But only because you gave me a compliment that wasn’t about my ass.”
“I can give you one of those if you want.” I watch her green irises absorb the midday sun, and the faint hint of a dimple in her cheeks is obvious. “Before I forget, I booked the rental in Soho you liked.”
“Seriously?” Lily beams. “That place was like a bajillion dollars.”
“Don’t worry about it, I have an in.” And by that, I mean I have a great Black Card concierge service. “Also, Luca upgraded their honeymoon suite to a three-bedroom for our visit to the Azores. This way, he can, and I quote, keep an eye on us.”
“What does he think we’re going to do? Wake them up with a peep show?”
“We could,” I offer. “To get back at him.”
“Shut up and sit down.” She squirts a large glob of suntan lotion into her hands.
“You’re s*xy when you’re bossy.”
I plop down between her legs on the beach chair, my back facing her. Lily massages the warm cream onto each of my aching shoulder blades, working through the knots in my sore muscles with care.
Lily’s breath tickles my neck. “I always wondered what this tattoo below your chest is meant to be.”
I glance down to where her hands work sunscreen into the left side of my body. “Kelp.”
She lets out a loud snort. “Oh, I’m so glad I asked. Don’t want this to come off the wrong way, but I thought it kind of looked like sperm.”
It does not.
“You spent all last summer drooling over my body even when you thought I had rows of semen tattooed to me?” I chuckle. “Talk about being head over heels.”
Lily lands a smack on my back.
“Only one of us spent last summer drooling, and it was you.” True. “I still had a touch of sanity back then.”
“Are you trying to say my sperm tattoo is doing it for you now?” I tease.
“Oh, hush.” Lily squeezes another round of sunscreen onto my back and works her fingers over my other side.
“Some say kelp is the semen of the ocean.” I turn to get a good look at her face.
Lily blinks up at me. “Who’s some?” “Me.” I smile. “Right now.”
This time, her fingers attack my side. “You’re so—” “Amazing? Handsome? S*xy?”
“Frustrating.”
Lily concludes her meticulous application and gives me a soft pat on the neck. I turn to face her again. “I’m surprised you haven’t asked me about any of my tattoos before.”
“I wanted to, but I thought it was against tattoo etiquette to ask someone what their tattoos mean.”
“Ask me.” I like that she’s wondered what the ink stands for, even if it took her this long to question me about it.
“Does the kelp mean anything?” Her voice is shy but curious.
“When Luca and I were growing up, we’d sword fight with kelp on the beach. It reminds me of him, of my childhood. My parents. It’s why I keep it so close to my heart.”
She watches me intently. “That’s touching. Is that where your brother gets his love for the ocean?”
“Yeah, I suppose. Luca got a career, and all I got was a semen tattoo,” I joke. Lily’s infectious laughter stumbles into me, making it impossible to resist joining.
“What do the other ones mean?” She runs her fingers across the airplane on my arm. “Is there a theme?”
“I got this one when I sold my first app.” I take her hand, tracing her finger from my bicep to the ink on my thigh. “This one was from when I snowboarded in Switzerland.” Her eyes follow the scattering of tattoos across my body, all in random designs from different artists around the world. “Each is a token from a time in my life I want to remember forever.”
“So do you mostly get them when you travel?”
“Not all of them. Like this frog was my childhood stuffy and I did it myself.” I point to a small stick-and-poke on my ankle. “This is my mom’s favorite flower, and this is the Thermos my dad took to work every day.”
Lily’s face lights up as I give her the tour. “Are you ever worried you aren’t going to like them in a few years? For someone who doesn’t favor commitment, this seems like a huge step.”
It’s strange talking to her about this, as though the conversation somehow means more than it ever has. I’ve had random hookups ask me what the ink means all the time, though no one cared to question me beyond the piece that caught their eye.
“I don’t change my mind easily. I may struggle with settling down in the personal sense, but commitments have never been an issue for me.” I shrug.
“Each tattoo is like a journal on my skin. Just because a memory may sour doesn’t mean it didn’t get me to where I am now.”
Her head tips to one side, and her wispy ponytail swings behind her. “I like that.” She nods approvingly. I’ve never needed anyone to sign off on my tattoos, but Lily liking them makes me warm inside. “Does this summer warrant an entry in your tattoo journal?”
“I think so.”
“Maybe your app can be about tattoos or something,” Lily suggests with a sweet grin. It’s nice she cares enough to mention it, even if the reminder that my idea bank is empty sends a beat of worry into my chest.
“There’s a ton of high-profile artists in London. You may be onto something.”
“See, there’s another reason I stayed with you this summer. I can help you figure out the next big app idea. What would you do without me?”
