Chapter 29. imgonnagetyouback.

"And I'll tell you one thing, honey I can tell when somebody still wants me, come clean."

His eyes glazed over me, his smirk remained unrelenting as he nodded slowly reminding me how we don't know how to stop ourselves. I turned my body to face him completely, one knee on the couch, the other leg hanging off. His hands shifted from his lap to my leg, sending goosebumps up my skin as his touch traveled higher, stopping just at my hips. 

I put my hand over his hand that was resting on my hip and traveled slowly up to his shoulder, resting my hand on the edge of his neck. I pulled him closer to me, our breaths starting to mingle. I found myself leaning in, not out of desperation or confusion, but because it felt like the next natural step, like the only thing left to do. His lips met mine, soft and unhurried, but I could feel the pull between us, the quiet agreement that no matter how complicated things got, this… we weren't done with this yet.

His kiss was intoxicating, breaking down my inhibitions, bit by bit as he reached for my waist, pulling me on top of him. I didn't push back and let myself settle on his lap, my lips never leaving his. 

His hands traveled from my waist to my back, his fingers putting enough pressure to pull me closer into him. Deepening the kiss even more. My hips pressed forward, causing a little groan to escape his mouth. I ran my fingers through his hair, as I tilted my head back slightly, guiding his lips to my neck. He kissed my neck gently, my heart pounding harder as I felt his teeth graze my neck once more. My breath escaped me and his lips traveled back to mine. 

He didn't hesitate. In one smooth motion, he gripped my thighs, standing up from the couch with me still wrapped around him. I barely had time to suck in a breath before he's already moving, his direction clear he was taking me straight for my bedroom.

And for a second, I let myself imagine it. The weight of his body over mine, the feel of him pressed into the mattress, no distractions, no interruptions. Just us.

But then—

"Wait," I murmured against his lips, my fingers curling into the back of his neck. He stepped slower, but he didn't put me down. His brows lifted slightly, questioning.

I smirked, letting my teeth graze his jaw before whispering into his ear, "Didn't you say that you wanted to do it on a balcony?" 

He pulled back enough to meet my eyes, almost like he wanted to make sure I wasn't joking. When he didn't sense any hesitation, his grin widened as his lips found mine once more. 

Instead of carrying me any farther, Justin smirked and sank back down into the couch, keeping me straddled over him. His hands skimmed up my thighs, settling at my hips, his thumbs pressing just hard enough to make me gasp quietly.

But before I could pull him back into another kiss, he exhaled a laugh, breaking the tension just enough to keep us from pushing it further. 

"I should probably go grab another blanket. And a condom…" His smirk deepened. "It would be too messy without one, no matter how good it felt last night." 

I huffed out a breathy laugh, shaking my head. "Whatever." I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop my smile. 

The way he was looking at me, like he was already imagining how this would play out, sent a rush of heat through my body. I exhaled, tilting my head slightly. "Go get your blanket, and don't forget the condom." I pressed my forehead into his for a second. He tapped my thigh lightly before gripping my waist, helping me off his lap as he stood. 

The moment he disappeared inside, I walked toward the railing, resting my hands on the cool metal as I let the night air wash over me. It didn't do much to calm the beat of anticipation still pulsing beneath my skin. This night had taken a turn I didn't expect but welcomed. 

I stood there in the quiet, with only the waves and my thoughts. I tried reeling in how quickly we moved, at a pace I almost couldn't keep up with—but I didn't fight to slow it down. I never fought it.

I found myself thinking back to earlier, when everything had gotten so messy between us, how close I had come to pushing him away, how easy it would've been for him to just walk out the door and let it end. But he didn't make it that simple. He stayed. Even when the frustration was clear in his eyes, he hadn't turned away. He let me talk, let me think it through, instead of closing off.

That was what I wasn't used to.

I wasn't used to someone trying to understand when I pushed them away—trying to understand why I stayed guarded. Mostly because my mom had taught me to be guarded. That she was the only one who would ever be able to understand me. But with Justin. God, I hated that he kept pulling me back in, even when I thought I was done.

I took a deep breath, still lost in my thoughts, when I heard the sliding door open behind me. His footsteps were steady, sure, and before I could react, I felt his arms wrap around my waist. His lips found my neck again, and in an instant, I was pulled back into him.

