Through the Lens (Click Duet #1) (Bay Area Duet Series) by Persephone Autumn (best book club books .txt) 📕

Micah walked off to hit on some chicks and I was getting toasty on the blanket. Thought I’d see what you two were up to.”

“We were just talking about seeing a movie later,” Shelly chimes in. “Not sure what’s playing, but we could pick whatever. Usually, there’s always something good at the theater around the holidays.”

“I’m in, if that’s okay with you guys,” I tell them both.

“Cool,” Shelly pants, her body winded from treading water so long. “I’m gonna head back to the blanket, tan for a little, and see if anyone else wants to join us.”

Before either of us says another word, Shelly swims to shore and leaves me alone with Cora. Exactly what I was hoping for.

In the anonymity of the water, my hands itch to reach forward and grab hold of her waist. I stare at her dark lenses through mine, neither of us uttering a word. We have never needed to fill time with meaningless conversation. By some unknown universal connection, we can read each other without ever speaking a word.

As if she hears my thoughts, as if she knows the urge building inside me, she swims closer and stops inches from my frame. The water surrounding me ebbs and flows with her arm and leg movements as she continues to tread. I stop fighting my instinct. Stop resisting what is in front of me.

The moment my hands grasp the curves of her waist, her arms and legs still. To anyone looking from the shore, nothing has changed except for her lack of distance. Our bodies hidden in the wide open. It is exhilarating. Not that I care if anyone sees us together. If anything, it would be heaven to tell the world my feelings for Cora. Feelings that have been growing stronger by the minute.

One hand holds her steady while the other begins to trace lines along the side of her torso. Up and down. Bikini top to bikini bottom. Her lips part just enough to see past the bold red rouge.

Under the water, her chest expands and contracts under my touch. She doesn’t stop me, but I have to know if she is okay with me touching her like this. As much as it would devastate me to hear her say no, I would never press her for something she had no desire to pursue. I don’t want to ruin what we have.

Leaning forward, my face an inch or two from hers, I whisper, “Is this okay?”

Her breath hitches, and I wonder if her eyes are closed behind her heavy-tinted lenses. She nods, her voice breathy when she speaks. “Yes.”

Her fingertips brush over my chest, startling me. “Sorry,” I mutter. “Just unexpected.”

She doesn’t say anything in response, her fingers exploring my chest as we bob in the water. Minutes pass, the sounds of other beachgoers fade away. All that exists is her and me and our bodies growing closer and closer as we explore each other’s skin.

My eyes drop from her frames, focusing on her lips and wondering what it would be like to kiss her. I have dreamed of kissing a few girls before, but that is all. Just dreams. But I think if I kiss Cora, I will never want to kiss another person in my life. My eyes pop back up to hers, wishing I could see her bold green irises. See what she is thinking. What she is feeling. If they hold the same questions or possibility mine do.

Without thinking, I close the last inches between us. My head tilting, lips hovering breathless above hers, waiting to see if she backs away. When she doesn’t draw back, I take the gesture as invitation and seal my lips to hers.

Warm, soft lips press against mine, her hands breaching the water’s surface and wrapping around my neck. I pull her impossibly closer to me, swiping the tip of my tongue over her lips and relishing in the sensation when she parts them and lets me in.

Her mouth is sweet and hungry on mine. And when a small whimper echoes in her chest, I am a goner. My hands roam her body under the security blanket of the water, kneading and caressing her hips. We stay like this, the measure of time nonexistent.

But when I feel her legs wrap around my waist, her strength locking us together at the hips, I break my mouth from hers, gasping. At this rate, things will progress much quicker than either of us is prepared to handle. In public, no less.

“Why’d you stop?” she asks, confusion lacing her voice.

“Because we have forever. And I don’t want to rush anything with you.”

She leans into me, pressing a sweet, brief kiss to my lips. “I like the sound of that.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Gavin

Present

“I don’t understand the issue, man,” Micah harps from the driver’s seat. “I may not grasp what’s going on between the two of you. Honestly, I never have. But you got to do what’s best for you.”

Why is it so hard to talk about women and relationships with guy friends? Unless they are in a relationship, everything comes out piggish.

Over the years, I’ve had several female friends. One of my best friends in Cali is female. We could talk about anything. Have in-depth conversations, no matter the topic, and come out feeling resolute. None of that is happening right now. Maybe because Micah has never been in my position. Never felt torn or anguished or helpless because of someone else.

“That’s the problem. I’m not sure I know what’s best for me anymore,” I groan. “Before my mom took the promotion and moved us across the country, I had everything mapped out. Things changed days after we landed in California. Not only was my life turned upside down, everything I thought I’d have was ripped away from me.” I pause, taking a swig of water before continuing. “Over the last decade-plus, she’s always been the one thing I held on to. Even if I was the only