Boss of Me

He grabs a towel and his shirt, and Sweet baby Jesus.

Just before he jerks it over his head, I see the mouthwatering lines in his stomach, his perfectly sculpted abs. I could feel the ripples of muscle under the water, but he’s so beautiful in the wild.

I’ve been walking slowly, but now I’m standing in front of him, taking the towel he offers me.

“Can I get you anything?” His voice is controlled, as if that wildfire of a kiss never happened. As if the heat raging between us isn’t strong enough to burn down the forest.

My eyes squint slightly, and I shake my head. Taking the towel, I turn, walking to the pier where I left my cover up, glancing over my shoulder once more to find him watching me walk away.

10

Patton

“Next year we’re going to a ski lodge.” I crack open a beer and take a long, ice-cold sip, hoping it’ll put out the fire inside me.

I was fucking lucky we had a ways to go before reaching the shallower water. It gave my dick time to settle down so I didn’t have to emerge from the water with an erection. Jesus. I might be able to hide my attraction in the office, in a suit and tie, but there’s no hiding what her bare skin against mine does to me here.

Her legs around my waist, her hips rocking against my pelvis, her moans… If we’d been alone, I’d have fucked her nine ways from Sunday. God, what am I thinking? What is she doing to me?

“A ski lodge?” Taron is rolling hot dogs around on the hot grill, giving me the eye.

Glancing back to where Raquel is standing, I see the wave runner whip around again, too close to the pier. “Somebody needs to grab that kid by the neck.”

“If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t be a hero.” I don’t miss the sarcasm in his tone.

“Where’s Marley? You were supposed to bring him with you.”

“He was sleeping when I got there, so I didn’t disturb him.”

I don’t like him being alone on a holiday weekend with us all out here at the lake. Still, it was the right call. “At least he’s sleeping.”

“I’ll check on him again tonight. You need a little personal time.” He hands me a plate with two hot dogs on it.

“What’s this?” I frown, taking it.

“I haven’t seen you look at a woman that way since Sofia Vergara.” He grins, but it makes my stomach tight.

“Sounds like you need glasses.”

“See if she wants to eat something. She nearly got her head knocked off.”

His words make my blood boil. “If I see that kid’s parents…” I take the plate and walk to where Raquel is sitting in her lounge chair, holding one of Dean’s orange drinks.

Sandra and Dean pass me on the way down, and I catch the end of Sandra s

peaking quietly. “He was touching her. It’s why she jumped overboard… Oh, Hi, Patton. Burgers ready?”

She’s smiling, but my brow lowers as I think through what she said.

“Yeah.” I nod, glancing to where Jerry’s tying up the boat.

Raquel is turned away from him, and he trots past me with a brief greeting, continuing up the hill in the direction of the grill.

I stop in front of her. Her eyes are closed behind her white sunglasses. “Are you hungry?”

She looks up at me, and a beat passes before she sits forward. “Is that for me?”

“If you want one. Taron sent them down.”