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The Right Kind of Wrong

Felicity Heaton



Copyright © 2007 Felicity Heaton

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any

means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwisewithout the prior written consent of the publisher, nor be otherwisecirculated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which itis published and without a similar condition being imposed on the

subsequent purchaser.

The right of Felicity Heaton to be identified as the Author of theWork has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright,

Designs and Patents Act 1988.

First printed February 2007

First Edition

Layout and design by Felicity Heaton

All characters in this publication are purely fictitious and anyresemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.



The Right Kind of Wrong – Felicity Heaton

1

Rebecca stared at herself in the mirror and sighed. It wasn’t

that her friend, Alison, hadn’t done a fine job in helping herget ready for tonight’s big Valentine’s Day ball at theConnelly’s massive house, it was just that she really didn’twant to go after the week she’d had.

At the age of eighteen, she should’ve been enjoying her finalmoments of high school at a party specifically engineered tobe the grand finale to her school life. It was supposed to be

bigger than the senior prom, but that was no surpriseconsidering it was being hosted by the town’s richest family.Still, given the choice she would have preferred to stay athome and listen to the boy next door revving his motorcycle.

Which he was doing right that second.

Her fists clenched when she heard the ever-increasing volume

of the engine roaring as he purposefully revved it just belowher window. Since he’d moved in last summer, he’d becomethe number one most annoying boy on the planet and sheknew he did everything with intent.

He was trying to piss her off.

She swore on her life.

“Come on, Becca. Why the long face?” Alison asked while shewalked back into the room.

She barely heard her. She was so lost in staring out of thewindow at the driveway below.

“Huh?” she said and moved back to the mirror, pulling her

eyes away from the world outside her window as the boy nextdoor drove away. “I’m fine, really…just this week’s been helland I wish we didn’t have to go to this dance…do we have togo?”




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“Yes,” her friend replied with force. “I didn’t spend two hoursgetting us ready for you to pull out at the last second becauseyou’re nervous.”

Rebecca pouted before looking herself over in the mirroragain.

“I’m not nervous.” She frowned at her reflection and poked apiece of hair back into place. “Really…I’m not…last week thisdance would have been the best thing on earth, now I’mstarting to think I’d rather be studying.”

“You don’t mean that.” Alison smiled and helped her pin herhair into place.

They had spent almost an hour twirling Rebecca’s smoothbrown hair into intricate curls and pinning it up so it was amass of tumbling locks on the back of her head. Rebeccaknew that Alison envied the way her hair was long enough to

tie back in such a pretty fashion. She’d mentioned it a milliontimes tonight, and in the run up to today. Her friend’s blondehair was barely shoulder length and she’d settled for trying topin it back in some fashion.

Only it didn’t want to be pinned back.

Every time Alison moved, another piece sprang loose andRebecca could see in her eyes how much it irked her.

She looked down at the beautiful deep red dress she hadchosen from the store. She’d been astounded when hermother hadn’t argued with her over the high price tag; shehad simply told her that she looked very beautiful in it.

She smiled.

The satin material of the dress shimmered when she moved,the bodice emphasizing her curves and the long skirt trailingaround her ankles. She’d bought long, blood red satin glovesto match her dress and had small fabric roses in her hair.




3

Applying her lip-gloss for the twentieth time in ten minutes,she repeatedly told herself that she was going to have a good

time tonight no matter what.

So what if the party was being held at the Connelly mansion.

So what if she had just broken the heart of their only son.

She had every right to go to the party along with everyoneelse.

She whined.

This night was not going to go well.

“Rebecca?”

She turned to see her mother standing by the door.

“My…you two look stunning…all grown up at last.” Her motherstepped into the room and gave them both wide, lovingsmiles.

“Thanks, mom.” She hugged her gently. “We won’t belate…you’re sure that you’re okay about picking us up whenwe call?”

“I have ice cream and movies to keep me company…whenyou’re ready, just let me know and I’ll come and get youboth.” Her mother turned her smile on Alison and missed herlook of longing as she thought about how nice it would be to just curl up with ice cream and movies.

The clock in the hall chimed eight and she felt her nervespush their way up into her throat until she could feel herheart beating there.

“Time to go.” Alison caught hold of her arm in a vice like gripand led her from the room.




4

+++

Rebecca heaved a sigh and stared up at the mansion in frontof her. It was too late now to back out of the whole thing.Before she knew it, she was walking into the brightly lit hallwith Alison firmly holding her arm.

The entrance room was highly decorated with red roses andsilver hearts adorning the staircases and pedestals. Lushwhite velvet ropes had been placed across the restricted

areas and her eyes darted about to take in the areas thatwere accessible to the students. Looking up when she enteredthe main room of the house, she saw the candelabras thathad always been empty in her past visits now brimming withcandles, their flames flickering and dancing in time with thequiet background music.

She brought her eyes back down to earth. Letting them roam

over the milling mass of students in front of her, shedescended the small flight of steps with her friend.

“This is so cool.” Alison grinned enthusiastically and waved attheir friends where they were gathered by one of the tallwindows that flanked the long room.

Her heart hammered nervously against her chest and shedesperately tried to ignore the whispers that had filled theroom as soon as she had entered it. She could sense that alleyes were on her. It made her stomach twist upon itself andshe pulled a face that clearly expressed her discomfort.

“You okay?” Alison whispered out the corner of her mouth.

“I can’t do this,” Rebecca hissed back at her. She was aboutto turn around to leave when her eyes fell on Greg.

She tried to hide the pang of hurt she felt on seeing him sohappy as he laughed with his friends. It had only been a fewdays since she’d broken up with him and he’d been




5

devastated at the time. Now he was acting as though nothinghad happened as he chatted animatedly to the girlssurrounding him.

She frowned when her fellow cheerleader, Chantal, sidled upclose to him and ran her hand over his shoulder. He turned toface Chantal, smiled wide and placed his hand over hers.

Alison dragged her into the crowd and Greg was lost fromview as they tried to weave their way through the peopletowards their friends.

“You can do this, Rebecca. You dumped him, remember? He’skinda entitled to rebound.” Alison reminded her when theyfinally broke free of the crowd, coming out near the tallFrench windows that lined one side of the room.

“Come on, Becca, you did the right thing. That guy wasalways going to be cheating on you with someone…” Mark

punched her playfully on the arm and then swept hisblondish-brown hair out of his face. His deep brown eyessparkled at her and he grinned.

She forced a smile to placate him. He’d never quite cottonedon that girls didn’t like being hit, even if it was playfully. Hecouldn’t help his strength, she supposed, he was one of theschools best swimmers.

“And I mean…with Crystal of all people?” Alison continuedMark’s conversation while she looked around the room.

“I suppose,” she said half-heartedly as the band began towarm up and her eyes continued to roam around the room.

She wasn’t sure what she was looking for until she found it.

