Without You (34 page)

“Hell yes, I’m down for that!” Grace said with a laugh.

“Then, it’s a plan. We’re camping on the beach tonight,” Luke said as he glanced around the table and smiled.

Colt, Luke, and I all sat on the sofa while our fathers just stared at us.

“Camping on the beach, huh?” Jeff asked.

I glanced over to Gunner. He was looking at me. It was almost as if he had read my thoughts from earlier.

“Yes, sir. We have two tents. One for the guys, and one for the girls.”

My father nodded his head. “Where at on the beach?”

“We can pitch them right out front, if y’all want,” Luke said.

I wanted to look at him like he had lost his damn mind, but I kept my eyes forward and my mouth shut.

“You boys will make sure the girls stay with you. No one outside of your group is allowed to hang with y’all,” Scott said as he looked at each of us.

“Of course,” Luke said.

Brad took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Boys, we’re trusting you. Don’t make us regret this.”

“No, sir. We would never,” Colt said with that damn smile of his.

Anytime he was ever in trouble, that smile would work on everyone.

“You can camp a bit farther down the beach, if y’all want. Just know we can walk down the beach and check on y’all at any moment. No alcohol or any other…fun type of activities.” Gunner looked directly to me.

I swallowed hard and nodded my head.

“Yes, sir. We understand, sir,” Luke and I both said at the same time. We quickly looked at each other and then back to Gunner.

My father stood up and clapped his hands. “All right then. I guess since y’all will all be sharing a house this fall it’s time to let the trusting begin. Let’s get all the stuff y’all will need.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I had a feeling our parents wanted us gone tonight as much as we wanted to be gone.

The tents were set up, and the fire was going. Lex was driving me mad with the way she kept looking at me.

“Grab a stick and roast some marshmallows, y’all.” Luke passed out the sticks.

He sat down next to Libby and said something to her, but I couldn’t hear what it was. She nodded her head and stared straight into the fire.

Lex and Grace were giggling about something as they roasted their marshmallows. Colt started talking to me about school next year. He was going to be playing football for A&M, and Gunner couldn’t have been prouder of him. I glanced back at Luke and Libby, and they were talking—not arguing, but talking for once.

As I looked around our group of friends, everything felt right. No one was fighting. They were all just talking and laughing. It felt like…home.

I wasn’t sure how long we sat around the fire and just talked. We talked about school and the ranch. That led to Maegan mentioning how she never wanted to live in the country. Then, Taylor talked about her desire to study for a year in Italy, but her dad had said absolutely no way.

“Tay, you can’t blame him. If you were my daughter, there would be no way in hell I’d let you go to another country by yourself for a year.” Luke pushed a marshmallow in his mouth.

Taylor sighed. “I don’t see why.”

Luke looked at her and tilted his head. “Taylor, you’re a beautiful young woman. The problem is, you don’t know it, and that makes you even more beautiful. Those Italian bastards would stop at nothing to get in your pants. No. No way are you going to Italy for a year.”

We all started laughing.

Taylor stared at Luke. “You’re not my dad, Luke.”

He looked back over at her and smiled. “No, but I say one comment about you in front of your dad, and he’ll lock your ass away for the next five years.”

Maegan and Grace busted out laughing as the rest of us chuckled. Even Taylor giggled. When I looked over to Libby, she was staring at Luke until her phone went off. She pulled it out and smiled.

Must be Zack.

Luke was laughing, but when he glanced over to look at Libby, his smile instantly faded. Libby stood up and began walking off toward the water as Luke watched her.

“Do you want to sneak away?” Lex whispered.

I looked at her and grinned. “Do you even have to ask?”

She bit down on her lower lip and looked around. “When?”

“Once everyone starts heading to bed, we can go for a walk along the beach. I have a bag packed behind the guys’ tent.”

Her smile grew bigger. “Look at you thinking ahead.”

I winked. “Hell yeah.”

“Wow, I’m exhausted. Must be all the sun from today. I’m turning in, y’all. Isn’t that one girl we met today having a big beach party tomorrow at her place? What was her name? Cassidy? I’m down for a good beach party,” Grace said as she stood up and stretched.

“Oh yeah, I forgot that she mentioned having a big party.” Lauren jumped up. “I saw some really good-looking guys hanging around her place today.”

Grace made a little fist-pump action. “Good, I need to get laid.”

Luke jumped up. “What? What the hell did you just say, Grace?”

Grace rolled her eyes. “Please, don’t even go there. How many girls have you hooked up with during the two days we’ve been here?”

Luke looked back to where Libby was standing. She was now talking on the phone to someone and laughing.

“None,” Luke said.

Grace shrugged her shoulders. “Well, look at you. I’m impressed. Wear those shorts again tomorrow, big brother, and I bet they’ll be lining up for ya.”

She walked past Luke as he glared at her.

Everyone but Lex and me started getting up and heading to the tents. I watched Libby.