The reality of the question isn’t something I want to consider because, truthfully, I don’t want to know what life will look like come September.
Lily leans back on her lounger, beads of sweat coating her skin. She arches in the same way she did during our movie session last night when I used my tongue to spell out our names over the sensitive swell of her clit.
Nico Navarro and Lily Rodin.
It has a good mouthfeel.
She catches me staring and clears her throat, dragging my attention away from the soft dip of her stomach.
“Do you want tattoos?” I ask, trying to knock the mental image of my fingers running over her body out of my mind.
“Can’t think of anything I’d want permanently etched onto me.”
“If you ever do, be sure it’s something that makes you happy. You’ll have to see it every day.” I shift around, trying to be more discreet about the lengthening in my shorts. Am I actually getting hard from such a sweet conversation? “Unless you get one on your ass. I bet the outline of my teeth would look so good there.”
“Your obsession with my ass is bordering on unhealthy.” Yes, I am entirely obsessed with her ass.
And her perfect breasts. Her curves. Her dark hair. Her achingly gorgeous pout.
Every fucking inch, Lily.
I wrap my hand around one of her palms, and bring it to my forehead, pretending to check my temperature. “Do you have a cure, doctor?”
“I’m afraid it’s chronic.” Lily slides out of my grasp again. “Are you hiding an ass tattoo?”
“Maybe.”
“What the fuck?” She sits up, her back straightening. “How did I not once notice? I need to see it right now.”
“Are you begging to see my ass?”
She clasps her fingers together. “Please, Nico, let me see your posterior.”
“I’ll be honest, I’m a bit insulted you’ve dug your nails into most of me, but haven’t caught my ass tattoo.”
“I obviously didn’t look hard enough.” Lily exhales. “It’s very easy to get distracted by a nine-inch dick in your face.”
That’s not what I expected to come out of her mouth at all. I know I’m well-endowed, but Lily’s never mentioned it before. I figured it was because she didn’t want to acknowledge craving the feel of me inside her. “Did you measure it while I was sleeping?”
“Oh, enough.” Her palm collides with my arm. “Take the first and only compliment I’ll give you without acting as if those inches suck the blood out of your brain like every other prick.”
And I love how she checks my ego.
“I’ll have to give you a look at my ass tattoo tonight. Now, get over here so I can return the favor and protect your precious skin.” I grab the bottle of sunscreen sitting between us.
“I applied an hour ago, and I’ve been under the shade.”
I uncap the bottle before squirting the lotion onto my hands. “The sun is wild these days, haven’t you heard? The rays can practically go through the umbrellas.”
“Fine…” She turns around reluctantly, and I’m thrilled to touch her again. “Only because if I get any more freckles, I’ll look like a Dalmatian.”
“You know, pretty girl”—I work my hands into the muscles of her neck
—“every time I see a new freckle on your skin, it becomes my friend. They’re all my friends.”
Lily’s body goes rigid. I wish I could see the look on her face.
“I’m going to need to start writing down all your one-liners,” she says.
“Who are you planning to use them on?” My curiosity swells into defensiveness. It’s almost nauseating how quickly my mood changes when I think about her with someone else.
“Such a jealous boy.” Lily laughs and turns back to catch my scowl. “I’ll be sure to jot them down just to get a rise out of you.”
Maybe I am a bit green, but she doesn’t need to rub it in.
All of this talk of writing may be the perfect opportunity to explore the theory I have about what Lily has been getting up to on her computer all summer. That website name hasn’t left my mind and I’ve done enough digging online to start piecing together the evidence.
Zoe Mona.
Some kind of faceless online personality.
If she’s going to make jokes to get a rise out of me, I’ll prod away. “Maybe you can use some of my sweet talking in a book.”
Her spine solidifies. “What did you say?”
Interesting reaction.
My hands massage the sunscreen onto her back. “I read an article the other day about romance books charting on the bestseller lists.” The media didn’t mention anything identifiable about Zoe Mona, but from what I understand, this person writes their own erotic novellas.
“Where did you read that?”
“Around. Apparently, some of the books have very s*xy things in them.”
Shivers ripple across her skin. “Cool, but what does that have to do with me?”
I have to play this carefully; otherwise, she’ll lock up like a vault. “You said you like your literature classes. I figured you like reading.”
“I do like reading. Guess I didn’t realize you’re also a fan.”
“I think I could get into it.” I smirk while my hands work their way down her soft curves. “Do you have any book recommendations?”
Lily remains silent for a moment. Maybe my hypothesis is wrong?
But I loathe the idea she could be hiding something about herself from
me.
Does she think I’ll judge her? Or worse, does she not trust me?
“You know, you could read some romance books. They’re a great way
to explore your s*xuality.”
