"I'm going to set up something more comfortable," he advised. "Do you want to recline out here, or in your tent?"
The breeze off the lake made the sticky summer heat bearable. "Out here for now, please."
"Fair warning, I'm taking a swim to rinse off after that hike."
"I don't care." She'd seen his boxers numerous times in the past two days. What was once more?
An opportunity to sneak a peek and dream.
"I actually would like to rinse off, too."
"Later. First, you gotta give the ice and gravity time to do their job."
She made a face, but didn't argue.
Twenty minutes later, she reclined on a makeshift bed of cut branches cushioned by both their sleeping bags. Her foot was elevated without the icepack for a little while, she had a cold beer within reach, and her e-reader in hand. Kevin propped a makeshift crutch at her side in case she needed to get to the bathroom, and then he readied the campfire to be lit when it was time to make dinner.
After one last check to make sure she didn't need anything else, he strode toward the shore while pulling his shirt over his head.
Over the top of her device, Shanna enjoyed the smooth play of muscles in his back as he leaned to drape his shirt on the edge of the canoe next to the extra towel she'd offered for him to use. He undid the button and zipper on his cargo shorts and bent to slide them-her eyes widened-and his boxers-all the way off.
Good Lord. What if someone happened by? She cast a quick glance around. They were pretty remote, but that didn't mean boaters couldn't motor past or paddle into their secluded little cove.
What do you care? Just enjoy the naked.
Her mouth went dry and her pulse sped up as Kevin dropped his shorts and briefs on top of his shirt then strode thigh deep into the water before diving under. By the time he surfaced and swiped his hair back from his forehead, she made sure her head was ducked so it appeared she was fully engrossed in her digital book.
Whatever it took to keep from mentally drooling over those impressive biceps on the arms that had carried her over a mile back to camp.
Chapter 9
Kevin saw Shanna with her e-reader up on shore, but she didn't fool him one bit. Sizzling awareness had prickled along his skin as the heat of her gaze followed his every move on shore.
He wished he could've seen her expression when he stripped off every last stitch of clothing. Remembering the longing in her brown eyes when he suggested sealing their new deal with a kiss, knowing she watched him undress, and thinking about her desire to rinse off, too-preferably in her birthday suit-had him hard by the time he dove into the lake.
He watched her across the water and stroked himself beneath the surface, but his hand was no replacement for the memory of her glorious heat. If he'd kissed her earlier, he wouldn't have wanted to stop at her lips. He'd have wanted to explore every inch of her soft skin, then bury himself deep inside her until they both saw stars.
Letting a low groan of dissatisfaction rumble up from his chest, he set about swimming fast laps of twenty arm-strokes to burn off his frustration.
When he reached lap thirty, he took a moment to catch his breath. He cast a quick glance to make sure Shanna was still okay on shore, then froze at the sight of her wading into the water with the makeshift crutch he'd found for her. It appeared she'd removed the bandage from her ankle, but unfortunately, she still wore her bra and panties.
Heaven help him, did she know how damn tempting she was?
She was in up to her knees when something slipped from her hand and splashed into the water. She cursed and leaned for it as it bobbed out of reach. Her arm flailed as she lost her balance. The crutch went sideways and she fell into the water head first with a shriek, creating a much bigger splash than whatever she'd dropped.
Kevin swam toward shore to help, but by the time he reached her, she was floating on her back, eyes closed to the late afternoon sun, a refreshed smile on her face. Little waves lapped at her cleavage where the pointed tips of her breasts broke the surface.
The exertion of his swim was no longer the reason for his elevated pulse as he soaked in the erotic image before admonishing, "You were supposed to wait."
She squinted at him, then closed her eyes again. "The ibuprofen kicked in."
"Helped by the beer, no doubt."
"Maybe." Her smile widened as she circled her hands in little movements to slowly move her body through the water. "This feels sooo good," she moaned in a husky voice that had him hard all over again.
