Holiday Heat

Jane

He closesthe door behind him and I eye the tub of bubbles popping on top of the steaming water. I strip and open the door quickly, glancing around before I throw the clothes onto the floor and slam the door.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m not a shy woman but that man out there makes me act like a fucking high school kid. Which is what he looks like. Almost.

Not really. But he sure as hell looks way younger than my own forty years. And I’ve never considered myself a cougar but I could be for him.

I slide into the water and tilt my head back, resting it on the back of the tub. Closing my eyes, I groan and rub my aching head. I don’t want to go back to the cabin and get ready to go out tonight. I don’t want to be crammed into uncomfortable clothes and paraded in front of other guests to try and catch some man’s eye.

Especially when I know that it won’t lead to anything. I have my life and they have theirs. And a vacation fling just isn’t my thing. That’s why I haven’t had much sexual experience over the years. I’m not a woman that can do anything casually. It’s not in my nature. There’s a thud outside the door.

Screaming, I sink under the water and come up sputtering when he knocks at the door.

“Are you alright?” He throws the door open.

“Turn around, dammit! I’m not doing a show here!” I sputter, wiping bubbles off my face.

Shoulders hunched, he tries, but I sigh. “Go ahead. I know you want to.”

Throwing his head back and holding his stomach, he rolls with laughter.

“What the hell was that? You look like Santa with a beard!”

“Ugh! What did you want? I don’t need company while I’m in the tub.”

Sobering instantly, he wipes his hand down his face and looks away. “Right. Yeah. Ummm. Sorry about that. You sounded like you needed help.”

“Not until you barged in here!”

“Alright. I said I’m sorry. I was bringing you a shirt to wear while I dry your clothes.”

Lifting my eyebrows to stare him down, I ask, “just a shirt? Nothing else? What about boxers? Or some sweat pants.”

“I don’t wear boxers. And I really don’t like sweat pants.”

“Who doesn’t like sweat pants? You sound crazy! Don’t you like to unwind? Relax?”

“I do. But I have pajamas for that.”

“I’ll take some of those then.”

“Honey, you are way too tiny to wear my clothes,” he smirks. “You’re gonna swim in just my shirt.”

I roll my eyes and sink lower in the water, letting the warm waves wash over me. “Fine. But for future reference, I prefer bathing alone.”

His eyes deliberately swing towards me and a banked heat hidden in the emerald green depths intrigues me, terrifies me.

“For future reference, I’m not in the tub with you. And I bet if you had the right company you might change your mine.” One eye closes in a sly wink and then he saunters out of the room.

“Shit,” I mutter, blowing bubbles out of the way with my breath. He’s fucking right. If he had wanted to climb in the tub with me…I wouldn’t have said a peep. Just moved out of the way so he could get in.

Groaning, I sink lower in the water. “You’ve got serious issues, girlfriend. Get your shit together.”

“Did you say something?” he hollers from outside the door.

“Are you standing there or something?” I practically whispered that. What’s he doing standing on top of the door?

A shiver of desire runs through me and I quickly tamp it down. That shit ain’t gonna happen. I’m going back home in a few days. No way in hell is he coming with me.