There, standing in the corner in his own little world was theguy from next door, Joshua. She couldn’t believe he’d actuallycome to the party when he hated the whole school. He didn’t




6

look much like she’d remembered him. He seemed sodifferent, so much more human.

The people that were partially blocking her view of himmoved, the band began to play and she found her eyeswidening on seeing him fully for the first time that night.

He was dressed all in black like she had been expecting, butthere was no sign of his usual scruffy t-shirt and jeans. Shedidn’t know what she’d thought he was going to be wearingbut seeing him in a black suit, with a black shirt and tie took

her breath away. He looked amazing. His black locks weretousled and his eyes seemed even bluer than sheremembered.

She watched him run his long fingers through his hair andfound her fingers rubbing against each other as she wonderedwhat it felt like to do that.

When he raised his head and looked in her direction, shestared at him with wide eyes like a rabbit caught inheadlights. She couldn’t look away no matter how much shetried to convince herself to do so. She was captured by hisalmost tender expression as he cocked his head to one sideand smiled.

“Rebecca?” Mark said near her shoulder.

She swung her head around to face him and the spell wasbroken.

“Huh?” She raised her brows and let her mouth hang open.

“You want a drink?” he asked and frowned over her shoulder,evidently trying to see what she’d been so fascinated with.

“Sure.” She beamed at him and then, turning her head back,she found that Joshua was gone.

She sighed and a sinking feeling welled up inside her.




7

Alison put her arm around her and leant her cheek againsther shoulder. “It’s not that bad…he was going to dance with

her at some point.”

She realised she was missing something and looked over atthe dance floor.

There, surrounded by other couples, was her ex-boyfriendand her ex-best friend dancing together. They were so closeas they moved to the slow music that she couldn’t tell where

Greg ended and Chantal began.

“Let her have him,” she muttered and then found her eyesabsently roving again while she tried to figure out whereJoshua had disappeared to.

“Looking for someone?” Aimee asked as she appeared behindthem and Rebecca jumped.

“Christ, Aimee!” She pressed her hand to her chest andturned to face the slim blonde. “Wow…you look good. HasMark seen you?”

“No. You think he’ll like?” Aimee twirled and showed off hervery little black dress. It hugged her figure above the waistand flared out over her hips.

Rebecca mused that if Aimee span on the dance floor, theirentire year would be able to see her panties. She silentlyprayed Aimee was wearing some.

“He’ll like. He’ll definitely like.” She nodded in agreement andthen found her eyes arrested by Joshua when he walked pastthem.

He was so close that she could smell his aftershave and it setsomething off inside of her. Something she’d never thoughtshe’d have when it came to him.




8

Want.

Desire.

And the courage to seize the moment.

“Was that…?” Aimee looked shocked and stared in thedirection he’d gone.

“Joshua,” she said and watched him disappearing into thecrowd again.

“I can’t wait any longer. I’m going to go see Mark.” Aimeegrinned and bounced on her heels.

“He went to get drinks.” Alison pointed in the direction of themakeshift bar and watched her walk away before turning herattention back to her best friend. “You sure you’re okay?”

She noticed Rebecca was staring at the far end of the roomand tiptoed so she could see what had her so fixated. All shecould see was Joshua, leaning against the back wall andplaying with his Zippo. Her eyes widened when she realisedthat was who Rebecca was looking at.

“I’m going to ask him to dance,” Rebecca said withdetermination.

She almost squeaked.

“No…no…you are not asking him to dance. Rebecca, promqueens don’t dance with the school bad boy.” Alison kept holdof her friends arm as she tried to move away.

Rebecca paused at the reminder that although this was thebiggest dance of the year, it wasn’t the last. There was stillprom to come. Her mind flipped from one dance to another,recalling the Halloween dance that had ended in disaster. Halfof the football team had ended up in the swimming pool. Itwouldn’t have been a problem had someone not put red dye




9

in it first. They’d called off the rest of the dance after that.She wished someone would do the something similar to thisone. She smiled at the memory of a dozen grown men

completely dyed red. It had taken days for it to wear off.

Coming back to the world, she frowned at her friend.

“Since when did you care about prom queen?” She lookedconfused.

“I don’t…just…I don’t want to see you hurt. That’s Joshua

Sands. He’s not going to dance with you. He hates youremember? It’s the age old tradition of school bad boy hateshead cheerleader.”

“He’s my next door neighbour. Is there a law that says nextdoor neighbours can’t dance together?” She realised that shesounded too desperate to find a reason that they would beallowed to dance and then decided that it shouldn’t matter

who he was or who she was. If she wanted to dance with him,she was going to.

The rest of the world be damned.

She’d already had a horrible week. How much worse could itget in the space of a few hours?

“Besides…I’m sure he’s here with Morgan.”

She shot her friend a dark look and then quickly masked itwith a smile.

“He isn’t here with Morgan. I heard he dumped her threeweeks ago and that’s why she hasn’t been in school. She’sbeen seeing Will Barker ever since Joshua kicked her sorryass to the curb.” She grinned mischievously when Alisonlooked stunned. “So you see…as one single person to another,I feel I’m perfectly entitled to ask him to dance.”




10

“But Rebecca…” Alison said in a hushed tone and trailed offwhen Rebecca looked over her head.

“Look! There’s Travis.” Her friend pointed towards theentrance to the dance hall.

She spun on her heel and tiptoed in an attempt to see overthe people crowding around her. “Rebecca, I can’t see Travis.Are you sure?”

She turned to see her friend disappearing into the crowd in

the direction of Joshua.

“Oh…” She cringed when Rebecca approached him. “I can’twatch.”

+++

Joshua flicked his Zippo open again and stared at the flame.

While he looked down at his lighter, a pair of feet came intoview and he cocked his head to one side before raising hiseyes. Stood in front of him was a vision in blood red, her slimfigure encased in a tight bodice that gave her a modestcleavage. His gaze strayed there for a moment before hefound the courage to look into her eyes. He was stunned tosee Rebecca, queen of the school and the cheerleading squad,standing in front of him.

“Um…hi.” She held her hand up in an awkward greeting.

He looked around and realised that he was the only personwithin five metres of her, meaning he was the only one shecould possibly be speaking to.

He had planned to say ‘hello, baby’, it had been on the tip ofhis tongue as he stared at her, but then the pain in his fingersfinally registered and he grimaced.

“Shit,” he growled and dropped the burning hot lighter to thefloor.




11

She hastily bent down to retrieve it for him and he frowned,unsure of what to make of the things that were happening.

When she looked up at him with furrowed brows and an evenmore awkward look on her face, he got the feeling that shefelt responsible for him injuring himself.

“Sorry…” she mumbled and straightened up. She held thelighter out to him.

He took it quickly and slipped it back into his pocket before

letting his eyes come back to rest on hers.

She looked amazing.

Her eyes were surrounded by dark make-up that made thegreen flecks in them stand out and her lips were painted witha shiny red gloss that drew him to them.

“Pep squad’s over there.” He cursed himself as he said thewords in a bitter tone and saw her smile fade.