He spotted her bottle floating a few feet away and reached for it in desperation. The label read Biodegradable Body Wash & Shampoo, citronella scented, with bug deterrent essential oils. He flipped open the top and took a sniff. Not bad, and if it helped deter the bugs, awesome.
"You're welcome to use it if you want," Shanna offered.
He glanced over to see she'd maneuvered to where she could stand. The water rippled against the swell of her breasts over the lace edge of her bra.
This time around, common sense and good intentions went for a swim as Kevin floated closer. "I'll wash your back if you wash mine."
Across the short distance of water separating them, her gaze met his. Warm, aware, and dark, chocolate brown with unconcealed want. "Is that smart for either of us?"
"Probably not." His heart thumped hard in his chest. "But I don't want to be smart about this right now."
She didn't look away as she swam closer to wrap her arms around his neck. "Clearly, neither do I," she murmured as her mouth met his. Her body pressed along the length of his, and his jutting erection brushed against her thigh.
"Thank God," he muttered.
Her lips parted, inviting him in for an instantly intimate, deep, passionate kiss, as if she was as desperate for him as he was for her. As their tongues tangled in a breathless duel of give and take, she tightened her hold on his neck to rise up and wrap her legs around his waist.
"Careful of your ankle," he warned, even as the new position gave him room to reach up and cup her breast.
"It's good for now."
"You should be laying down, though. Foot elevated."
God, yes. He could work with that position.
Through the silky material of her bra, her hard nipple pressed into his palm, and he shifted to lightly pinch with his thumb and forefinger. One gasp of pleasure from her lips and he needed to have her in his mouth to hear those breathy moans that haunted his memory from a month ago.
She tilted her head back, arching into his touch, her long blond hair swirling about her shoulders as he dipped down to nip at her throat on his way farther south. Before he reached his goal, her body sank lower against him, and suddenly, the tip of his shaft prodded against the barrier of her panties. Torn between her breast and the temptation of her heat, he cursed under his breath.
"I need a condom," he muttered against her neck.
Her thighs tightened on his waist as she rocked against him. "Please tell me you brought some."
"I have a couple in my backpack-"
"Thank God. No, wait. Only a couple?" She drew back a few inches. "We still have five more days out here."
"Is this going to last all week?" Could he be that lucky?
No. Lucky would be if it lasted a lifetime.
"It's not like we'll have anything else to do."
Brilliant woman.
"I'm definitely not arguing that reasoning." He hoisted her higher with one arm, so her breasts were above water again. Then he pulled her bra cup down and pushed the creamy mound up as he dipped his head to take her into his mouth. She gave him one of those low-throated moans that made his whole body throb with anticipation.
"Can I ask you something?" she breathed.
"Anything," he agreed, laving his tongue around her nipple.
"Well … I'm on the pill … and I haven't been with anyone since you, and no one for quite a while before that."
"Likewise."
"Really?"
"Really." In the middle of switching to her other breast, he lifted his head with a little spurt of defensiveness. "I wouldn't lie about something like that."
"I didn't think you lied." Her chin ducked. "I just assumed you dated a lot."
"Much as I love sex, Shanna, I don't sleep with just anyone." The firm statement held more of an admission than he realized until he heard the words out loud.
Shit. Had she noticed?
"Me neither." Her fingers combed through the wet hair at the nape of his neck. "You were my first, um, one-night-stand-if it could be called that."
"Not after this." His heart raced at how closely they mirrored each other. Could that night have been more than a fluke for her? He swallowed hard, almost afraid to hope. "So … what was your question?"
She glanced up through her lashes as she slid down along his body in the water, until his rock-hard erection once again pressed against her core. "It's more of a suggestion. That we don't have to use a condom if we're both good. I mean, that we're both clean, and that you're okay with it."
Automatic no-brainer. "I'm definitely good if you're good."
"I'm good."
Her lips curved in the sexiest grin he'd ever seen as she drew his head down for another kiss.