Finding Solace

“Oh, sorry for mistaking you for someone who likes to have fun.”

I start on the waistband of my boxer briefs, but she says, “Wait. What are you doing?”

“Haven’t we already covered this?” I push them down, and she’s up and turning on a dime.

Her back may be facing me, but from where I stand, I can see her hands covering her face. “I swear to God if you’re naked right—”

I dive into the water. It’s cold but not cold enough to make me want to get out. When I break the water’s surface, I shake my head. My hair clears from my eyes only to find hers on me.

“I can’t believe you just jumped in,” she says.

“I said I was going for a swim.”

With a hand perched firmly on each hip, she’s riled up all right. “What about our date?”

“Are we on a date, honeysuckle? I thought we were just talking?”

“You’re so infuriating, Jason Koster.”

“I love when you say my whole name like I’m in trouble.”

Her eyes squeeze closed, but a smile follows along with her stance softening. “Old habit.”

“What about old times? Come on in.” This time, I can see the debate—her eyes flashing between the water and me, then behind her like her father’s going to catch us. “It’s only us. No one has to know.” I zip my lips and wait.

“I’m not scared, if that’s what you think.” The debate is over, and she comes back onto the dock, looking down at me. “If you think I’m stripping down in front of you—”

“There’s not an inch of your skin that I haven’t seen, or licked, or tasted, Delilah Rae. So that dress, although pretty, doesn’t erase the memory of what’s under it. But I won’t force you.”

“Fine.” Yup. She’s riled up all right. “I’m coming in.”

Mission Distraction is complete. She peels off that dress like it offended her and without an embarrassed bone in her body, she stands on that rickety dock in a mismatched bra and underwear as if I didn’t think she was already the sexiest creature to walk this world.

Wriggling her hips, she asks, “Like what you see, Koster?”

“I sure do. Now get in here, Noelle.”

She jumps in, and I swear she cannonballs on purpose to splash me as if that will cool down what’s heating up between us. What she doesn’t seem to understand is I love her moxie.

I temporarily lose her in the dark water even though the moon rises higher with each minute that passes. Her head finally pops up, and she wipes at the hair stuck to her face. A wide, carefree grin caters to her expression, and she laughs.

“Feels good, right?” I ask.

“It does.” On her back, she swims away, keeping her eyes on me. “So, now that you got me in here, what are you going to do to me?”

Tease.

I lunge forward to swim after her. She squeals and takes off into the moonlight-speckled waters. I reach her feet, grab her kicking ankles, and pull. This beauty lands right in my arms, bridal style, and I hold on to her flailing body until she settles, and her laughter softens. Her breathing deepens when our eyes meet, just as mine does. But I can’t will myself to laugh, to enjoy the moment, or to say anything at all.

My bravado a minute earlier gets caught in my chest, and I look at her while exposing my inner thoughts. She can still bring me to my knees with how she looks at me like I hung that moon in the sky. It’s the opposite of what she’s said, the pain she’s shared. If I can only make her see my side, I could . . . I could what? What do I want with her?

The physical attraction we always shared still exists, the chemistry still surging between us. Why did I come here? To make amends or to hear her side? She’s shared the lies Cole told her. It’s time for me to make her see the truth.

I caress her slick skin, well aware that these curves are dangerous when wet.

“Jason?” she whispers.

“Mm?”

The playfulness returns to her eyes as her hands grace my shoulders. “Why are you holding me?”

“I don’t have a good reason.”

“Nothing at all?” Hope mixes with a coyness I’ve missed. It didn’t matter how many times we made love when we were together, she always blushed for me right after.

“No reason other than I want to hold you again.”

A look of relief crosses her sweet face, and her legs dip under the water. Then they make their way around my middle. “It would be bad if we kissed.”

“Would it?”

“So bad.”

“I never claimed to be good.” I pull her body against mine and lean in, closing my eyes. Our lips touch, and our breaths still. Our bodies float with minimal effort. A touch turns into a caress, and I press harder, needing to feel her lips against mine again. Needing all of her against me again. God, I’ve missed this.