“Oh…” Rebecca suddenly wished that the earth would swallowher whole as she stood in front of him. Her hands toyed witheach other and she searched for something to say. Shegrumbled, “I should’ve listened to Alison.”

“What’s that?” He frowned.

“Nothing.”

“So…are you here to bitch at me about my bike or my music.Which one is offending those…” He reached out and swept alone finger around the curve of her ear. “…Sublime delicatelittle ears of yours today?”

She felt lost for a moment while she tried to memorise thewarm feeling his touch had caused. As it faded away, sherealised that her idea of asking him to dance was a stupid oneand that Alison had almost been right.




12

Only it wasn’t that head cheerleaders didn’t dance with theschool bad boy.

It was that he wouldn’t dance with them.

Good girls always wanted bad boys.

Bad boys didn’t want them.

“I just…you know what…forget it, it’s nothing,” she spat the

words at him and went to move away but he caught hold ofher wrist and held her firm.

“Ah ah ah!” Joshua chastised her when she tried to break freeof his grasp. He struggled for control over his mouth and waspleasantly surprised when he finally won and bit back hisharsh, defensive comments. “You made the effort to comeover here, piqued my interest, like. I think that you’re obliged

to tell me now.”

“Fine.” She snatched her arm from him and rubbed her wrist,staring at him defiantly. “I just…I saw you standing here andI…I wanted to know…if you wanted to dance…it’s stupid,forget it.”

He stared slack jawed as she stormed out of the nearby doorsthat led onto the garden. For a few seconds, he didn’t knowwhat to do. He’d imagined every possible reason for hercoming over to see him in front of the whole school year andher wanting to dance with him hadn’t come up.

If it had then he probably would’ve acted more civilly towardsher.

+++

Rebecca heaved a long sigh and stared up at the stars. Shelistened to the gravel scrunching under her feet. In thedistance, she could hear the party continuing without her and




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she wondered what her friends were up to. There was no wayshe could head back in yet. She needed time to blow offsteam and regain control over her seemingly fragile emotions.

Raising a hand up, she pressed the pad of her finger to justbelow her eye and frowned when she pulled it away and sawthe tear drop soaking into her glove.

She didn’t know how he’d managed to upset her so much. Itwasn’t like he’d flatly refused to dance with her or taunted heras badly as he usually did. She just felt so fragile tonight and

for some reason she’d expected him to see it in her eyes andbe gentle with her.

She hadn’t been this upset when she’d dumped Greg.

“Rebecca?” A quiet voice drifted to her ears and she turnedslightly so she could look at him.

She couldn’t miss the concern in his expression when hestepped towards her. He looked sorry beyond words and shefelt the tears pushing for freedom while she stared at him.

“Why?” Joshua asked her and tried to ignore the way hiswhole body trembled on seeing her bathed so beautifully inthe moonlight.

“Because I want to,” she replied softly.

“I thought you hated me?” he queried and she frowned.

“Right now, I’m starting to think I do.”

“You don’t mean that…do you?” He narrowed his eyes gentlyon her.

She shook her head.

“Dance with me and your reputation will be shot. No morehead cheerleader. You’ll go down in history at our school as a




14

loner, a girl that betrayed her pep squad by siding with theenemy. They won’t let you be a cheerleader in college.” Hetook another step towards her and felt the gravel crunch

under his feet.

“Maybe I don’t want guys staring at my ass when I dance.”

“No more great lunk head as your boy.” He ventured anotherstep towards her and almost smiled when she spoke herwords defiantly.

“Maybe I already dumped his pathetic backside.”

He arched a brow and looked back at the house before takinganother step towards her.

“Maybe I thought you were better than all that.” Rebeccaturned away from him and stifled her desire to cry while shewaited for him to laugh at her like he’d done so many times

before.

“Rebecca?” he whispered in a hushed, intimate tone.

“Can’t you just go? I think I need to be alone.” She tried tocatch the tears with her gloves as they threatened to tumbledown her cheeks.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” He took another step towards her. “My mom told me I had to act the gentleman tonight.”

“Good luck with that,” she muttered and sniffed back hertears. She wished she could gain control over her feelings,but the closer he got to her the more she wanted to be in hisarms, and the more she was scared he was going to leave.

“Rebecca Stevens?” He started and she turned her head tolook over her shoulder at him. “Would you dance with me?”

She swallowed noisily and hesitantly considered his offer. Hehad come after her when she’d run away and now he wanted




15

to dance with her. Suddenly she felt as though she was in amovie and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry over howridiculous this night was.

Turning slowly, she came face to face with him andtentatively held her hand out before pulling it back.

“This isn’t a joke, is it? You’re not going to dump me in aswimming pool full of dye, are you?” She raised her browsinquiringly at him and he smiled wide.

“You knew that was me? Solemnly swear not to tell anyone Idid that and I’ll promise not to dump you in dye.” His eyesfollowed her hands as she motioned a cross over her heartand it began to accelerate when his gaze remained on hercleavage again. She managed a small smile when he raisedhis eyes to meet hers and closed the gap between them,taking hold of her hand and wrapping his arm around herwaist.

She let her gaze roam over his face. He looked divine in themoonlight and as he began to dance with her to the waltzplaying in the house, she let herself get lost in his eyes.

They seemed darker in the dim light, full of allure, and all shecould do was let him move her around in circles as his bodyedged closer to hers. She felt like a puppet, being controlledby him, unable or unwilling to make her own moves, so shelet him guide her as their eyes remained locked.

Joshua smiled when she twirled and then came back to him.He’d never seen anything so graceful as she was when shedanced and he couldn’t tear his eyes away from hers. He feltas though she was speaking words straight into his head witheach slight change in expression and when she smiled, he felthis heart flutter against his ribcage. Everything seemedperfect, too perfect, perhaps.

She almost tripped over her feet and stared wide-eyed pasthim to the house.




16

Catching hold of her, he held her steady. She continued tostare over his shoulder. He glanced towards the house and

clenched his jaw when he saw Greg walking towards them,flanked by his team mates, Bill and Travis.

“Great.” He almost growled while he eased Rebecca up ontoher feet and then flashed her a reassuring smile. She lookednervous. “No worries, I know the drill.”

Her look turned to confusion. “What drill?”

He pointed towards Greg and she frowned in his direction.

“Girl decides to dance with outcast, head jock reclaims girl,little moment of straying over and outcast goes back to wherehe belongs.” He watched Greg descending the steps towardsthem.

Rebecca felt panicked when she saw Greg approaching andJoshua’s words of self-deprecation weren’t helping her retainemotional balance.

“Joshua…Joshua…I really did dump him. I really did want todance with you. How about this? Head cheerleader discoverscrush on outcast and decides to act on it, no matter what therepercussions.”

“What?” He glanced at her with an incredulous look. “Youseriously dumped him. No second thoughts? Because I’mdamned if he’s interrupting my dance if you’re not attached.”

