Because now, I can almost picture the way her body will fit against mine, the way she’ll feel beneath me—
“Not a damn chance,” she says. “Because I bet with all your buildup, you’d be a massive letdown.”
I stare down at her, my skin buzzing, fingers itching to touch her. “See you at the beach,” I tell her and turn, leaving before I do or think something really stupid.
“Hey! I’m not done with you!” Kleo calls, following me outside. I don’t turn around, don’t stop because if she’s about to rip me a new one, she can do it in private. I have no interest in letting her chew me out in front of anyone. Mainly because I don’t trust myself not to react poorly, and I have a certain image to maintain in front of employees.
Which is what the other counselors are. Friends, yes, but they’re also my employees. I march up the steps to the cabin and step inside, her on my heels. She slams the door, and I whirl on her. “Have you forgotten this is a business, Kleo? Or do you just not care?”
Cheeks red, she glares up at me. “This is my family’s place, Dean. I guaran-fucking-tee I care a hell of a lot more than you do.”
I slam my clipboard down on the counter and stalk toward her. Kleo backs away, her back hitting the wall as I plant both hands on the wall on either side of her. I would feel bad about scaring her if that’s what I was doing.
But as I look down at her, it’s not fear in her eyes. Her hungry gaze falls to my mouth, and she bites down on her bottom lip—something I’ve seen enough over the last few days to know it’s a tell of hers. She drives me fucking crazy. Completely up a fucking wall, unlike anyone else.
“I’ve poured two years into this place,” I say.
“So you keep reminding me,” she shoots back. “But I’m here now, and I’ll rip this—”
I can’t take it anymore. Slamming my mouth down on hers, I cut her off, my hands still splayed on the wall beside her even as she reaches up and knocks my baseball cap off my head, burying her fingers in my hair.
Kleo moans against my mouth, lips parting beneath mine, and I dive in, no need for further invitation. She tastes so fucking good, a mixture of coffee and the honey I watch her sneak in every morning.
Sweet and bitter all at the same time.
I devour her, my fingernails biting into the wooden wall as I try like hell to keep my hands off her. Because if I touch her, I know I’ll fucking lose it. She’s a drug—addicting and so damned bad for me—but I can’t keep myself from wanting her. I swear this woman is going to be the death of me. A vixen after my fucking soul.
I’m rock hard, my cock straining against the fabric of my shorts as this woman drives me fucking crazy. Her hands drop from my hair and fist into the fabric of my T-shirt, and she sucks my bottom lip into her mouth before biting down. Sharp pain has me sucking in a breath before I pull back, fury reflected in my gaze, my breathing ragged. “Did you really just bite me?”
“I did. And if you kiss me again, I’ll draw blood.” She shoves me back and grabs a tote bag near the door before walking outside and slamming the door behind her.
I stare after her, unable to tear my gaze from the door as I lift a hand and run it through my hair. Fuck me. What the hell was I thinking? I fucking kissed Kleo Turner. On the camp grounds. In the cabin we’re sharing. What if she tells her father? What if he fires me? “Fucking-A, you dumbass.”
Kleo
Shit, that was amazing. I still can’t catch my breath. Dean is an animal, a caged animal that I desperately want to free just so I can taste all he has to offer. Which is exactly why I had to walk away. The sexy asshole is a distraction I don’t need.
As I’ve mentioned before—I have shit luck when it comes to men, and chances are Dean will be no different. We’ll screw, it’ll be fun, but in the end, we’re both competing for the same thing, and if we’re involved? It will make it that much more difficult when the summer ends.
I stalk down to the beach, knowing I look absolutely insane. Here’s hoping no one can see that I just had the best damned kiss of my entire life.
Amber sees me first, and she lifts a hand to wave me over. Keith and the new guy—Robert—are already in the water, and it looks like Polland has shown up from whatever it is he’s supposed to be doing on a Tuesday afternoon. Megan is thrilled though as she leans against him.
“You okay?” Amber asks, and I nod.
“Why do you ask?”
She studies me with a knowing smile playing at her lips. “No reason.”
Moving past her, I strip out of my shorts and tank top so I’m wearing nothing but the red bikini I purposely picked out to torment my roommate. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the same victorious feel now that I actually got a taste of what he has to offer.
Now, it just feels like I’m torturing myself. Especially when he comes into view, wearing nothing but a pair of board shorts, muscled chest on full display. He doesn’t even bother to look my way either, just tosses his towel to the ground and walks straight into the water to join Robert and Keith.
Two can play that game. Getting to my feet, I step into the ocean. Cold nips at my ankles, but I keep moving further and further into the water until I’m waist-deep. A wave rolls my way, and I dive into it, completely submerging myself and swimming as far as my lungs will take me.
Which, thanks to the years I spent on the swimming team, is pretty damned far. I come up from the water, deep enough that my feet can’t touch, before turning toward the beach. It takes my vision a moment to clear, but when it does, I see Dean turned toward me, watching me intently.
I dive back down into the water, swimming toward shore. Letting the water push me back, I climb out and saunter over to my tote, pulling out my towel and spreading it out flat on the ground. Then, I lie back and close my eyes, letting my mind replay that kiss over and over again.
“Thirsty?”
I open my eyes, shielding them from the sun as I stare up at Robert hovering above me, bottle of water in his hand. “Yes, thanks.” Sitting up, I take the water and open the lid, drinking deeply as he sits beside me.
“Keith says you grew up here. That you’re one of the Turners in Turner Cove.”
I smile. “I am.”
“I just moved here last year. I was actually a camper here back when I was in high school. I knew that when I finished college, this was where I wanted to be. Changed my life.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” My heart swells with pride. I’ve always known this camp helps teens get their lives on track, but to actually come face to face with someone who’s been through it—it makes me happier than I can possibly explain.
We sit in silence for a few minutes, and I scan the beach for Dean. I find him standing a few yards away, talking to Keith and staring directly at Robert and me. His gaze does nothing to ease the ache inside of me. An ache started when the asshole devoured me. There’s literally no other word for that kiss. He claimed my mouth, ruining me for anyone else. At least, until I forget about it.
But being pinned to the wall by his hard body, his lips on mine, my hands in his hair. It’s something I doubt I’ll ever forget.
“I’m sorry, Robert. I need to get going.” I push to my feet, shoving my towel and discarded clothes into my tote. “My family is expecting me for dinner.”