The tension from earlier reignited like a spark, the heat between us intensifying. I turned to see him towering over me. He kissed me deeply, his lips brushing over mine with a hunger that was all-consuming. His hands slid to my back, pulling me closer, his body pressing into mine as if there was no space between us at all.

I was dizzy, overwhelmed, but I didn't want to stop. This was exactly what I wanted. This was exactly what I had been craving.

"You sure you want to do this out here?" His voice was low, his lips still grazing my skin, but there was a playful edge to it, as if the decision was in my hands.

I nodded, my breath stilled as his hands began to explore the sides of my body, moving with intent. "I'm sure," I breathed, my fingers gripping the edge of the railing, anchoring myself as he kissed a trail down my neck.

"Alright then," he muttered, his grin audible in his voice as he pulled back slightly, his gaze locking onto mine with that familiar intensity. "Let's make this one count."

Before I could respond, his hands slid to my hips, lifting me slightly as he guided me toward the edge of the balcony couch. He sat down first, his hands never leaving me as he guided me to straddle him once again. The soft rustle of the cushions beneath us was barely audible against the pulse of my heartbeat as we settled in. His hands moved to my back, the heat from his palms sending a shiver through me as his lips met mine once more.

I broke the kiss for a moment, my hands slipping under his shirt to trace the line of his abs, feeling the tension in his muscles as he responded to my touch. His mouth hovered over mine as I pulled the edge of his shirt up, tugging it off over his head in one fluid motion. He groaned as I tossed it to the side, his chest now bare under the barely there moonlight.

His hands moved to my waist, sliding up under my shirt, fingers grazing my skin as they lifted it over my head. The air hit me immediately, and I felt the shiver run through me, but it was quickly replaced by the warmth of his hands as he pulled me closer again. His lips met mine hungrily, deepening the kiss as his hands slid down my back, pulling me tighter against him.

His lips trailed down my neck, sending a pulse of heat straight to my core. I shifted slightly on top of him, I felt his hands move lower, tracing the curve of my body, guiding me even closer.

"Alright, this is getting tricky," Justin muttered with a grin as he tried to adjust beneath me, his hands fumbling at the buttons of his jeans.

I raised an eyebrow, already feeling the effects of the heat coursing through me. "Tricky?" I asked, a mischievous smile pulling at my lips. "I thought you said you liked challenges."

His eyes sparkled with amusement as he tugged at his pants with more force than necessary, nearly knocking me off of him before he held onto me tightly. "Well, it's just… a little harder when I can't stop thinking about you and the fact that we're literally doing this out here, in the open."

I laughed softly, my fingers skimming over the waistband of my sweats, suddenly realizing just how much we were both trying to do this without seeming too… awkward. I shifted off his lap for a second, standing up and taking a step back. My skin prickled as I tugged my sweats down, only for them to get caught on my ankles. I cursed under my breath, hopping on one foot as I tried to untangle myself, laughter bubbling out of me.

"Okay, now that was graceful," Justin teased, watching me with a grin as I managed to yank my sweats down, finally tossing them aside.

"Yeah, yeah, you try doing this with no light, and a slight breeze messing with your equilibrium," I shot back with a smirk, already feeling the laughter ease some of the nervous tension that had settled in.

He chuckled, the sound deep and warm. "Fair point," he said, standing up to get out of his pants. As he did, his boxer got caught on his foot, and he stumbled a little. "Well, I was hoping for a smooth exit, but… seems like that's not happening."

I couldn't hold back the burst of laughter that spilled from me. "Guess we're both a little too eager for this."

With a grin, Justin finally got his pants off, kicking them to the side before turning back to me. His expression softened for a moment, the playfulness turning into something deeper, but it didn't last long before the teasing returned. "You look good standing there like that. I think I might need a moment to appreciate it."

I gave him a teasing glance, pulling at the waistband of my underwear, feeling the breeze against my bare skin. "Fine. Take your time," I said, "but don't take too long. We're not exactly in the most private of spots."

He smirked as he walked toward me, his fingers curling around the waistband of my underwear. "That's the best part," he murmured, slipping them down slowly, his touch deliberate, like he was savoring the moment. The heat in his eyes sent a shiver through me, anticipation curling in my stomach.

With our clothes discarded in a messy pile, the space between us all but disappeared. Justin's hands traced my hips, his grip firm as he pulled me closer, his breath warm against my skin.