“I’ll stay out here and make sure Libby is okay, Will,” Colt said.

“Nah, that’s okay, Colt. I wanted to spend some time with Lex.”

Colt shook his head and said, “Remember, my dad could come at any moment. Keep your hands off my sister.”

“Colt, knock it off!” Lex said.

Colt smiled and headed toward the tent. I glanced over and saw Luke standing there, looking at Libby. She was now off the phone, but she was staring off into the black night sky.

“I’m, uh…going to say good night to Libby,” Luke said, barely above a whisper.

I stood up, held out my hand, and helped Lex up. “Let’s go for a walk, Lex.”

She quickly nodded her head. As we walked by the tent, I headed to the back and grabbed the backpack I had packed earlier. We started off down the beach, and I looked back over my shoulder to see Luke and Libby talking. They didn’t appear to be arguing, and that was a good sign.

At least I hoped it was a good sign.

Will and I walked in silence for a bit.

Finally, I asked, “What is weighing so heavily on your mind, Will?”

He sighed. “Libby and Luke.”

I nodded my head. “Yeah, what about Colt and Lauren? Did you happen to notice how the two of them look at each other?”

Will chuckled. “I have. What is wrong with the four of them?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m not sure. I do know though that Libby is really starting to like Zack.”

Will looked at me. “Really? What has she said?”

“I don’t know. Normal stuff. He treats her really good and showers her with attention.”

“That’s good. I wouldn’t want to kick his ass.”

I giggled. “She said things are moving along…in their relationship.”

Will rolled his eyes. “Ugh, Lex. I don’t want to hear that.”

I stopped walking, and so did Will.

“Will, I don’t want Libby to do something she would regret. I asked her about her feelings for Luke.”

“What did she say?”

I shook my head. “She won’t answer me. She dances around the subject by saying things like, ‘He has Abigail,’ or, ‘He doesn’t feel that way about me.’ It is so frustrating.”

Will looked down at the ground and then back at me. “Maybe Libby’s moved on.”

I just looked at him. “Do you really believe that? Do you not see the way they look at each other? Will, you and I both know they are in love with one another. One of them is going to make a mistake and possibly push the other away for good.”

Will placed his hands on my shoulders. “Do you remember when your father said if our love was a true love, it would find a way?”

I nodded my head. “Yes, I do remember that.”

“The same thing holds true for Lib and Luke, and for Colt and Lauren. We need to let them work it out for themselves, Lex. We can’t force any of them to be with someone unless they feel it in their own heart. Love always finds a way, baby.”

My heart did a little skip as I smiled. I looked down at the backpack and then back up into Will’s eyes. “Make love to me, Will,” I whispered. I leaned up on my tippy toes and kissed him.

Will dropped the backpack, pulled me into his body, and deepened the kiss. When he pulled away, he said, “With pleasure.”

I watched as he opened the backpack and pulled out the blanket. He spread it out, and then he took out two bottles of water and set them to the side. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and swiped across the screen. He hit a few buttons, and music began playing. When I heard Dan + Shay’s “19 You + Me,” I couldn’t help but smile.

I pulled my T-shirt up and over my head as Will pushed his shorts down. I swallowed as I looked when his dick sprang out, clearly showing how much he wanted me. I wanted him so much, but every time, I would get nervous as hell. I wasn’t sure why. He walked up to me as he pulled his shirt off and tossed it to the ground. All I could hear were the waves crashing against the shore and my heart pounding in my chest. I pushed my shorts and panties down in one movement and stepped out of them. Will looked my body up and down as if he couldn’t get enough of me.

“Lie down, Lex,” he said in a husky voice.

My libido came to full attention as I lay down on the blanket. My insides were clenching with anticipation as I watched Will move over my body. He gently began kissing my neck, and then he moved his lips up to mine. The way he kissed me so tenderly caused me to let out a small moan, and I pushed my fingers through his hair.

“Oh, Lex, I love you so much,” he whispered against my lips.

I was so overcome with emotion that I wanted to cry out.

“I love you, Will. I love you so much.”

He began moving his lips down my neck. “I can’t wait to make you my wife someday.”

I let out a moan as I felt the wetness between my legs. I needed him to touch me.

“I want to make love to you every morning and every night.”

“Will, please touch me.” The need in my voice surprised me.

The way he could make my body come to attention with just his words was unreal to me. He placed his hand on my thigh, and I gasped.

“Yes. Please…” I said.

He moved his fingertips gently across my leg, and then he finally brushed his fingers across my lips. He slipped his fingers inside me and let out a long, deep moan. “Lex, you’re so damn wet. Baby, do you want me?”

I nodded my head frantically. I wanted to go slow, to enjoy him inside me. “I always want you, Will. Always.”

He began kissing my nipple as he slowly worked his fingers in and out of me. He was building me up, and I loved every second of it.

“Feels…so…good. Will, I’m so close,” I whispered as I tugged gently on his hair.