Her taste lingered on my lips. I resisted the urge to grab her, throw her over my shoulder, and lock everyone else out of the house for the next few days. Give us more time before we needed to talk things out. Part of me was scared to push it, afraid of what I might learn. Finding out that our time apart had just been some big misunderstanding or that there had been something worse happening while we were together. Down here, we could push all that away. Stay out of the real world for a little bit longer.

When she walked down the steps in the dress, it reminded me of prom, that same chest-tightening sensation that had left me trying to decide if it was better to take her out and show her off when she looked that beautiful, or drag her right back upstairs and prove how much I appreciated her attention to detail.

I dropped back in our group as we made it to the wooden planks of the boardwalk. The bright blue fabric skimmed across her skin, hitting her a few inches above her knee. So much leg on display, so much more than there usually was in her jeans.

The relatively quiet beginning of the boardwalk gave way to a raucous strip filled with funnel cake, saltwater taffy, crab fries, and amusement park rides.

“Colm, I found the perfect shirt for you!” Olivia held up an oversized bright yellow t-shirt with the words ‘I’m not gay, but $20 is $20’ in black lettering on the front.

“Real mature, Olive Oil.” He rolled his eyes and walked off. Ford stifled his laughter, took the shirt out of her hands, and hung it back up on the rack.

“Why do you give him such a hard time, Olive?” he asked.

“Maybe because everyone but you two stopped calling me that when I was fourteen.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“What? You mean last summer?”

She threw her hands up in the air. “I’m starting college in two months and I’m not a kid anymore, in case you haven’t noticed.” Storming off, she went in the opposite direction.

“I’ve definitely noticed,” Ford grumbled as he ran his hands down his face. His eyes caught mine and his cheeks went red again. He mumbled something, shoved his hands into his pockets, and went in the same direction as Colm.

Avery stood in line with everyone else to buy tickets for the rides. Her dress exposed her shoulders, like one of the ones I used to surprise her with and guilt her into wearing so we could go out somewhere nice—not so nice that she’d kill me, but special, because I was with her. She looked so much like old Avery it made my heart ache. It was like no time had passed. We’d been to the shore one summer years before when I had found out she’d never been.

My mind was still reeling. I wanted to throttle Avery, throw her on the nearest flat surface, and bury myself in her all at once. Elation so bright and sharp I felt invincible shot through me. She hadn’t cheated. What we had was real. It wasn’t a lie.

But, she’d left me, had let me think she cheated. I would have stayed behind with her, maybe tried to go pro, maybe not—none of it had mattered. Once we’d broken up, I’d needed the daily practice, the grind of school and one-a-days on the ice to keep my head on straight. When the scouts approached me to go pro, it seemed like a good enough idea. What the hell else did I have to do?

The pain of our separation had helped make me the hockey player I had become.

I walked over to the group. Avery laughed and Olivia pushed against the chest of one of the guys from the beach. The one who’d touched her the night of the storm. Before I could get to her side, they were waving bye to the two girls. I didn’t miss the way Noah looked back, checking Avery out.

My hands fisted at my sides, but the anger couldn’t take hold when Avery threw her arms around my neck and planted a kiss on my lips.

“We got tickets.” She held up a bunch.

“I can see that.” I smiled back at her.

“Let’s have some fun.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me after her. After winning a giant Hello Kitty at a basketball shootout, we shared a plate of funnel cake.

She sucked the powdered sugar off, her lips wrapping around her thumb and sending pulses of kinetic energy racing down my spine. Those plump, pink lips glistened in the colorful flickering lights of the rides around us. She went back in for another piece and moaned when it made contact with her lips.

“If you keep eating the funnel cake like that, we’re going to have a serious problem.”

She looked up at me, confusion clouding her eyes. Our gazes connected and the corners of her mouth turned up. She stared at my hand.