She giggled at how formal he sounded and shook her head ina resounding ‘no’. “I’m no way taking him back.”

“Joshua!” Greg charged towards him, rolling his sleeves upand showing his intent to fight if necessary.

Joshua didn’t give him the chance.




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The second Greg was within striking distance, he punched himhard across the jaw with a left hook.

She watched in amazement as Greg fell to the floor and wasquickly surrounded by Travis and Bill as they tried to help himup. Moving to stand over her ex, she gave him a thin-lippedangry look and searched for words to express how annoyed athim she was. When she couldn’t find any, she just kicked himas hard as she could and turned sharply to face Joshua.

“Take me home,” she pleaded and didn’t wait for his answer

before she started back towards the house.

Joshua took his jacket off when he caught up with her by thecar park and grabbed hold of her wrist to stop her fromwalking. When she turned to face him, he could see tearsshimmering in her eyes. He sighed and wrapped the jacketaround her shoulders.

“Don’t want you getting cold now.” He smoothed the lapels ofhis jacket and drew it closed around her. Raising his hand up,he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb. “He’s notworth tears.”

She sniffled and nodded, closing her eyes.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here.” He caught hold of her handand gave it a tight squeeze.

Rebecca stared down at their joined hands while he walkedthem towards his motorbike. Inside, she felt oddly warm fromseeing his large hand engulfing hers and she still couldn’tquite believe that he’d punched Greg in order to defend her.

Her whole body blushed over that thought.

No wonder girls like bad boys.

Hitching her dress up as they reached his bike, she noticedJoshua’s eyes took to roaming up the length of her legs and




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she couldn’t miss his sharp intake of breath when she pulledthe dress up just a little further than was necessary for her toget onto the back of his motorcycle.

He stared at her thighs for a moment longer, the strugglevisible on his face, telling her that he couldn’t bring himself tolook away. She allowed herself a triumphant smile when hefinally turned his back on her and got onto his bike. Takinghold of her hand, he held her steady as she climbed on behindhim. She slipped his jacket on properly and her eyes widenedwhen he revved the bike’s engine into life, the vibrations of it

travelling through her body and thrilling her with the dangerand excitement it promised.

“Hold on, baby.” He grinned over his shoulder at her and thenlooked stunned when her hands locked firmly around hiswaist. “Ready?”

“Ready.” She closed her eyes and held onto him tightly. Her

cheek came to rest against his back.

“Don’t let go,” he ordered her and then wheel span as theypulled away down the long drive of the mansion.

She kept her eyes firmly closed and held onto him. She couldfeel his stomach brushing against her hands as he breathedsteadily and she continued to press her cheek into his back.When they had been driving for a few minutes, she realisedthat he wasn’t taking her home and looked up.

In the distance, she could see the ocean. The white light ofthe moon danced across each pale crest of the waves as theycrashed onto the shore.

Snuggling closer to him, she smiled to herself when one of hishands wrapped around hers and his thumb stroked hergently. She looked up again when she felt a sharp bump andher eyes widened when she saw sand surrounding them.




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“Are you insane?” she shouted above the noise of the enginebut only received a pat on the hand as a reply.

When the motorbike came to a halt at the edge of the softsand and Joshua switched the engine off, she slid down fromthe back of the bike.

He grinned at her, swung his leg around and dismounted. Heraised his brows and pursed his lips as he looked up at thesky above them and she followed his gaze.

She’d never seen anything so breathtaking in all her life.

Above them were more stars than she’d ever seen, even thebrightness of the full moon was unable to drown them out,and she felt shivers running up her spine as they twinkled ather.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed and felt him walking around her.

When he came to a halt in front of her, she dropped her eyesto rest on him and bit her lip as she saw his outstretchedhand.

“I believe we were dancing.”

She nodded dumbly and slipped her hand into his. When hemoved to lead her down onto the harder sand, she stoppedabruptly.

“Wait…” She slipped her heeled shoes off and gasped whenher feet were exposed to the cold sand.

Removing his jacket, she placed it over the seat of his bikebefore turning back to face him with a smile on her lips. Hereturned the smile and walked with her a few feet beforestopping and tugging her into his arms. Her heart skipped abeat, her body pressed up against his and she was again lostin his eyes.




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“Dance with me,” he whispered and moved his body so closeto hers there wasn’t room for air between them.

“There’s no music,” she replied and cursed herself for statingthe obvious. His smile widened and she remembered whatshe’d told herself earlier that night. She was ready to seizeany moment life threw at her tonight. Music or no music, shewas going to dance.

“We don’t need music…though if you want, I’ll sing to you.”

She giggled quietly before realising he was being serious.

“Really?” She looked incredulous and blinked into his eyes. “You’d really do that…for me?”

Joshua nodded and began moving in slow circles with her onthe sand, holding her firmly against him.

“Or, I could just tell you how beautiful you are.” He swore hesaw her blush even in the dim light.

Feeling encouraged, he let his thumb brush gently againsthers as they slowly danced, moving around in a gentlepattern while she stared into his eyes.

“You are you know…more beautiful than the heavens aboveus right now, more tempestuous than the ocean behind usand more serene than the full moon.” He swallowed when shesmiled awkwardly and lowered her eyes to the floor. Lettinggo of her waist, he placed his fingers under her chin andraised her eyes back up to his. “Look at me.”

Rebecca found his expression was soft as she looked into hiseyes and she wondered just when she’d fallen for him. Sincelast summer when he’d moved in next door, she’d beenconvinced that he was below her notice.




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Had she tried to convince herself so vehemently purelybecause she’d felt the connection between them back then askeenly as she felt it now?

“Since I first saw you, you’ve captivated me. I’ve watched youso often. I know every one of your nuances, from the wayyour nose wrinkles when you’re confused to that delightfullychildish pout you use to get out of almost anything.” Joshualistened to a wave crash onto the shore and looked deep intoher eyes. He could see from them that she was smiling athim.

“You know, you’re not half as bad as you pretend to be,” shesaid casually while she twirled around and then came back tohim.

“You’re not half as prissy as you pretend to be…” He trailedoff when she bumped into him and he stopped dead.

His gaze moved to rest on her lips.

He watched her small tongue trail over them and let his ownpart as he cocked his head to one side.

“What are you waiting for?” she whispered and smiled shakily.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and sighed outthrough his nose as he lowered his head towards hers.

Rebecca stopped breathing the moment his lips brushedagainst hers, barely grazing her skin as he tentatively kissedher. She closed her eyes and hooked her arms around hisneck, moving her mouth against his and kissing him slowly,languidly as they remained still on the shore.

Her whole body warmed through and she let her tongue rungently along his lower lip before it touched his and a sweep oftingles ran through her. Lips buzzing for more, she broughther tongue out again to meet his and when he moanedquietly on contact, she ached in response.




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Joshua knit his brows tight and kept his eyes firmly shut asher small tongue ran over his teeth, teasing along the length

of his tongue before he tackled it.

