Good. At least I'd validated the one thing I needed to know most: she still wanted me.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cora
Damn him. I hated more than anything to lose a battle, and even though my actions would solidify the fact that I knew we were eventually going to end up in bed together, I was tired of moping. I was ballsy and controlling and got what the fuck I wanted out of life, too. He wasn't the only one with game.
Laughter bubbled up out of me as I ripped my top off and stopped at the edge of the water to tug my bottoms down. I glanced back to see him standing there stark naked with his eyes wide.
"Shit. You win; I'll give you anything you want." His voice was airy as he brushed his hand over his chest. His body was hidden by the darkness, but the bits I could make out from the shadows of the moonlight were delicious. Cut abs and thick thighs framed his large cock, which stood erect and ready for attention.
"Fuck," I muttered and turned around, walking into the warmth of the lake. "Come on. I won. Guess what position I choose."
I turned to watch him walk in after me, stalking me like a hungry predator might his prey.
"Tell me. I'm dying to know." He moved into the water until it covered his waist and stopped. "You're so fucking beautiful. Did you know that? I need to apologize.”
"No, you don't." I took a few more steps back and sunk down until the water covered my chest.
"What position, Cora?" He moved closer as voices called at us from the shoreline.
"None." I laughed and swam over to the side a little. "Come on, guys. Feels great."
"Did you guys really just strip down?" Emily picked up my bikini and held it up against the moonlight.
"That's what skinny dipping is." I tried to ignore the nervousness as Brody moved closer to me. He stopped just beside me and turned to look at our friends.
"Stop being chicken shits and come on. You guys wanted this."
I yelped as something nipped at my butt, and I shot out of the water. "What the hell?"
"That was me." He smiled and reached for my hand. "Come here. Let's pretend we're still pissy with each other and that sleeping together is the farthest thing from our minds."
"I'm not sleeping with you. You have a million women.” I yelped again as he tugged me toward him, his body pressing flush against mine. Desire raced through me in thick waves as I reached out and rested my hands to his shoulders.
His strong hands wrapped around my waist and pulled me in tight. "Hush."
"What? Where is this coming from?" I turned my head a little as my heart worked to beat its way out of my chest. I'd slept with plenty of guys over the years, and yet this guy left me feeling like a virgin all over again.
"It's the buildup of a long week of thinking about nothing but you. I fucked up. Badly." He moved back and pulled at my hand. "Come on. Swim over to this alcove with me."
"Brody. You know this isn't good for either of us." I let him pull me along, not really wanting to dive back into whatever was starting bet
ween us, and yet not able to deny him. I was interested and wanted to see where it would go, even if it ended with one of us hurt. It was even harder to fight against myself naked in the water with him beckoning me.
"That's why we should just go with it." He released my hand and moved into an open area where the moonlight bathed the water. "I said I was sorry for the other night. I fucked up because I was trying so damn hard to be someone I wasn't."
"The good guy?" I kept my chest under the water and moved toward him.
"No, Cora. That was me at dinner, but by the time we'd gotten to the beach, I'd talked myself out of trying to seduce you. I didn't want you to look at me like everyone else does. I'm a dick, yeah, great, but there's more to me than that. At least, I think there is. I want there to be."
I moved closer to him, unable to help myself. His thick shoulders bobbed above the water's edge, and the wicked smile on his lips left my thoughts diving into depravity.
"So you turning me down wasn't about me not being good enough to take to bed?" I stood up, letting the curve of my breasts touch the top of the water. "I mean, you've taken everyone else to bed from what I hear. Why not me?"
He offered his hand. "Is that a joke? You're the hottest girl on this fucking lake, and I've not slept with everyone on the lake. Almost, but I'm not quite there yet. You showing up kinda thwarted my plans."
"Whore," I whispered as I took his hand and let him pull me toward him.