I tore the tee over my head and kicked off my boots.
Her eyes widened when I dropped my jeans, leaving me in nothing but my briefs.
“Of course I remember.” Her tongue swiped out along her bottom lip.
“Well, I guess this is me not avoiding you, huh?” My voice came out gruffer than I’d expected. I didn’t know what the fuck Iwas doing, but I didn’t want to think right now. I just wanted to be with her. I was tired of trying so hard to keep my distance.
I missed her.
I was crazy about her.
If it hurt when she left, I’d deal with it then.
Right now, I wanted to jump in the water with Wren.
I turned and walked down to the river before diving in. When I came up for air, she was watching me. “Are you going to chicken out, Horse Girl?”
“Please. We both know that I never back down from a challenge.”
I had a feeling this would challenge us both.
seventeen
. . .
Wren
I hurrieddown to the water, wearing nothing but my lace bra and panties, before diving in.
I am actually doing this.
Axel and I used to always strip down and jump in the water when we were young. Once we got to high school, I was a little more self-conscious about being in the water in nothing but our undies, and he’d always make fun of me for it.
The man didn’t have a self-conscious bone in his body.
But he did have a giant bone attached to his body, which I’d just gotten a peek of as it protruded through his briefs.
I burst through the surface of the water and pushed the hair out of my face as I turned in a circle, trying to find Axel.
“Looking for someone?” His voice was deep and gravelly as he came up behind me.
I whipped around to look at him. The light from the moon, the only thing illuminating the dark river, created a halo around him.
“Just making sure you’re still out here, because swimming in dark water still freaks me out,” I said, my words breathy as I treaded water to stay in place.
“You can put your feet on the ground. It’s not that deep.” He was clearly standing with ease. I pointed my toes in an attempt to reach the bottom, only to find that touching the ground meant the water would cover my face.
I sighed and continued twirling my legs and arms around to keep myself afloat. “We aren’t all six foot three.”
“That’s right. I’ve got almost a foot on you.” He moved closer, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “You can ask for help, you know.”
I blew out a breath, already exhausted from working so hard to keep my head above water. “What if I just hold on to your shoulders.”
“Sure. Use me however you want to.” His voice was gruff and sexy, and a dull ache settled between my thighs.
I hadn’t been touched by a man in a long time. I mean, really touched. Sure, I’d made out a few times since the night Axel and I had spent together.
But he was the last man to make me feel something.
