When I get outside, the music is just as loud, and I turn around to scan the crowd.
“Apollo.” I hear Celeste call my name, and I turn around to see her walking toward me.
“Beautiful.” I pull her into my arms and bury my face in her neck. “Damn, I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice.
“I really, really, really missed you,” I say and squeeze her tighter.
“I’m glad you’re here now.” I feel her fingers in my hair, and it’s so nice holding her that I don’t let her go.
We stand there like that for a long time, me holding her off the ground with my face in her neck, and her petting my hair with one hand and rubbing my back with the other. It’s peaceful and romantic in a moment that is anything but. The people around us, the noise of the music, it all fades as I breathe in her sweet scent of sunshine and coconuts.
When I finally pull my face out from under her hair, I look into her eyes and smile.
“Better?” she asks, and I nod before I kiss her softly.
Suddenly all is right with my world, and I can’t even remember why I was annoyed before. Any time I’m with Celeste, everything makes sense. It’s like I’ve been lost in a maze, and she’s the light that shows me the way out. I don’t know how, but my life and my heart have been changed forever now that I’ve fallen for her. I know deep in my soul that I’ll never be the same, and as I stand here among this chaos, I know that she’s it for me. She’s my forever.
“Gah, get a room. You guys are gross,” Emerson says and winks at Celeste.
“I’d love to,” I say softly, and I watch Celeste blush.
“Have you eaten?” I ask, and Celeste nods. “Good, are you ready to get out of here?”
“You can’t steal her yet, we were just about to dance,” Emerson complains.
I place Celeste on her feet, not wanting to end her good time too soon, even though I really want to be selfish and have her all to myself.
“You want to come dance with us?” she asks and smiles up at me.
My heart squeezes, but I shake my head. “I’m afraid I’m not good at dancing. But I’m happy to watch.” I smack her on the ass, and she squeals as she goes up on her tiptoes for a quick kiss and then moves to the dance floor with Emerson.
People are crowded around the patio that’s got a DJ to one side. I’m not at all shocked Jackson has someone set up for this. He’s always so extra.
I walk over to the side and lean up against one of the pillars of the covered patio area. I watch as Celeste dances to the music and loses herself to the rhythm. I’d love to dance with her someday, but right now I really am happy to watch. The way she moves her hips and her arms over her head makes every inch of me hard.
I’m so consumed with watching her body that I don’t notice the group of girls beside her. Not until it’s too late.
Without warning, one of the girls moves too close to the edge of the dance floor that’s right beside the pool. In her panic, she reaches out to grab on to something, and it happens to be her friend. Her friend begins to fall, and it’s like a horrible chain reaction as the second girl grabs Celeste by the arm, and they all go in.
“Celeste!” I shout as I rush over to the edge. Just when I’m about to jump in, she surfaces and is coughing up water.
I reach down and pull her quickly out of the pool as she sputters to catch her breath. The music has stopped, and everyone is watching us as the other two girls get pulled out. I glance back and see that people are helping them and I try not to get pissed. I’m sure it was just an accident, but what the fuck.
“Well, I guess I can’t take you around water ever again,” I say, and Celeste looks up at me like a drowned kitten.
“Don’t worry. I blame you,” she says and then she gives me a sad smile.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Looking around, I see Jackson nearby, and he tosses me a towel. I wrap it around Celeste and then lead her to the gravel path that goes encircles the property. This way she won’t have to go through the house and face all those stares. Once we get to my car she hesitates.
“I can’t get in. I’m going to ruin your leather seats.”
I raise one eyebrow and wait. She lets out a huff and then finally gets in the passenger side. I close the door for her and then go around.
“I hate that this ruined our night. I was hoping we could spend more time together,” she says, poking her lip out.
“Hey, this didn’t ruin our night.”
“My mom is home, and I know if I go back now, there’s no way she’s letting me go back out.”
“So don’t go home.” I crank the car up and wink at her as I pull out of the driveaway and head toward my house.
Chapter Thirteen
Apollo
“I’m not sure your dad is going to like this,” Celeste says as I pull into the garage.
“He’s not here to find out.” When I open the door for her, I hold my hand out to the empty space next to my car. “He said he wouldn’t be home until late tonight.”
“So this means we’re alone?” She bites her bottom lip, and even soaking wet she still looks adorable.
“Yes, we are.” She bounces on her toes a little, and I lean down and kiss her quickly. “Come on, let’s get you out of these clothes.”
Taking Celeste by the hand, I lead her through the kitchen and up the back staircase to my room. When we’re inside, I bolt the door because I don’t want to be interrupted.
Ever since I had a taste of Celeste in my bathroom, I haven’t been able to go in there without getting hard. We’ve had a couple of makeout sessions since then, and lots of heavy petting, but nothing compared to that first taste, and I’m eager to replay it.
“Let me get you some dry clothes,” I offer, going over to my dresser and pulling out some shorts and a hoodie. “They will obviously not fit you, but they should be enough to get you home.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me already?” she teases as she takes off the towel and drops it on the bathroom tile.
“Never,” I say, and I mean it. I’m not ready to let her go, and damn it, I shouldn’t have to.
I walk over to her and grab the edge of her shirt. She shivers, and I don’t know if it’s from the cold or my touch.
“Arms up,” I say softly, and she does as I ask. Once that’s off of her, I unbutton her shorts and slide those down her legs, along with her wet Converse. “Step out.”
I’m kneeling on the bathroom floor in almost the exact same spot as last time, and her cheeks flush like she’s remembering it too. She’s only in her white bra and panties and looks like an angel.
“I want to warm you up before you put on the dry clothes,” I say, leaning forward and kissing her knee.
Her hands go around her back, and she unclasps her bra and drops it to the floor with her pile of clothes. Then her hands go to her panties, and I reach up so that mine join hers. Together we pull them down, revealing her bare pussy that’s so damn pink and pretty.