Another wave crashed loudly against the shore. He broke thekiss and breathed heavily, watching Rebecca doing the same.He smiled shyly at her and she grinned.

“What do we do now?” Rebecca felt foolish for asking him butshe wanted to know what he had in mind for the rest of the

night and silently she hoped he wasn’t planning to take herhome anytime soon.

He shrugged and she got the feeling he didn’t have a plan atall. She looked around them at the dark, empty beach andthe glittering sea. She smiled as an idea popped into herhead. It was verging on summer and the water would bewarm enough.

Her heart raced and she fumbled with the clasps at the backof her dress. She ignored the way his brows knit into aconfused look and continued. Her fingers trembled and shecursed them under her breath for making it nigh onimpossible to undo her top.

Growing impatient, and fearing that she’d lose her nerve if ittook any longer to strip down to her underwear, she tuggedher gloves off and threw them towards his bike.

“Um, Rebecca…what’re you doing?”

She could hear the confusion in his voice and just smiledreassuringly at him. Tackling the back of her bodice, her smilebecame triumphant when the final clasp gave way. Shehesitated for a moment and looked around her again. It wasso dark on the beach that no one would see her.

Well, no one but Joshua.




23

She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she wassupposed to be seizing the moment. It would have been a loteasier if he wasn’t looking at her with deer caught in

headlights eyes.

Shimmying out of the skirt of her dress, she threw it over thesaddle of his motorcycle and glanced down at herself. Shewondered if he was still looking at her with confusion, butcouldn’t find the nerve to see for herself.

Joshua swallowed hard and shifted uncomfortably as his body

reacted to what his eyes were trying to take in. He didn’tknow what to say, or what to make of what was happening. Itwasn’t everyday the girl next door stripped down to herpanties and strapless bra in front of you.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she walked towards him.Forcing them upwards to her face, he could see in hers thatshe wasn’t as confident as she appeared.

His gaze followed her when she walked straight past him, hisheart hammering hard against his chest and his braindesperately trying to catch up.

“What are you doing?” he asked again, not hiding hisconfusion.

She came to a halt just a few feet from him and smiled overher shoulder.

“What’s it look like I’m doing? I’m going skinny dipping.” Sheturned to face him and her lips curved into a smile that heswore was supposed to be as seductive as he thought it was. “You coming?”

His mouth went dry.

Looking along the length of the beach and then at her whereshe stood against the backdrop of twinkling sea, he didn’t




24

know what to say so he went with the first thing that cameinto his head.

“Are you crazy?”

She laughed, her whole face lighting up with it, and then tooka step backwards towards the water. When she raised herhand and crooked a finger at him, he thought she’d eitherfound the confidence she’d been lacking a moment ago, orwas doing a great job of masking her nerves, because in frontof him was a girl that was going to get what she wanted, no

matter what it took.

And he got the feeling she wanted him in his underwear andin the water.

He just stared at her, unable to move and unable to take hiseyes off her. His brows rose as she ran and dived into thewater, disappearing beneath the gentle waves.

“Rebecca!”

He ran to the waters edge and stopped quickly, jumping backa step when the water lapped at his shoes.

When she surfaced, she was laughing at him. He wondered ifshe’d done this before. The pep squad types were alwaysholding parties on the beach. Surely, she’d been skinnydipping before? He frowned when he thought about herskinny dipping with Greg and the other guys from the footballteam.

“What’s the matter, Josh?” She giggled when he scowled ather for shortening his name and making it sound like heshould have been one of the in-crowd. “You chicken?”

His scowl became a glare. He wondered what lengths she’d goto in order to get him into the water, like she wasn’ttemptation enough. She stood up and his eyes followed thewater as it cascaded down over her soaked underwear,




25

plastering it against her skin. He swallowed again, his heartleaping into his throat. She was definitely temptation enough,but he couldn’t quite figure out where she was going with

what she was doing. He was about to start undoing his pantswhen she spoke again.

“I thought you were a bad boy.”

She folded her arms across her chest and pouted. He staredat her breasts as she unconsciously pushed them togetherand then shook his head when he realised what she’d said.

She’d thought he was a bad boy?

Was she trying to be a bad girl?

He smiled and fingered his belt. What she’d said was fightingtalk and she clearly didn’t know who she was messing with.

Rebecca shivered the moment he turned his back on her andstarted towards his bike, stripping off his shirt at the sametime. She rubbed her arms, trying to rid them of the goosebumps that kept sweeping over her skin. She hadn’t realisedthe water would be this cold and dark. If he didn’t get in heresoon, she was either going to have to get out or freeze. Shedecided that freezing was the better option. It had taken somuch courage to get her in just her underwear and into thewater that she didn’t have enough left for getting out again infront of him.

Every beach party she’d been to, she’d spent sitting on thesand by the fire just watching her friends as they splashedabout in the water and had fun. She’d never had the guts to join them, but she’d always wanted to.

She willed Joshua to hurry up but he seemed to go evenslower, as though he was intentionally taking his time. Shehuddled down, trying to get her shoulders below the waterand trying not to think about all the little creatures that couldbe swimming around her.




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Looking down at the water, she squinted, trying to make outher feet in the dark depths. She was so intent on finding them

that she didn’t notice Joshua until it was too late.

She squealed as the water splashed her straight in the faceand she turned sharply, trying to find him. She swallowedhard, her heart smashing against her ribs when she sawnothing but rippling water around her.

Something brushed against her leg and she went to scream

but was dragged under the water so quickly that she didn’thave time to. Kicking out, she wriggled at first and thenrealised that it was firm, warm hands that were grasping herwaist, not some sea creature. She gasped at air when shebroke the surface with him, his arms still wrapped about her.

“Shit! You could’ve said it was cold,” he growled and pulled aface of discomfort.

She laughed. “Well I was trying to get you in here to warmme up but you were being stubborn.”

Wiping the water from her face, she placed one hand on hisshoulder and watched him as he ran his fingers over his hair,slicking it back. She bit her lower lip when her eyes droppedto his chest and she felt his knee supporting her bottom. Sheremembered a sultry day last fall when she’d watched himrunning track while she was at cheerleader practice. He’dbeen wearing a dark grey vest that was stuck to his skin,showing the curves of his torso, and a pair of tiny shorts. He’dimmediately become the star of a daydream.

Her teeth released her lip and she parted them. Reaching ahand out, she ran her fingers lightly down his bare chest, and jumped slightly when he flexed his muscles. She giggled.

“So you needed warming up? That’s the only reason you gotme in here freezing my ass off?” There was a note of playfulannoyance in his voice.




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She shook her head, her eyes not straying from his chest.Running her fingers up, she let her hand come to rest on his

other shoulder.

Joshua frowned down at her hands and wrapped his armtighter about her waist. He looked into her eyes, but she wasstaring at her hands, seemingly fascinated with them.

“Why then?” he said.