“It looks like you’re getting pretty messy too.” She picked up my hand, took my sugar-covered finger, and sucked it into her mouth. This was not playing fair. She teased and taunted me, sucking every bit of powder off my skin. We shouldn’t have been there. We needed to be back at the house where I could sample even more of her sweet treats.

The blaring sounds of the rides, music, and crowds faded away. There was only her humming pulse against my fingertips. She let my thumb fall free from her mouth and bit her bottom lip.

“I really love that stuff.” She shoved another piece into her mouth and smirked at me.

I adjusted myself in my pants so I didn’t burst the seams. Leaning forward, I reached for her. My fingers grazed her wrist then it was tugged away.

“Let’s go on the Ferris wheel.” Mak grabbed Avery’s shoulders and lifted her arm, dragging her away.

Avery looked at Mak. She let herself be led away, glancing back over her shoulder and leaving me behind with the five-foot, stuffed monstrosity. They ran up to the massive ride with circular cars covered by a plastic canopy. With the kitty tucked under my arm, I managed to maneuver myself to the front of the line as they got there.

“Sorry, Mak, I think this one is full up.” Pushing the cat into one side of the car, I dragged Avery in with me and slammed the metal grate door closed. Avery buried her face in my shoulder and laughed. I loved her laugh—part snort, part dolphin, never a more beautiful sound.

“You know she was trying to get me on here to get the dirt, right?”

“Too bad I have something better in mind.” I ran my hand along her legs, running my fingers over the revealed skin. The crowds shrank below us as we got higher. Laughter came from the other cars around us, but once we reached the top of the Ferris wheel it was like we were all alone. The lights from the beach below, all the voices and sounds—everything else disappeared. We stopped at the top and our car swayed gently in the salty air.

“It’s really nice up here.” Avery craned around to look back at the water, exposing a swath of skin to my touch. I couldn’t resist.

My teeth raked along the slope of her neck and she moaned.

“You can’t make noises like that when we’re out in public.” I smiled against her collarbone.

“Then you shouldn’t touch me like that in public.” Her words came out breathless.

“You started it with the funnel cake, Ms. Thumb-sucker.”

“It’s not my fault you’re so messy with your food.” She laughed.

I covered more of her with my lips, hints of salt and sweet filling my mouth.

The car started moving again. Slowly we descended, and the noise of the crowd got louder. I kept my hand on her leg, inching it up higher. She squeezed her thighs together.

“What are you doing?” Her eyes sparkled in the blue and red lights of the midway games.

“Nothing.”

As we got lower, my hand crept higher. Her hand covered mine, but she didn’t stop me. The car rocked and swayed each time the gears ground to a halt. Her dress bunched high on her thighs as my fingers skimmed the cotton scrap of fabric between me and my prize.

She sucked in a shuddering breath. In one fluid motion, I tugged her close to me, sealing my lips around hers, and wrenched her underwear to the side, sinking my fingers into her. Slipping them inside, I groaned as she gripped me tight. Her velvety wetness coated my fingers.

Swallowing her moan, I pumped into her pussy. She clamped down around me, the flutter inside her mimicking the dance of our tongues. We slid along the molded plastic seats, our bodies threatening to combust in the summer evening heat.

Picking up more sugar on her lips, I shifted, trying to give my growing erection a little room. Our car dipped on one side, and Avery’s eyes popped open.

The car started and stopped with a jerk. We swayed side to side in a bigger arc at the sudden stop. I peered over the edge down at the crowds below, keeping up a slow and steady pace with my hand.

“He’s turning everyone away. I think it’s broken down.” My smile rivaled the Cheshire Cat’s.

“What?!” She tried to move, but I kept my arm around her, scissoring my fingers. Her head rolled back against my shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I can find a way to distract you.” I tilted her forward, our eyes locked together.

Her low moan filled the night air. My cock strained in my jeans, bordering on excruciating, but the torture was something I’d have happily endured for the rest of my life.

Her gaze darted away and she broke our connection, panting and licking her lips.

