He slid out of her, and she turned to face his deep, dark eyes. So gorgeous. His handsome face was shiny with perspiration, threads of nearly black hair stuck to his cheeks. Droplets trickled along the chiseled angles of his cheeks, nose, and chin. His night beard had surfaced and caught drips of moisture. He’d never looked better.
She pressed her body against his in a fierce hug. She slid her slick breasts against his dampened chest hair, and her nipples pebbled. She’d never get enough of this man. Oh, to be alone with the one she loved…
Alone? She jerked away. Where had Travis gone? “Dale?”
“Hmm?”
“Where’s Travis?”
Dale pulled her back into his embrace and chuckled against her cheek. “He must’ve gone inside. Probably wanted to give us a little privacy. And I don’t know about you, but I appreciated it.”
She smiled against his beefy shoulder. “Me too.”
Dale lifted her, easing his hands under her slick bottom, and set her on the edge of the hot tub. He quickly disposed of the condom. “You thirsty, darlin’?”
She was. Ravenously so. “After that? You bet.”
He reached for the lemonade and handed it to her. She took a long drink straight from the pitcher. The crisp citrus flavor flowed down her throat like nectar from the gods. After a couple more swills, she handed the pitcher back to Dale. “Here, you must be thirsty too.” She grinned. “Have I ever told you how much I love your homemade honey-lemonade?”
His lazy grin lit up his handsome face. “A few times.” He downed several swallows of the beverage. Still holding the pitcher, he helped her to her feet. “You want to go inside?”
Inside? Travis would be there. And though she liked the other man, she kind of wanted to be alone with Dale for the rest of the night. But they couldn’t be rude to his guest. “Sure. Let’s go on in.”
Dale wrapped her wet body in a fluffy towel and led her across the redwood deck to the sliding glass doors. The house was dark.
Dale flipped the light switch in the kitchen. “Trav?” he called out.
No response.
“Maybe he had to leave,” Jill said.
“Hmm. That’s not like him to just up and disappear.”
Jill walked around the kitchen and turned on another light. A folded piece of paper addressed to Dale and her sat on the counter. She picked it up and ran her wrinkled fingers along the crease. “Dale? I think he left us a note.”
Dale came up behind her. “Go ahead and read it, darlin’.”
“I wouldn’t feel right. He’s your friend.”
“I think you’re as close to him as I am now.” He smiled and chucked her under the chin.
“Still—” She handed the paper to Dale.
“Okay.” He unfolded the note and glanced over it.
Jill’s skin chilled a little. She wasn’t sure why. “What is it?”
He grinned. “Nothing. Here”—he handed her the letter—“you can read it.”
Jill took the crisp white paper.
Dale and Jill,
Thank you for tonight. I’ve never experienced anything quite so intense, and I won’t forget it. You two have something really special together. Don’t let it get away. Hope to see you both again soon. I’ll call you when I’m back in town, Dale. And Jill, it was a true pleasure to make love to you, one I know Dale won’t grant me again. Don’t ask me how I know. He’ll tell you when he’s ready.
Fondly, Travis
Jill’s pulse raced like a hummingbird’s wings. Her skin heated. “Dale?”