“Because I’ve always wanted to. I think tonight I’ve found thecourage to do all the things I’ve wanted to do but nevercould.” There was a distant edge to her voice, as though shewas lost in her thoughts while she ran her fingers downwardsand over his chest again.

He breathed in sharply, trying to cool the desire she wasmaking burn in his veins.

“Like dancing with me?” he said.

She smiled into his eyes and nodded. “And like kissing you.”

He closed his eyes when her lips met his and brushed againstthem in a gentle kiss. When she pulled away, he looked at herand then down at her hands where they were now snakingaround his waist.

“And skinny dipping? I thought you would’ve done thatbefore.” He raised a brow when her fingers toyed with theband of his boxers.

She shook her head in the negative. “Never. Have you?”

“Once.”

“Who with?” she asked quickly. A frown creased her brow andhe smiled to see the tiny hint of jealousy in her eyes.




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“Myself,” he said and wondered what she was up to when shemoved away from him a little.

“You know, this isn’t really proper skinny dipping.” She smiledcoyly. “For that, you have to be…naked!”

Before he could react, she’d pushed him backwards under thewater and pulled his legs up. Breaking the surface, his eyeswidened in alarm when he saw her holding his boxers up, atriumphant grin on her face.

Maybe she was a bad girl after all.

Rebecca giggled and waved his underwear at him, teasinghim with it. She didn’t know what had possessed her to gothrough with it, or to even think it in the first place, and shewas certain that he was going to get revenge for what she’ddone.

A part of her wanted him to.

Since he’d moved in next door, he’d made sure that he wason her mind, with his constant loud music and incessantrevving of his bike below her window. It had taken her a yearto realise that her feelings for him weren’t revulsion like she’dfirst thought. That was just the feeling she’d pretended it was.In reality, she’d wanted to be with him. She wanted to knowwhat it was like to be in his world where the pep squad werethe enemy and it didn’t matter what you did so long as youhad fun doing it. The tricks he played on people that hadalways made her laugh inside even when she wasn’t allowedto show it, the music he listened to that she always foundherself singing along to, and the way he didn’t seem to give adamn about what people thought, was exactly what everyonein the pep squad thought was wrong.

Only, she didn’t give a damn what the pep squad thought ofher any more.




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She had her best friends, Alison, Aimee and Mark, and shehad the school bad boy naked in front of her.

If being with him was wrong, it was the right kind of wrong inher eyes.

She smiled and then started to run when she realised thatJoshua was closing in on her. Heading towards the shore, shethrew his underwear onto the sand and felt sure that hewouldn’t follow her out of the water when he was naked.

She was wrong.

His hand caught her wrist and she squealed and kicked herlegs when he scooped her up into his arms, carrying her backinto the water. He stopped when he was thigh deep and shefrowned, going still in his arms.

He was grinning at her. She’d seen that smile before. He was

planning something. Her heart pounded wildly against herribs. Her eyes roamed over his biceps and slowly moved up tohis mouth. Licking her lips, she went to kiss him but hetossed her up into the air and laughed when she hit thewater, immediately going under.

Joshua didn’t wait for her to surface before diving after herand grabbing hold of her waist. In one deft movement, he hadremoved her panties and was holding them up for inspection.He heard her muttering obscenities to herself a few feet awayand continued to stare at her underwear. They were moresee-through than he’d thought they would be. The feel of thelace under his fingers sent desire spiralling downwards and hewas glad that the water was up to his waist so Rebeccacouldn’t see the effect she was having on him.

Hearing her wading through the water towards him, he cameto his senses and quickly held her panties out of reach.

“Fair’s fair as they say.” He smiled at her when she attemptedto reach her underwear and then raised a brow when she




30

jumped out of the water, making her breasts bounce andverging on exposing her lower half to his eyes.

He bunched up her panties, ran as far as he could towards theedge of the water without exposing himself and threw themtowards the shore. They landed a short distance from hisunderwear.

Turning around, he covered himself with his hands andshrugged at her when she looked exasperated.

“Fine!” she said and huffed before smiling wickedly. “Only it’snot quite fair is it.”

He frowned and then his heart missed a beat and sounded inhis ears when he saw her hands travelling towards the frontof her bra. He watched her dumbly when she sank below thewater, fumbled for a bit and then threw the remaining articleof her underwear at him.

The bra hit him square in the face and dropped into thewater. He just stared at her where she was idly floating, herhead, shoulders and toes poking out but the rest of herhidden below the surface.

Suddenly he was glad that the water was cold. It was the onlything keeping him under control.

Wading deeper into the water and towards her, he kept hiseyes fixed on her body, willing the moonlight to shine a littlebrighter so he could see her naked. He’d imagined it so manytimes when he was in his room. She always had a habit ofgetting changed with her light on at night and it cast asilhouette of her against the drawn curtains, a perfect outlineof her body for him to dream about.

He was within reaching distance of her when she rolled overonto her front. The movement forced her body to the surfacelong enough for him to catch a glimpse of her pert breasts




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and then her bare backside as she started swimming awayfrom him.

He instantly gave chase. This evening hadn’t gone at all likehe’d thought it would. Instead of spending a few hours alonein the corner of a room, he’d wound up with Rebecca in hisarms and he got the feeling he was going to get a lot morebefore the night was over.

Rebecca stifled her nerves when he appeared beside her. Sheshould have known he would be easily able to out swim her.

He was smiling at her, the pale moonlight shining of his dampface and making his wet hair sparkle as though it haddiamonds in it. She giggled and evaded his hand when hetried to catch hold of her arm. Redoubling her effort, sheturned on the spot and started swimming back the way she’dcome. She kicked her legs hard, splashing him in an attemptto slow him down.

She smiled to herself when she heard him cursing her nameand continued towards the bike. She hadn’t realised just howfar she’d swam before he’d caught her. There was still a gooddistance between her and where she would be level with hisbike. She used it as the marker in her secret race with him. Ifshe was quick, she could reach it before he caught her.

The feeling of the cool water washing over her bare skin wasdivine. There was something freeing about it. She wascompletely naked, on a deserted beach, with the boy nextdoor. She’d never done anything so wild in her life and shewas loving every second of it.

Her momentary lapse in concentration cost her the race. Shesuddenly found herself going backwards and span aroundonto her back to see Joshua dragging her towards him by herankle.

“Going somewhere?” He smirked.




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Her eyes trailed downwards, running over his torso to hisnavel. She swallowed noisily when she realised that his hipswere barely covered by the water. Her thighs ached when she

looked at his face and found him staring at her body. Shecould feel the cool breeze blowing over her exposed stomachand breasts, hardening her nipples and turning her skin togoose flesh again.

He looked as speechless as she felt.

Seizing the moment presented to her, she swept her arms

around and splashed him in the face, causing him to let hergo. She got to her feet, laughed and started sprinting towardsthe shore. The second her foot hit the sand at the watersedge, she was wrapped up in strong arms. She hit the drysand hard, landing on her back and feeling Joshua’s bodyagainst hers.

