“I’ll pick you up out the waders. Just undo the last suspender and I’ll lift you out as it drops down.”
Margaid looked uncertain, but she pursed her lips together in fierce determination and undid the other suspender. Finn reached forward, quickly scooping her up in his arms. She screeched slightly as the ice water soaked through her trousers, but it was brief. His arms cradled her supple, curvy body, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him. Her breasts so close to his face.
Pressed against him this tightly, he could smell the intoxicating scent of her. It was subtle, but had that underlying smell of spring freshness. His hand was on her round bottom and for a moment he thought about squeezing it, about what it would be like to have her on all fours so he could admire her assas he mounted her from behind so he could slide into her hot, wet heat.
His pulse began to thunder in his ears. That rhythmic, primal sound that drove him wild with need, but he had to get a hold of himself.
“Thanks,” she said, a blush staining her cheeks. She had so many freckles, it was kind of adorable.
Don’t get attached. She’s not staying in Harmony Glen and she could ruin you. This is not the woman you’re looking for.
“It’s nothing,” he grunted, trying not look down at her. He started walking toward the shore, where he could let her go and put some safe distance between the two of them, but as he was mulling that all over in his head, he lost his footing, his foot sinking down into a particularly spongey spot of the river bed, and before he could right himself, he lost his hold on Margaid and fell down with a giant splash right beside her.
He broke the surface of water, gasping slightly, and Margaid was sputtering and scrambling to shore, drenched.
“Jesus H. Murphy,” she said, through chattering teeth. “Fuck me, that’s cold.”
Finn stood and shook the water from his head. “Sorry.”
“No. It’s not your fault.” She wrapped her arms around her body, shivering, and he felt completely bad.
“Let’s get you back to the houseboat.”
“But the waders?”
Finn glanced over his shoulder. “They’re still stuck there. You need to get out of those wet clothes.”
She nodded and scooped up her equipment and samples, slowly navigating the river bank in her soaking wet socked feet. Finn took some of the gear from her and helped her back to his houseboat. They waded through the shallows and she climbed up the ladder.
Once they were both on board, he set her gear down and then ducked inside to grab her a towel. When he came back out, she was squatting next to her bag, mumbling to herself as she rooted through it.
“What?” he asked.
“I thought I packed a change of clothes. I always pack a change of clothes, but I’ve got nothing,” she groused.
“That wasn’t very smart.”
Margaid glared at him, her lips blue. “Thank you, Captain Obvious.”
Finn rolled his eyes. “Come on. I have some clothes you can borrow and I’ll throw your wet things in the dryer. But take your wet socks off first. Last thing I need is water all over my floors.”
Margaid pulled off her socks, which were woollen and very stretched out. She wrung them out over the side of the boat. He opened the sliding glass door and she stepped through.
He’d never brought a woman home to his houseboat. This was his private sanctuary and now he was feeling a bit twitchy about the whole thing. Did a houseboat count as a kingdom in glashtyn lore? He didn’t know, but there was a part of him that was super excited she was here, just like there was a part of him that was worried she would judge his humble surroundings.
“I just wanted a monster for one night. I can’t bring a horse-headed monster home to my parents. What kind of prospects does a monster really have?”
He shook that thought away and hated that it crept in.
“Bathroom is there. I’ll grab you some clothes, and just dump your wet stuff into the shower. I’ll grab it when you’re changed and throw it on. I’ll head back and get your hip waders.”
She smiled and nodded, not looking him in the eye. “Thanks.”
He didn’t respond, just slipped into his sleeping cabin, grabbed a flannel shirt and jogging pants, knowing his pantswould be gigantic on her, but she needed something. She was shivering in the bathroom doorway and he thrust the clothes into her arms.
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
