Chapter 15
Melinda
The water was hot, but not as hot as Chris. Droplets of water dripped down his sculpted chest, taking a swift turn just before they reached his pink, hardened nipples. Watching him sit there, head back, wet hair, and steam encompassing him in a soft cloud of white, it reminded me of images in magazines. Heck, he’d probably posed in a similar style for photos in Men’s Health or something.
This was the kind of photo I’d gladly hang up on my wall and stare at for hours. We sat in silence. There was no awkward tension, no need to try and make conservation; both of us were relaxed. When I sighed, the water sloshed, and I felt an arm graze mine, making me open my eyes. Chris scooted closer.
Did the jacuzzi get hotter, or was it just me?
“So, tell me how you like it here so far?”
I exhaled, my breath mixing with the steam as I stared at the sky above me. I wanted to see a shooting star. “I like it for the most part. I would say it holds just as much drama as New York City at times, but the atmosphere is better.” I hoped he didn’t think I was talking about him.
Okay, maybe I was a little.
“And what do you think of being here with me?” his voice was curious and a little dark.
“It was unexpected. I mean to end up with you as my boss,” I laughed, swirling the water with my hands in front of me. “A little unsettling at times.”
“How so?”
“Like you don’t know,” I rolled my eyes. “Now you’re just fishing.”
He chuckled, deep and resonating. I swore I felt it move through the water and sink into my skin. “You got me.”
“I like the people, though. Esther, Mags, and Barbs are cool, so is Emily. Bess…Bess is a nightmare. I don’t know why you put up with her.”
“Her dad owns half the town. That’s why. Other than that, the woman drives me crazy. And not in a good way.”
“Still. It isn’t worth it. Things with her are just going to continue to get worse.”
“Yeah, I guess,” he sighed.
“I like Ben, too.”
He growled, and the aggressive sound made me gasp. “I bet you do.”
“Not like that,” I narrowed my eyes. “He is a good friend. Give him more credit than that. Jeez, Chris.”
“I know. I just—” he looked like he wanted to say something that would change the dynamic between us, but he kept his mouth. “Do you want some hot chocolate? Ben’s car had broken down so I couldn't have takeout as planned. A granola bar later, and I'm still…famished.” He eyed me, and I had the feeling he was starved for more than food. It could just be my interpretation though …
Chocolate sounded delicious. “Please.”
I tried not to watch as he got out of the hot tub, I really did, but when those biceps pushed him up, and water fell down his body in sheets, and his boxers stuck to him like a second skin, showing every line of his cock, I couldn’tnothave my eyes glued to him.
He shook his hair out, letting the water fly and then combed it back with his fingers. He screamed of sex. He wrapped a towel around his waist and headed inside, while I debated whether to make a swift exit. I wasn't sure how long my self-discipline would last.
But the water felt too good for me to get up.
And he looked too good for me not to see more.
And I wanted that hot chocolate.
I hit my head against the head cushion as I stared up at the stars. “What do I do?”
My body answered that question for me when he came back. I sat tight and tried not to move is what I did. Scooting that hot body of his next to mine, I wasn’t sure how to hold back enough not to mount him like a woman possessed.
Which could not—under any circumstance—happen. No.