Opening her eyes, she found herself staring into his. He was

smiling at her, his hands pinning her arms by her sides so shecouldn’t fight him.

“I guess I win.”

She nodded. “I guess you do.”

“What’s my prize?” he said and his grip on her arms loosened.

Craning her neck, she brushed her lips against his, rewardinghim with a kiss. She gasped when his hands left her arms andsettled on her waist.

Joshua ignored the way his heart was racing so fast that itwas making him dizzy and focused on her where she waslying in front of him. He ran his eyes over her body, drinkingin the sight of it. Extending a finger, he ran it over her thighand listened to her sigh before trailing it up to her stomachand towards her breasts. He stared open-mouthed at them,his whole body trembling as he thought about what he wasgoing to do.




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He cupped her left breast, moulding his hand around it, andwas stunned when she responded by arching into his touch.

Feeling encouraged, he lowered his head and kissed acrossher stomach, working his way up to her chest. She tasted likeseawater, but he could smell a lingering hint of her perfumeon her. He found himself focusing on her increasingly raggedbreathing while he approached her breast, using it to guidehim about what he could and couldn’t do with her.

He wanted to do it all, wanted to fulfil every desire he’d hadsince first setting eyes on her last year.

Kissing along the underside of her right breast, he slowlyworked his way around to her nipple. He paused and blew onit, teasing it into hardness. She mewled quietly beneath himand he felt her fingers slide into his hair. He didn’t resist heras she tugged him towards her breast. Closing his eyes, he

wrapped his lips about it and flicked it with the tip of histongue. The sound of her soft moan drove him on, makingdesire burn in his veins and his blood raced downwards.

Rebecca opened her eyes and stared unseeingly at the starsabove them when she felt his erection against her thigh. Itsent a wave of hot desire coursing through her body and shecouldn’t stop herself from nudging against it and trapping itbetween their bodies. She let her other hand trail down hisback, tracing the taut muscles and memorising the feeling ofhis mouth against her breast. She groaned when he suckedon her nipple, teasing it with his teeth and then running histongue around it. Pulling him closer to her, she didn’t fight thetight ache in her abdomen or the flood of arousal thatspiralled out of control inside of her.

She arched her back into him, forcing him to suck harder onher nipple and burying her fingers deeper into his hair whileshe held him against her. Shifting her leg, she rubbed hiserection with it, teasing him with the softness of her thigh. He




34

moaned against her breast and it echoed through her chest,making her feel as though she’d made the noise instead.

She went to protest when he caught hold of her wrist andremoved her hand from his hair, but the words fled her lipswhen he pinned her hand against the soft sand and startedkissing down towards her navel. She arched her back, makingsure as much of her body was in contact with his as possible.A gasp escaped her when he caught her other arm andtrapped it, rendering her powerless.

Struggling, she bit her lip when he gripped her arms moretightly, sending a new flood of desire through her. She tensedher abdomen, making the most of the feeling settling thereand in her pussy. Watching him move downwards, his lipstrailing fire over her skin, she bucked her pelvis up, silentlybegging him to go there like she wanted him to.

He made a reprimanding noise and stopped. She was about to

open her mouth to speak when he gathered both of her handsin one of his.

She didn’t resist him when he placed her hands over her headand held them there. His mouth smashed against hers andshe tackled his tongue with her own, kissing him aspassionately as he was kissing her. His lips were warmagainst her cool flesh and she craved more.

Her eyes shot open when his free hand trailed over her curlymound and his fingers slipped between her fleshy lips.Bucking her pelvis against him, she moaned into his mouthand paused for a moment before continuing to kiss him. Shegroaned low in her throat when his fingers teased her nuband she tensed her muscles to make the most of the tinglingsensations it sent through her.

Joshua dipped his fingers lower. She was so warm andvelvety, so slippery and inviting. He unconsciously ground hiships against her thigh, searching for a form of release as hisarousal soared. Lips leaving hers, he kissed down her neck




35

and listened to her soft sigh. He ran his other hand down herarms and paused for a second at her breasts to quickly suckleeach nipple. Her body was beautiful, her breasts a perfect

handful and her waist curvaceous. He swirled his tonguearound one nipple, moaning when she bucked against hisfingers and forced them down towards her opening.

Unable to resist, he slipped the tip of one finger up inside ofher and she groaned, her muscles tightening around him andclenching him. His cock throbbed in response and he rubbedhimself against her thigh, desperately wanting some form of

satisfaction. He kissed down her stomach, not wanting torush, but finding it difficult not to. Slipping his finger up insideof her, he drew back to watch her face. She closed her eyesas he buried it deep in her, her lips parting and forming asilent ‘o’. She was hot around his finger, her warm juicescoating him. He pulled it out almost all of the way and thenthrust it back into her, watching her as she breathed outheavily and tensed around him.

She stretched her arms out above her and the moon bathedher skin in a white light. It made her look as though she wassurrendering to him, her legs parted and her body stretchedout in front of him just waiting for him to take it. He groanedand kissed her stomach.

Rebecca’s head fell backwards when he kissed and lickeddown towards her pussy. She gathered fistfuls of sand and bither lip when he trailed his tongue over her thigh. Spreadingher legs a little more, she silently invited him in and sighedwhen moved between them, his finger still buried in herheated depths.

“Joshua,” she pleaded, her fingers digging into the sandbeside her when he responded by softly pumping her with hisfinger. She moaned and arched, trying to make the most ofthe feelings inside of her but knowing there was only one wayof sating her desire.




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Her eyes shot open when his tongue flicked against herarousal and she melted into the sand, writhing and silentlybegging him for more. She didn’t care if anyone would hear

them or see them. The idea of it only served to heighten herarousal. All she cared about was Joshua and the intensedesire he was igniting inside of her.

Bringing her knees up, she buried both of her hands into hishair, holding him against her and not letting him go. Shewriggled against his face, moaning all the while as his fingercontinued to tease her and his tongue ran in tiny circles

around her nub. She curled her fingers tightly around his hair,her body moving against his finger as it thrust into her.

It wasn’t enough.

She was stunned when he pulled back and looked at her, asthough she’d spoken her thoughts out loud.

Joshua looked up the length of her body to find Rebeccastaring at him with wide dark eyes full of need. He paused fora moment to think about what they were about to do andthen moved upwards, not stopping until his face was levelwith hers. Removing his finger from her, he licked it clean, hiseyes never leaving hers. She bucked her hips up against his,rubbing herself against his cock and coating it with her warm juices. He rolled his eyes shut and went to move.

She caught hold of his hand and stopped him, a confused lookon her face.

“Where’re you going?”

“To see if I have any—” He started.

“It’s fine…I mean…I’m, you know…” She cut him off andsmiled shyly. “…Protected.”

He wondered how she could suddenly be so shy when amoment ago she was riding his finger like there was no




37

tomorrow. He dipped his hand again, running two fingers overher pussy and smiling when she rolled her eyes closed.Bringing his hand up, he ran it down the length of his cock,

smothering it with her juices.