"Now, no more distractions," he said, his voice hushed but full of promise. His lips found my neck, ghosting over my pulse, and my body reacted instinctively, a slow, deep ache unfurling inside me.

I swallowed hard, my hands seeking him out, pulling him in. The kiss that followed was deeper, heavier, a shift between us. This wasn't just teasing anymore. 

His hands slid lower, gripping beneath my thighs as he lifted me effortlessly, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding onto him as he carried me back to the couch. The cool night air brushed against my skin, a contrast to the warmth radiating from him. He pressed me down into the cushions, his weight settling over me, and my breath stilled as his lips trailed across my chest, down my ribs, mapping a path that sent a slow burn through my veins.

For a moment, he just looked at me, his gaze roaming my face like he was memorizing something only he could see. "I've never—" he started, then hesitated, his voice rough with restraint.

I touched his face, my thumb brushing against his cheek. "It doesn't matter," I whispered, pressing my forehead to his. "Let's just be here."

That was all he needed. He kissed me again, this time with a slow, building intensity that stole the air from my lungs. His hands moved over me, every touch deliberate, every shift between us sending waves of heat through my body. The space between us disappeared, and the moment we came together, everything else—the night, the world beyond this balcony, faded into the background.

He moved slowly at first, his breath shallow against my skin, his touch lingering like he was holding onto every second. My fingers tangled in his hair, my body reacting to his in a way that felt inevitable. His name left my lips in a whisper, and his grip on my hips tightened, the restraint in his movements slipping.

The rhythm built between us, growing more desperate, more consuming. I could feel the tension climbing inside me, the slow unraveling of control, the way his body trembled beneath my touch. He was watching me now, his gaze locked onto mine, and in that look, I saw something I hadn't before.

The sensation crested all at once, my body tightening as the pleasure washed over me, stealing my breath. I gasped, my grip on him tightening as the waves of release shook through me, my heart racing against his. But just as the moment passed, just as I began to sink into the aftershocks, I felt him stop.

His hands still gripped my hips, his body flexed with tension, but he wasn't letting go. My pulse was still pounding when I opened my eyes to find his waiting for me.

"Why'd you stop?" I breathed.

His lips brushed against my ear, his voice low, thick with restraint. "Because I wanted you to finish first…" He exhaled sharply, his fingers digging into my waist. "…but when I do, I want you on top."

A spark of something dark and thrilling flickered between us. A memory surfaced, his favorite position, the teasing from before, the stolen moments that had led us here. Except this time, there was no interruption. No outside world waiting to pull us apart.

I smirked, dragging my fingers down his chest, letting him feel the power I held in this moment. "You sure?" I murmured, letting the words roll off my tongue with deliberate slowness.

His only response was a rough exhale as he shifted off of me, dropping onto the couch with his head tilted back, waiting. His hands found my hips again as I rose onto my knees, the heat between us still electric as I slowly straddled him.

"More than sure," he said, voice hoarse. His fingers pressed into my skin, guiding me closer. "Just… don't fucking stop."

That was all the encouragement I needed. I moved against him, taking my time, savoring the way he tensed beneath me, the way his breath hitched, the way his grip on me tightened with every slow roll of my hips. I controlled the rhythm now, teasing, pulling him deeper into the moment.

His gaze darkened, his restraint slipping, and I felt the shift from playful to something urgent, something that had been waiting just beneath the surface. He let me lead, let me push him to the edge the way he had with me. His hands trembled where they held me, his jaw tight, his breath ragged.

"August," he groaned, his voice strained, as though he was barely holding himself together.

I leaned in, pressing my lips to his, letting the weight of this moment crash over both of us. I felt him let go, his body shuddering beneath mine as I drove him over the edge, his breath tangling with mine as we both unraveled together.

For a long moment, we stayed like that, my forehead resting against his, the only sound between us our unsteady breaths. His hands softened on my waist, his touch lingering, like he wasn't ready to let go just yet.

And neither was I.

The world outside the balcony still felt suspended in time, the sound of waves crashing against the shore the only thing filling the space between us. My chest rose and fell in time with his, neither of us moving at first, caught in the aftershocks of everything we'd just shared.

