Lakeshore Candy: The McAdams Sisters (By The Lake Book 4) Read online

  He shrugged. “It’s forgotten.”

  A glimmer rose in her eyes. “Do we have to forget everything?”

  There was no way he would ever forget every curve his hand had trailed over the stretchy material clinging to her body, or the hot raw hunger in her kisses that left him breathless and wanting more. Abby knew how to kiss, she’d kissed a few times. She didn’t hide it, unlike himself who had never shared his dating life with her. Dating wasn’t what he’d call it and he wondered if his past would bother her?

  “Abby, I don’t know what to do here. With you. Whatever this is that is going on between us, I don’t know where to start.” If he talked to her, maybe they could figure it out together.

  She smiled, letting the shyness go. “You think there is something between us? More than a friendship?”

  “Don’t you?”

  Her smile dropped and she chewed on her bottom lip. This was new to him, the bottom lip chew. It was her nerves and it was rare she showed her anxious, nervous side.

  “Yes,” she said honestly, without a witty remark to follow. “I don’t know what this is either.”

  He found it strange to have a serious conversation, without her trying to throw a joke or sexy remark in. He liked it.

  “You don’t know anything about me.” He was going to fill her in, at his own pace. “For me to take you to your bedroom and continue where we left off at the Cliff House isn’t fair to you.” Even if every part of his body wanted to do exactly that figuring all this in-between stuff out later.

  “You want to start where we left off?” she asked, furrowed her forehead.

  “You said it, I’m a man and you’re a woman.”

  “Oh...”

  No, hell, he didn’t mean it like that. Now it sounded like he just wanted to sleep with her. “You’re attractive Abby, so of course I want to start where we left off, but there’s more between us then just sleeping together. I know you feel it too, otherwise you wouldn’t be acting so shy.”

  Her dramatic eyes flew open at the accusation, but nothing left her lips.

  “I don’t want to hurt you or give you false expectations about us that I might not be able to follow through with. I don’t want to go into...whatever we are going into without you knowing about me. Who I am, where I came from...why I’m here. I just don’t know that I’m ready to tell you everything right now, but I want to work at doing just that.”

  Abby touched his arm and heat crept up his skin. “I might not know your past life, the things you’ve done and I’m not asking for you to tell me before you’re ready, but Riley, I know you.”

  She couldn’t possibly.

  “I know you hide behind a front you’ve built because something bad has happened to you.” She was right on target, but he wasn’t the victim. “Like Mrs. Calvert, I can see your big heart even though you’ve tried to conceal it from the first day you followed me to the funeral home to following me out of the Cliff House tonight.” She grinned then and he could see the mischief dancing in her eyes and knew a sassy comment was on the edge of her lips. She tilted her head. “When I say it that way you sound like the stalker. Hiding in the shadows, following me around, appearing in the darkness.” There it was.

  “Only with you.”

  She beamed her gorgeous brown eyes and full painted lips at him. “I’m flattered.” Only she would be flattered by stalker-like actions. “I also think you’re funny, in a dark way and sweet again in a disguised way, and would protect those you care about without hesitation.” She rushed the end of it out. “And that’s enough of that Sydney sappiness. What I’m trying to say is, I’m not asking you for anything you’re not ready to give me.” She took a deep breath, taking her hand away. He was still struggling to find the breath she’d sucked out of him with her protect without hesitation comment. If he’d protected without hesitation, she would still be here and she wasn’t. Abby wouldn’t understand until he was ready to tell her.

  Was he ready now?

  “Abby, I want to explore whatever this is between us.”

  “You do?”

  Why was she surprised? Had she not heard everything he said?

  “Yes.” Maybe she didn’t. “Do you?”

  She thought about his question for a moment. “No one’s ever seen me the way you do. I’m not even sure everything you see in me is accurate.”

  It was all accurate.

  “Where would we even start?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “A date.”

  Abby grinned. “I’ve never been on a date. I think you’re the closest I’ve ever had to a date. Or Izzy, I guess, we’ve been on lots of friend dates.”