He positioned himself between her knees, wantingdesperately to sheath himself to the hilt inside of her butwaiting for her to open her eyes first. He wanted to look intothem when he entered her, wanted to see that this meantsomething.

Rebecca opened her eyes to find herself staring into his. Shecould see an edge of nervousness in them, could feel his bodytrembling against hers. She reached up and cupped his cheek,running her fingers lightly over it and smiling at him, trying toshow him that she wanted this; she wanted him inside her.She wanted him period. She’d wasted a year already, a wholeyear that she could’ve been with him if she hadn’t been soblind to her feelings and his.

She didn’t want to waste any more time.

Drawing him down to her, she stilled her nerves and kissedhim. She smiled against his mouth when he started kissingher back, his lips moving softly against hers. Raising her hipsup, she nudged his erection and giggled when he groaned.

Joshua slipped a hand down between them and ran it over hislength. Guiding it towards her opening, he nudged the tipinside her and moaned into her mouth. He broke the kiss,drawing back and watching her face as he slowly inchedinside her hot depths. She was tight around him, her musclesclenching him and making him thrust up into her to make themost of the feeling. She groaned, her eyes wide and her legsspread even further, granting him better access. Unable tostop himself, he withdrew and thrust into her again, givingher a long, slow stroke with his length. She moaned againand he dipped his head to kiss her. Moving slowly against her,he placed his hands underneath her shoulder blades andwrapped his fingers around her shoulders.




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Rebecca moaned into his mouth and tensed around his cockas it slipped into her. She wrapped her arms around his

shoulders and let her tongue duel with his as their bodiesmoulded against each other’s. Bringing her knees up, shearched her back and clenched his cock as he thrust up insideof her. She groaned when he picked up pace, his lengthplunging deeper into her and making her whole body feel asthough it was on fire. She flung her head back, bringing hisface to her neck and holding onto him as he breathed heavilyinto her ear. Her other hand ran down his back to his ass and

she cupped it before grabbing hold of it and trying to forcehim to go faster.

The tightness in her abdomen began to grow, twisting andaching as he grunted into her ear. She loved to feeling of himinside of her and the way he was so lost in making love.

She giggled when his hand flew to cover her mouth and she

realised that she must have been moaning too loudly. Sheheard him laugh by her ear and then smiled when he drewback to look into her eyes. Dragging him down to her, shebucked her hips up to meet each stroke of his hips and kissedhim hard to stop herself from groaning.

She smiled against his lips when he moaned into her mouth,his tempo increasing again and his knees forcing her legsfurther apart. She kissed him hard, nipping at his lower lipwhile her fingernails dug into his backside. She was so close.

Her eyes flew wide when he thrust hard into her and she felthis cock pulsing and throbbing as he came. She tensed hermuscles, clenching it and milking it as he continued to pushup into her depths, and she moaned as the sensation of himcoming pushed her over the edge to join him.

Joshua breathed heavily against her neck, his hips slowing asher body quivered around his cock. He swallowed, his mouthdry and his heart racing as he rested against her. He couldhear her heart as it hammered against his ear, her stomach




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rising and falling with her rapid breathing. He pressed a kissto her soft skin and smiled when she wrapped her arms abouthim.

Lying in her embrace, he waited for her heart to becomesteady once more and then pulled back to look at her. Shewas smiling at him, her kiss blushed lips curving broadly intoit, and she looked deep into his eyes. He gave her a shy smileand eased himself out of her before rolling onto his side andgathering her close to him. He closed his eyes briefly whenher head came to rest against his chest, her hand playing on

his stomach.

He listened to the sound of the ocean and stared at the starsabove them. It was so peaceful here with her in his arms thathe didn’t want to move and break the spell. It felt as thoughit was a whole different world they were in now and theyweren’t the only ones that had changed tonight. It all had.The barrier that school had placed between them had been

erased. He didn’t care what his friends thought, or what hisfamily would say, so long as Rebecca was with him.

Rebecca tried to ignore the way she shivered when a breezeblew in off the ocean. She didn’t want to get up and getdressed. She didn’t want to go back to the world. She wantedto lay on the beach in the dark forever with only him forcompany.

She shivered again and frowned when Joshua released her,clearly having noticed how cold she was getting. She smiledin amusement as she watched him walking about naked,gathering their underwear and then gave him a little nodwhen he handed her clothes to her.

Dressing as quickly as possible, she joined him where he wasleaning against his motorbike dressed only in his pants. Shesmiled when he caught hold of her and settled her againsthim, her back flush against his chest. She looked down at hishands as they wrapped around her waist.




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Closing her eyes, she lost herself in the feeling of hispersuasive kisses against her neck and tried to ignore thespark of desire they were re-igniting inside of her.

“Joshua…” She silently cursed the nerves that shook hervoice.

He stopped kissing her throat and craned his neck to look ather. She could feel his eyes boring into her face but couldn’tbring herself to look at him.

“What happens now?” She glanced at him out of the corner ofher eye and felt a little relieved when he wrapped his armstighter around her, holding her closer to him.

He pressed a kiss to her earlobe. “Now we watch the moonsetting and the sun rising…and then maybe get somebreakfast…after that we’ll go home, together.”

“Sounds like a plan.” She smiled and leaned her cheekagainst his as he held her tightly.

Watching the ocean, she snuggled up closer to Joshua andsmiled over the possessive way he held onto her while kissingher neck, as though now he had her he was never going to lether go.

“So how does it feel being bad?” he whispered into her earand she leant into him, letting her cheek rest against his whileshe stared at the ocean.

She thought about his question and turned in his arms to facehim. He was smiling at her, his eyes sparkling with it and hislips calling to her. Not once in high school had she felt ashappy as she did in that moment. Not once had being withthe in-crowd made her feel this good. She gave him a wickedlittle smile. She didn’t care if people thought what she wasdoing was wrong. It was the right kind of wrong, anddefinitely the good kind of bad.




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“Being bad feels good,” she said and leaned into him.

She didn’t care what came tomorrow, so long as they were

always together. In her heart, she knew that she belongedwith him.

Closing her eyes, she captured his lips in a kiss that neverended.

Nothing wrong had ever felt this right.

The End




About the Author:

Felicity Heaton is a great believer in love at first sight and theromantic ideal. Having grown up reading extensively, she developeda deep love of classical literature, ranking Jane Eyre, North & South,and Persuasion amongst her all time favourite reads. The mostromantic moment of her life was when her husband got down onbended knee on the steps of Sacré Coeur, Paris, at night in front ofseveral hundred spectators and proposed. She was too drunk onlove, and subsequently champagne, to care about the audience. Allshe could see was the man that she loved. A writer of emotion and

life, she always strives to touch a chord of familiarity in her readersand give them characters they can love and a read to remember.

To see her other novels, visit:

http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk

http://www.alinarpublishing.com

Bookshelf 14

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Transcript of Bookshelf 14