Then, reality started to slip back in. The cool night air prickled at my skin, the sweat drying against it, and the slight ache in my muscles reminded me that as incredible as that was, we couldn't just stay here forever.

Justin exhaled deeply, running a hand down his face before his fingers brushed against my waist. "Well…" he muttered, his voice still rough from exertion, "that was definitely something"

I huffed out a breath, pressing my forehead against his shoulder. "Yeah," I admitted, smiling against his skin. "It definitely was."

A beat of silence. Then, with that familiar glint in his eyes, he smirked. "I mean, I knew the balcony idea was hot, but I didn't expect you to completely lose yourself in it."

I swatted his arm, rolling off him and reaching for the nearest blanket to wrap around myself. "Don't act like you weren't right there with me."

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair before sitting up. "Fair point." His gaze flickered to our discarded clothes, and with a small groan, he stretched before standing. "Alright, up you go. Unless you wanna get caught naked by Mallory and Dani again."

That had me scrambling, grabbing for my sweats as I shot him a glare. "You could've just said that instead of scaring me."

"Where's the fun in that?"

Even as we moved to clean up, tossing the blankets back onto the couch and gathering our clothes, something about the moment still clung to us. The easy teasing, the warmth in his gaze, it felt like we hadn't just done something purely physical. But I wasn't about to dwell on that. Not now.

Instead, I pulled my tank top over my head and glanced at him as he finished adjusting his jeans. "So, does this mean balcony sex is officially your favorite, or are we keeping the rankings open?"

Justin grinned, stepping closer. "Oh, I'm all about keeping things open. Gotta keep testing the possibilities, right?"

I rolled my eyes, but my stomach flipped at the way he was looking at me. "You're still so insufferable."

"But I keep you coming back for more."

I didn't answer that, because we both knew he was right. No matter how hard we tried, we always found ourselves here, in the aftermath of our actions. 

We stepped back inside after making sure we left no traces of what just happened on that balcony. 

"Ugh I should probably shower, that couch is probably disgusting and my bare ass was on it." I laughed as I tossed my blankets back on the bed. 

He glanced over at me, an eyebrow slightly raised. "I'm open to being invited into the shower, you don't need to make excuses." 

"Shut up!" I rolled my eyes playfully as I gave him a light shove. I paused for a moment, just looking at the way he was watching me. There was something about this, about him, that felt dangerously easy. Like I was slipping into something I wouldn't know how to climb out of. 

"Come on." I rolled my eyes less playfully but grabbed his hand and guided him towards the bathroom with me.

The steam curled around us as the warm water rushed over my skin, washing away the remnants of the night. The intimacy of sharing a space like this should've felt heavier, more loaded, but instead, it was easy. Practical, even. He handed me the shampoo without a word, and I lathered it into my hair while he rinsed the saltwater from his own.

Neither of us lingered unnecessarily. It wasn't about prolonging anything just about cleaning up and getting back to reality.

I leaned back into the stream, rinsing the shampoo from my hair as I glanced over at him."I think moving forward during the day you should focus on Hannah, and I'll focus on Erik," I said, my voice cutting through the soft hum of the water. I didn't look at him at first, just focused on working the conditioner through my hair. "No more longing glances that make me want you right then and there."

A smirk tugged at my lips despite the seriousness of my words. But as I turned my head slightly, meeting his gaze, my smirk faltered…just enough to let him know I meant it. "It's not fair to either of them."

Justin raised an eyebrow, considering what I'd said. His tongue ran along the inside of his cheek, his silence stretching just long enough to make me wonder if he'd argue. But then he finally spoke.

"Okay," he said, nodding. "Then you can't take your clothes off in front of me."

I blinked. "What?"

"I meant like—when we're about to go in the water. And you've got your bathing suit underneath." His voice was too casual, but there was an edge there, something simmering just beneath the surface. "Don't take off your shorts and stare at me while you do it, because it drives me crazy and makes me want you right then and there."

He let out a sharp chuckle, shaking his head like he was amused by himself, but I saw the truth in his eyes. He wasn't joking.

"But at night?" he added, his gaze flickering over me, settling somewhere deeper than skin.

I rinsed the last of the soap from my body, a slow smile creeping across my lips.

"At night…" I trailed off, stepping past him as I reached for the towel hanging on the rack. My fingers curled around it as I cast one last glance over my shoulder.

"Well, that's a different story…"