  “I’ve never been on a date either.”

  The expression on her face told him how much she enjoyed his honesty. “You haven’t? What will we do? Where will we go? How will we know what to do? We should ask Peyton.”

  He shook his head. That was a terrible idea to listen about the full details of all Peyton’s dates with Colt. The family history shared tonight after dinner was enough to last him a life-time. “We shouldn’t ask Peyton because at the end of our date night, or even during, I’m sure she’ll be suggesting what I think we should wait to do until we know what we’re doing.”

  Abby laughed then. “You make her sound like a tramp.”

  “She’s married.” That was his only defense.

  Abby laughed again. “Alright. So, we are going to date?”

  “Abby, will you go out to dinner with me tomorrow night?”

  She sucked in a breath. “I can’t.”

  Another joke. “I will pick you up around six.”

  She laughed. “No, Riley, seriously I can’t. Izzy is coming home tomorrow and we are having supper. Afterwards we are going to the band stage on the beach. Will you come?”

  Izzy had been vacationing for two weeks with her family. He didn’t want to intrude on the reunion of the tight friendship between the two women. “Why don’t we make it the next night?”

  “No, I would have invited you anyway. So why don’t you come tomorrow night.”

  “I wouldn’t have likely come.”

  “I would have dropped by afterwards.”

  He kissed her cheek. “Stop by Mrs. C’s for something half-ass healthy for breakfast in the morning and we can talk.”

  Her eyes lit up. “What are you going to tell Mrs. C?”

  “That I plan on taking you out on a date.”

  “I like the sound of that.” So did he. “I’m going to stay here tonight. Since Avery’s here,” she said. “It’s not like him to drink so much,” she said with a shrug. “Ems must have really done a number on him. I didn’t even know they liked each other, or were dating. Avery doesn’t just jump into relationships, unless he’s serious about a girl...” There was hurt in her eyes at her brother’s omission of his love life from her. “Anyway...” She shook her head a bit as if to shake away her hurt. “...I wouldn’t want to temp that manly Neanderthal in you by going home with you,” she said to him.

  Riley nodded with a low chuckle. That was probably for the best because he was craving more of her after having her in his arms beside the Cliff House. It was all he could do not to kiss her lips instead of her cheek

  That means leave.

  His eyes found the ladder again. “You’re going up there aren’t you?”

  She shrugged. “I’m not going to sleep.”

  Leave. Walk out the door. She has Avery.

  He didn’t listen. Riley took her hand, the heat passing through telling him that this is exactly where he should be and pulled her to the ladder. He let go of her hand and climbed into the pitch-black attic first. She followed, taking his hand as she reached the top.

  “I think you actually might like me,” she teased.

  “There is no might about it.” His low, deep voice rumbled around her pulling her up the last step and landing her body only inches from his.

  “I like you too.” Her tone dropped as she breathed the words o
ut laced with lust. She didn’t move.

  His breathing increased knowing her warm body was reachable, touchable. They were too close. She leaned closer. He didn’t lean away.

  His hand was aware of the fingers it encircled and felt her other hand slowly move up the sleeve of his shirt, the contact almost burning through the material.

  “Abby...” He swallowed hard.

  This was not what he had in mind when he’d invited her up here, but damned if the reaction his body was giving thought it was.

  Her fingers stopped at the top of his shirt and her other hand joined, playing with the buttons.

  “Doesn’t this feel right?” Her lips grazed his as she spoke, then moved to where she’d parted his shirt and exposed his bare chest.

  It had never felt this right before...it felt damn incredible as her lips kissed his skin, softly at first, barely a touch. His hands couldn’t have moved her away if someone was controlling them by a remote. Her fingers ran up the length of his torso, soft, then harder, leaving warming trails of heat tingling his skin. Her mouth pressed harder, familiarizing itself with every crevice opening up to introduce her wet tongue.

  Riley’s eyes fell closed, his body absorbed every touch, every stroke, and every nibble.

