“Promise you we’ll do better?”
“Promise me that no matter what, you’ll make Thanksgiving next year better than this year.” His eyes were fierce, glowing in the moonlight. I wasn’t sure what caused the sudden attitude change.
I nodded slowly. “Promise.”
His grip loosened. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to go all crazy on you.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to dunk you.”
“Huh? You didn’t—”
I pushed his head underwater and tried my best to get back to the shallow end by grabbing the side of the pool. I still wasn’t a strong enough swimmer to make it on my own. So close, and then his hands came around my waist. His fingertips accidently grazed my breasts.
I froze.
He seemed to stop breathing as he slowly turned me in his arms to face him. His hungry eyes devoured every inch of my body. I was halfway out of the water. Holy crap, what was I supposed to do?
“If I didn’t want to go to heaven so damn bad…” He smiled sadly and released me. “Let’s go watch a movie.”
“No more skinny dipping?”
“If we skinny dip any longer I can’t make good on my promises.” Wes cursed and looked away, swimming farther into the deep end.
“Oh yeah?” I put my hands on my hips, kind of digging the fact that he was having trouble with control.
“Yeah, like if you don’t get out of this damn pool in five seconds I’m going to take advantage of you against the wall and I’d hate for your first time to be over so quick.”
I blushed. And then I hightailed it out of the pool feeling all kinds of embarrassed and excited.
“Good choice!” He called after me as I grabbed my towel and went to change.
****
I told myself it was ridiculous to have to spend the night in Wes’s arms in order to not have bad dreams, so I got ready for bed and promised myself I’d try to sleep by myself and not be such a baby.
I was just piling the throw pillows into the corner when someone knocked on my door. With one last throw, the pillows were off and I made my way over to the door. I opened it just a crack and saw Wes, again shirtless and just in a pair of low pajama bottoms.
“Lamb?” His head tilted almost like a predator.
“Wolf,” I said dryly.
“I thought you might be scared.” He cleared his throat and rocked on his feet. “So I’m here to offer my cuddling services.”
“Are you?” I crossed my arms and laughed. “How noble.”
“I thought so.” He looked down at the ground and leaned against the door frame. “Actually, I just wanted to spend the night with you… it’s close to midnight and I really… don’t want to wake up alone, not on Black Friday.”
I opened the door wider and let him walk in.
“Rules…” I cleared my throat. “You have to spoon.”
“Let me out! Let me out!” He laughed and tried to make his way back to the door, but I stopped him and pushed against his chest.
“Promise me.” I let my hands trail down his muscles and dip into his pajama pants.
He swayed towards me. “I’ll promise you anything if you keep doing what you’re doing.”
“So weak.” I shook my head.
“So attracted.” He tilted my chin. “So hard — to say no to.”
“So say yes.” I winked over my shoulder and jumped into bed.
“Tell me, when did you become such a temptress?”
“It’s the red hair.” I sighed and turned on my side.
“It really is.” Wes reached for my hair and twirled it around his fingers, “I’m going to miss your hair.”
“‘Cause I’m cutting it?” I asked.
“Nah, I’m just going to miss not having it suffocating me in the morning. You have no idea how arousing it is to wake up with your scent all over me.”
I wasn’t sure what to say.
“I made you uncomfortable,” Wes said in a sheepish voice “Sorry, you know how I am with censoring myself.”