Beach Side Beds and Sandy Paths by Becca Ann, Tessa Marie Page A

porch.
    “Ryan…” she says, giving me a glare.
    I sigh, running my hand through my hair. “Sorry.”
    “Vacation, remember? We both need it.” Her hand runs down my back and sneaks into my pocket. She pinches my ass before dodging away from my noogie.
    “I thought you said we’d find a room for that stuff,” I tease.
    “Well, let’s go find one then!”
    The inside of the house smells salty and musty. Nate and Kaylee have already switched on all the lights on their way to whichever room they picked. Outside, through the large floor to ceiling window in the main room, the ocean glimmers in the moonlight. I remember sitting here two years ago looking out that window and thinking about Lex and what she’d look like in a bikini.
    My fantasies didn’t do her justice.
    Her arms wrap around my waist , and she leans up on her tip toes to reach my ear. “What are you thinking about?”
    “You.” I smile, running my hands over hers.
    A cough in the background breaks us apart, and we both turn to see Brett handing Lex one of her bags. “Here. Your ‘entire closet,’” he says with a smirk.
    “Oh, thanks.” Lex hops over and take s the bag. My body starts shaking as I push back the heat zooming through my chest just by looking at his face. For the millionth time I ask myself why he’s here.
    Brett doesn’t give me a second glance. Keeps his eyes locked on Lex as she tries to lug the hundred pound bag across the floor.
    She’s such a goof.
    “Hey, I’ll take it to your room,” he offers, snagging his hand under the strap again. And in all “Me man, my woman” glory I march over and yank it from his fingers.
    “I got it.”
    His hands go up like I’m the one who’s being the dick. Lex lets out a grunt, rips the bag from both of us, and tries to stomp down the hallway and up the stairs with the thing. The looks she’s giving me keeps my feet planted in place.
    “You know,” Brett says, hiking his own duffel on his shoulde r, “you keep being an ass to me it may not end well with your girl.”
    “Leave her alone.”
    “Hey, it’s not my fault if she wants to talk to me .” He smirks, that same one I have when I know I’m doing something on purpose to piss someone off.
    Before I lose my shit, I turn on my heel and go right back outside to get the rest of the stuff from the car. I don’t want to hear those things he said repeated over and over, and the best solution is to sleep this off.
    When I get back inside, Brett’s gone. Probably off to find a bed and I hope he stays there all week. I drag my bag up the first landing, wondering how the hell Lexie did this without hurting herself.
    It takes three tries and one very embarrassing walk-in on Nate and Kaylee halfway to Nude City, to find what room Lex picked out for us. She’s ditched her jacket, her brown hair is retied into a messy ponytail that looks hot as hell, and I see the straps of her bright green bra peek from her tank top. She bounces back and forth to the different sides of the bed, and all I can do is stare down the front of her shirt.
    “Hmm…” she says a fter a minute. “I want the left side.”
    I laugh. “What if that’s the side I want?”
    An evil grin goes across her mouth, giving her two dimples. “You’ll have to fight me for it.”
    The corner of my mouth perks up, and I drop all our bags and leap on the bed, trapping her underneath me. She squeals and laughs and struggles to get out of my hold as I tickle up and down her sides and nibble on her neck.
    “Stop! Stop! Or I’ll pee on you, I swear, I’ll pee on you, Ryan!”
    My fingers turn from tickling to stroking and my nibbles turn into soft kisses against her skin. She stops struggling underneath me, arching her body into mine.
    “Maybe we can… share the left side,” she says in very breathy gasp that’s so sexy I move my mouth to hers, answering her question with my tongue.
    My mind tells me there’s no one but me and her in the entire world right now.