I continued my exploration. Once, I’d known her body as well as my own. Every inch had been covered by my hands and lips, a map I’d traveled often, discovering every secret pleasure hidden underneath. I couldn’t wait to get reacquainted.

A playful grin on her lips, she lolled her head to the side. I could have watched her all night, would watch her until I couldn’t keep my eyes open a second longer.

“She’s watching us.” Her words made my eyes widen, and my head whipped around. The laughter in her voice had me following her gaze.

Releasing her with one arm, I grabbed the stuffed animal and turned her away.

“Aww why’d you do that? It was kind of hot.”

“I didn’t know you liked to have an audience.” I nipped her earlobe, turning her laugh into a yelp. Using my thumb, I spread her wetness over her clit, softly teasing her as the sea air breezed over us.

“Only inanimate ones.” Each word came out choppy. Her lips were swollen, full, and pink from my kisses, just the way I liked them.

Her fingers wrapped around my wrist, barely circling it as I pumped into her. It was like she needed something to hold on to, to anchor her amidst everything going on around us. Each thrust was met with a sharp cry that I swallowed down. Her hips bucked against the seat and my hand, trapped between the unforgiving pace set to drive her higher and the hard plastic.

Her grip on my wrist tightened and her other hand clawed at my shirt. The sounds of her arousal grew. She was turning to liquid, one pump at a time. I needed to be inside her soon, making up for lost time. There was so much we needed to figure out, but I only had one focus in that moment. Everything else could wait.

Her thighs clamped down on my hand so tightly I could barely move. I quickened the pace of my thumb and spread more of her slick heat on her clit. Her muscles tightened, squeezing and shuddering as she exploded around me. The swing of the Ferris wheel car wasn’t so gentle anymore. She screamed, breaking the kiss and burying her face in my chest. Shockwaves flowed through her. I needed to follow her. When we got off that damn ride, she’d be lucky if I didn’t throw her over my shoulder and sprint back to the house.

I let her ride out her orgasm then slipped my fingers out. Sticking them into my mouth, I nearly came as I finally tasted her.

“Even better than funnel cake.”

Her eyes opened and she let out a throaty laugh.

“Let’s just hope we don’t get arrested out here.”

“If we do, I’m more than happy to post bail for you.”

“My hero.” She clasped her hands together and held them under her chin.

The Ferris wheel jerked into motion, and I held her tighter in my arms to steady her. We descended quickly, the sights and sounds of the crowd rushing toward us. Holding out my hand, I helped her climb out of the rocking car and tucked Hello Kitty under my arm.

The crowd of Kings stood in front of us with knowing looks on their faces.

“Have fun up there?” Olivia singsonged.

I threaded my fingers through Avery’s. “We did, and I think we’re going to head back to the house now. We’ll see you guys later.” I didn’t wait for a reply, joke, or any other comment. There was probably a plume of smoke behind us. We were racing toward the main course after a tempting appetizer.

“You’re lucky I have long legs.”

I ran my hands up the backs of her thighs as she climbed the steps to the house, and she jumped and swatted them away.

“I know, it’s one of the reasons I always lo—liked, uh, dancing with you.” Had I seriously almost spewed the L-word all over her already? We hadn’t even had a serious talk yet, still riding the high of each other. Love was not what I needed to be professing right then, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to worship at the altar of her sex until we both forgot our own names. It would help delay the inevitable for a little bit longer, keep reality at bay.

Shoving the stuffed cat onto the couch, I spun us around the living room. My forehead pressed against hers, and I captured her lips. We kicked off our shoes and she tugged my shirt up over my head.

Inside the bedroom, she turned her back to me. “I need your help with the zipper.” She reached up behind her back.

“You don’t have a zipper.”

“Oh yeah, I guess you’ll just have to help me out of this dress then.”

“I’m more than happy to help.”

I yanked down the sleeves of her dress, using the wide neck to give me all the access I needed.