Now we’re talking. “And what exactly have you discovered about yourself while reading, princesa?”
Or writing.
Or blogging.
Whatever you spend hours doing while handcuffed to your laptop.
Handcuffs?
Now that could be fun to read about.
“Something new every time.” Lily’s posture thaws, and her voice laces with mischief. “Lately, I’ve been interested in exploring some degradation.”
The sunscreen has soaked into her skin, but I continue kneading the knots at the base of her spine. She breathes out a small moan; in turn, an aching shot of longing catapults into my cock.
Fuck. “And here I’ve been telling you how you’re doing so good. Maybe you’ll have to try that degradation kink on me later. I could use a bit of punishment.”
Lily grins and faces me again, tucking her legs into her chest and resting her chin on her knees.
“Maybe I will. But personally, I’d like both, I think.” She shrugs. “With the right person.”
“There hasn’t been anyone?” I ask and immediately regret it. I don’t actually want to know. Or I suppose I do.
The idea there’s something Lily hasn’t done before makes me eager to conquer a first with her.
“It’s not easy exploring your s*xuality with casual hookups. A lot of the time, if men find out I want to fuck, especially if I want to fuck rough, they become violent. Eager to call me a whore like they truly believe that’s what I am.” Lily frowns.
“Throw in the ask for playing out a degradation fantasy, and it’s as if they’ve been waiting their entire life to strip a woman from her personhood instead of welcoming her into their care.”
Fucking hell. My teeth gnaw at the inside of my cheek until the bright taste of metal hits my tongue.
“I hate that anyone could have so little respect for you.”
I want her to show me every fucker who’s ever treated her as anything less than divine.
“It’s fine.” Lily smiles, scrambling for her phone in her bag. “No, it’s not fi—”
“Look at this video I took of you.” She hits play quickly, running away from the serious conversation the way she always does.
I can’t focus on the video. The reality that someone’s hurt Lily in any way and she’s simply fine with it makes it feel like the earth’s shattering beneath me. In the friendliest way possible.
“Nico.” Her elbow nudges me, and I force an inhale, glancing down at the clip.
“Cool.” I grit my teeth, but Lily’s eyes roll at my lackluster response.
“Yeah, watching you eat a mouthful of sand is cool.” Her laugh is as light as ever, loud enough to wake the familiar warmth in me when I hear it, but it doesn’t brighten my mood as fast as it normally does.
I shake out my body, trying to dispel the rage worming its way around my veins. The idea of anyone ever thinking of someone in such an awful way makes me sick. Especially when that someone is mine.
Lily. I mean Lily. Not what’s mine. I need to get it together.
If she’s fine with her past, I’ll have to be too. But while it’s up to me, no one will ever treat her like that again.
She plays another video clip. I look great for ten seconds, and a giant wave swallows me. I can’t help but grin. “Can I post it?”
I don’t care too much about social media, but my parents and brother constantly hound me to stay active online so they can keep track of me.
“Sure, I’ll send it to you.” Lily clicks through her screen, but I grab her phone and pull it out of reach. A shadow of agitation crosses her face. “What are you doing?”
“Come on, you know I leave my phone in the lockers during class.” I navigate through the buttons. “Let me log in to my account now and upload it. I’ll forget otherwise.”
“You’re going to log in on my phone?” Her brow quirks up. “Yes, what’s the issue?”
Lily attempts to grab her cell again. I hop off the lounger, knocking my head against the umbrella. “Give it back. I don’t want to see DMs from your hookups.”
“There’s nothing to see.” “Sure.”
I may not know much about Lily’s only serious relationship, but her ex- boyfriend must’ve done a number on her if she expects there to be threads
of messages on my account. After we agreed to not see other people for the summer.
It may take her time to fully trust me, but I’m learning to be a patient man. I have around two months to prove to her that I’m not like anyone she’s been with in the past.
Especially when she isn’t like anyone I’ve known before either.
Lily is bold, so fucking smart and witty, and she can always make me laugh. Simply being around her makes me feel better, and when I’m not with her, I actually feel alone. A feeling I’m unfamiliar with.
There’s no way I’m fucking this up. Even if we end in disaster, I’d rather go out blazing than never find out what could happen between us. We may not be ones for long-term commitment, but I’ve never shied away from learning something new.
I upload the video and hand her phone back to her. She scans the screen. “You didn’t log out.”
“That way, when you get a good video of me tomorrow, I can go ahead and post right from your phone.”
“I’m going to go through your account.” Lily’s teasing tone is apparent. She probably will, but I’ve got nothing to hide.
“Go ahead. I haven’t forgotten about rule number three,” I remind her. No one else. “When I make a promise to you now, Lily, I intend on keeping it.”