  Abby slipped the shirt off his shoulders and although he said her name in objection, he let it fall past his arms into a pile at their feet.

  Abby stepped back.

  He was thankful his eyes adjusted to the dark so he could watch as her fingers grabbed the edge of her dress and slowly started pulling it up her thighs, teasing him.

  He fisted his fingers at his side to keep from reaching out and yanking it over her head. Now, with her not touching him, was the perfect time to stop this.

  He opened his mouth. So did she.

  “We’re going to have sex Riley, sooner or later. I have never wanted a man like I want you right now.” The feeling was mutual. “And right this moment, I really want you to take me...” Her bedroom voice was unmistakable. Her lust, desire and want snaked like smoke from her lips and seeped into his pores, breaking the control he thought the separation would uphold. “Right now.”

  Lord, how they were both going to regret this in the morning.

  Chapter Seventeen

  LIKE A SAVAGE in the night, Riley took a few steps and ripped the dress over her head. He threw it behind them somewhere lost among the boxes piled around them. As he stepped back and stared at her, Abby was glad she’d worn the lacy bra and panties, even though she hadn’t thought she was getting any action tonight.

  His eyes traveled up her body and when they stopped at her eyes, so much desire filled them she didn’t know how they’d lasted this long without having sex. He wanted her as much as she wanted him and she wanted him bad.

  “You’re sure?” he asked, and the huskiness of his voice sent even more want through her body.

  How would she say no to that even if she wanted to? There was no way she wanted to. She wasn’t exaggerating when she told him no one had ever seen her the way he did. Abby had never let anyone, especially not a guy, get close enough to her to see past her smart lip. Riley had dug deep into her soul when she wasn’t looking. She’d let down her walls, not even considering that was what he’d been doing. There was no going back now. Every ounce of her soul wanted to unite with a man who saw the parts of her she kept hidden.

  Abby reached for Riley but his hands went under her arms first and lifted her in the air. She wrapped her legs around his middle as their lips crashed against each other. Abby had never experienced such pleasure at kissing. She pegged him for a rough lover. He didn’t disappoint. While her fingers ran up the back of his neck and snaked through his long hair, he wrapped his arms around her rear and lifted her higher for access to her neck. She arched back, basking in his hard, solid, kisses, just like him to be thorough and attentive, but also hot, sexy and rough.

  Their lips found each other like they’d been apart for years and her fingers gripped the sides of his head tightly pulling him deeper, harder until they didn’t have any breath left and had to part. Her breathless panting matched his own and she pulled his bottom lip between her teeth.

  “There’s a mattress,” she breathed, barely a whisper into the air.

  His head darted around in all the wrong directions.

  She laughed and kissed his lips then pointed behind a pile of boxes.

  He carried her over finding her lips again as he dropped to his knees on the single mattress lying on the floor covered by wool blankets and quilts. Abby wouldn’t let his neck go, she couldn’t, not when she was afraid he might stop. They stayed in a sitting position with her legs wrapped around his middle. His tongue was just as vigorous as it had been at the Cliff House and he knew his way around a woman’s mouth in a sensual, not slobbery manner.

  How many women had he slept with? Did it matter? Had he seen all their souls the same way? Abby! Quit it!

  She pulled her mouth away. “Condom? Do you have a condom?”

  He covered her mouth and trailed across her jaw, slowly taking his time. When had a man ever slowly taken his time with her? “We’re not even there yet. I still have my pants on.”

  He still had his pants on? Take them off!

  Her panting chest heaved high as his hands moved around the front and cupped her breasts.

  “I don’t want to get there and not have one,” she said.

  He kissed the top of her mounds pushed extra high in her push up bra and her stomach sucked in the pleasure. “Yes I have one.”

  “You do?”

  Oh my God, I did not just ask that...did I? And it did not come out sounding surprised? Laced with jealousy and...disappointment? Why did it sound disappointed?

  His lips paused, away from her skin and she felt his body stiffen under her touch.

