Understanding dawned, and she nodded slowly. “Like getting deflowered in the lake by his best friend.”
“Yeah. Like that,” he said with a tight smile. “Although, until now, I hadn’t realized you were a virgin.”
“I was. And it was all so romantic with that big moon and the warm water, it seemed like fate. You were so sweet, worried about me. You followed me in and, even when I kissed you, you hesitated. I thought it was because you didn’t like me.”
“Oh, I liked you. Too much.” He traced the line of her shoulder and frowned. “Jesus, how could you not have known that? I was hard as a baseball bat and breathing like I just went ten rounds with a grizzly.”
She chuckled. “I knew you wanted me, same as any teenage boy naked in a lake with a girl. I didn’t know you liked me, though. You were always treating me like a sister, dragging me out of places and embarrassing me.”
“Never my intention. I was doing what I promised your brother I would do. Believe me, it wasn’t easy. I thought about it every minute for a year afterward, and at least once a day since.”
The admissions sent a thrill through her, and she wriggled closer. “Well, it so happens that I still think you’re pretty fine.”
“Thank you, ma’am. You’re pretty fine yourself. In fact”—he closed a hand over her hip and squeezed—“if you’re not busy for the next hour or so, I’d like to spend it making up for that night.”
She pressed closer to him. “Sounds good,” she whispered.
“I can’t give you the lake and the moon, but you do have that big bathtub, and we can leave the light on,” he said with a brow waggle.
She laughed and rolled away. “Meet you there!” She stood, buck naked, making an effort not to run, in spite of her nerves…to take it slow so that he could enjoy the view.
He groaned and let out a pained laugh. “My kingdom for a camera.”
She made it to the door and faced him. “You should bring us a couple ice waters. And maybe a snack. This is going to take a while.” She shut the door behind her and leaned against it. Why it was such a relief that Shane had suffered as much as she had that night, she couldn’t say. Maybe misery really did love company. Or maybe she was just a bad person. Either way, she felt a lightness and a confidence she hadn’t felt in years.
She crossed the long room and set a towel on the edge of the chilly white porcelain. The giant, claw-footed tub had been one of her favorite features of the house, and she’d made use of it many times over the past few years, but never with a man. Never with Shane.
She turned the water on hot and sat on the edge of the tub, waiting for it to fill. It was only halfway when he stepped into the room, arms laden with bottled water and a plate piled high with what looked like peanut butter sandwiches. She nearly snort-laughed. “You bypassed the strawberries and cheese in the fridge for peanut butter?”
“Peanut butter and Fluff. I didn’t want to be cliché. Plus,” he said, setting the food on the sink and giving her a slow wink, “we might need the protein.”
Despite his teasing words, the look of naked desire on his face make her heart kick double-time, and she reached for him, tugging his hips closer to line up with her face. “Seems like somebody is already prepped for game time,” she murmured, tugging his boxers down to release his swollen shaft. It bounced and settled high on his belly and she wet her lips. Big strong man, big and strong everywhere.
He hummed low in his throat and his response came on a growl. “He’s been waiting for some water sex with you for almost ten years.”
She tipped her head closer, shifting on her perch to get close enough for a long, slow lick.
“Ah, fuck,” he groaned, tunneling a hand into her hair. She curled her fingers around his thick shaft and drew it down to flick the head with her tongue. His fingers tensed and the tug at her scalp made her smile.
“I think he likes me,” she whispered, making sure her warm breath washed over the length of him. She reveled in the warm, musky taste of him and went back for another long lick.
He cursed and stepped in, bringing himself more fully into her mouth, and she took him without hesitation. Steam curled around them, enveloping them in a warmth that settled over her and bloomed in her center as she sucked. She worked her throat muscles to draw him deeper, his whispered broken words of praise urging her on. Power and desire pulsed through her, and her clit ached with need. She played her lips and tongue over the satin-encased steel until he jerked away, legs quivering. His cock pulsed as his harsh breathing echoed through the room.