  Yes, Abby you absolutely did say it. She sounded like a jealous lover and knowing he did have a condom made her feel jealous. Jealous over what? What was happening in her head!

  “That came out wrong,” she said quickly.

  His hands moved around her bare back and he leaned back to find her eyes. He wasn’t mad with her. Had she expected him to be?

  No, lean against me. Kiss me. I am such a fool.

  She rushed to explain. “I’m not jealous.” Then why did the thought of him touching another woman like this make your stomach curdle? “I didn’t think or assume you aren’t having sex.” Yes you did. He hides away in an apartment. Everyone thinks you’re not having sex. “I just don’t know your sexual background. I mean you know mine. I’ve told you I don’t date I just sleep with guys.” That sounds terrible! “But it’s not like a whole shit load of guys.” I haven’t slept with anyone since you. Don’t tell him that it will sound needy or like you’re waiting and you’ll scare him away.

  He was grinning at her.

  Shut up Abby!

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. With her eyes still closed she said, “Never have I had this conversation with a guy in this position. I feel like an idiot.” Her head dropped on his shoulder and she groaned against the warm skin. She should be caressing, kissing, and licking instead of having this conversation. “Can we take a step back and forget this conversation.” Idiot!

  His hands ran up her back and into her hair gripping the back of her head as he pulled her back to kiss her lips.

  “Pity kiss?” she asked against the warmness.

  He chuckled. “No.” He pulled away. “I don’t care who you’ve slept with.” Of course not. “But you’re right, you haven’t kept it from me either. If you want to know my background I will tell you. Do you want to know?”

  “No,” she whined, which meant yes. Yes!

  “Abby, do you want to know?”

  She didn’t answer because yes she wanted to know, but what right did she have to ask.

  “Abby?” She was looking at his bare chest rather than his waiting eyes, so embarrassed she thought she might slink away.

 
His hand lifted her chin to force her embarrassed eyes to look into his. “I’m not a virgin,” he said, seriously and not what she had expected.

  She didn’t think he was a virgin. She couldn’t help the laugh that stole her jealousy, embarrassment and shock away.

  He planted a quick kiss on her lips. “That’s better.” He stroked her back. “I have had sex with women.”

  Women. Plural. A number, give me a number.

  “I would consider my sexual encounters to be a lot like yours.”

  She wasn’t sure that made her feel better. That would mean he’d had a lot of sex with a lot of different women.

  “I haven’t had sex since I moved to Willow Valley.”

  “You have so,” she accused.

  He stared at her stone cold serious.

  “Really?” She asked. Why did that shock and delight her?

  He tilted his head with the same serious look across his face. “What’s more shocking to you that I’ve had sex or that I haven’t had it in three years?”

  “Three years!?” Abby hadn’t mean to shout...but three years?

  “Abby!”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I’ve never felt the way I feel about you with any woman. I’ve never wanted to wake up beside a woman like I do with you. There’s never been a desire to hold, comfort, talk, or sit with a woman like I want to with you. I might have had a lot of sex...”

  Abby frowned.

  Riley leaned his head on her forehead. “But there are so many firsts we will do together that won’t even compare.”

  She loved that he was trying to comfort her uneasiness with his past lovers when he knew how many were in her closet.

  “Thank you.”

  “You don’t have to be embarrassed with me. If you have a question, ask me. Don’t try to cover it up.”

  “This is new...you, wanting...offering...to answer my questions.”

  “I can’t guarantee I will always have an answer.”

  Abby kissed his lips. Not hard and needy like earlier, but gentle and loving, appreciating his honesty.

  Riley rose to his knees and laid her on her back landing on top of her like the morning at the beach. Only she didn’t have to latch to him to feel his body, he laid lightly on her, melting their warm skin together. His mouth dipped deep into hers. The savage lover she’d thought he would be was diminishing with each gentle touch, his fingers gently gliding across the side of her face, his hands stroking her arms, her sides. Abby’s fingers worked at his buckle and he ripped his pants away while Abby scooted onto the bed more.