She giggled."You're the one who's naughty."
"You're the one who answered the door in that red bikini.You were a siren I couldn't ignore."
I felt rather than saw her eye roll."I was wearing a cover-up."
I lifted my head."You realize it's see through, right?"
She turned slightly in my lap so she could face me."I didn't intend to seduce."
"You did it without trying then.With that bikini and this body."I ran a hand down her thigh."I didn't stand a chance."
She laughed then, light and free."You're ridiculous."
It wouldn't have mattered what she wore, but it certainly escalated things.The outfit left nothing to my imagination.All I could think about was getting close to her.
I was pleased to know that what we had before was more of a teenage experience.This was so much better.We both knew what we wanted and took it.There were no tentative caresses or questions about where the other person's head was at.
It was natural, as if we'd grown together over the years instead of distancing ourselves.I couldn't believe I'd let her go, but I was more shocked that we were in this position now.
I had a feeling she was rationalizing this in her head.Maybe assuming that it was just lust, and I was familiar.She didn't need to get to know me.She already felt safe with me.I was a sure bet.But a future together was probably harder for her to envision.
I'd bide my time.I had plenty of practice being patient and waiting for the end result.I could do the same with her.
I didn't need to travel the world to find the one who was meant for me.She had been here all along.
She settled against me, her head on my shoulder as we watched the flakes fall around us.We stayed in the water until our skin was wrinkled, and then I gently suggested that we go inside.
We grabbed our towels, wrapping them around us.
"Go inside.I'll clean up."
She was already next to the slider."Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."But I wasn't talking about cleaning up.I was talking about her.I'd never been more sure about anything.
Maybe it was everything I'd been through over the years, but I knew a good thing when I saw it now.
I fished out our clothes, turned off the jets, and covered the water with the top.I draped our wet swimsuits on the chairs and turned off the lights.Inside, the heat was churning and the fire blazing in the fireplace, but Natasha wasn't in the living room or the kitchen.
I went into the bathroom where I'd left my clothes from earlier.I toweled off, and got dressed, wondering if she'd send me home.I wouldn't be surprised if she did.
When I emerged, she was curled up on the couch, her damp hair twisted into a messy bun, wearing a hoody and sweats.It was her uniform when we were teens, hanging out at home.Except this time, there were no irritating brothers or hovering parents.It was just us, and we could do whatever we wanted.
"I thought we could watch a holiday movie."It was one of the things she loved to do with me in the past.
I was just grateful she wasn't kicking me out.I sank onto the couch next to her."Sounds good."
She pursed her lips, avoiding my gaze."I don't want you driving home in this."
"You know I grew up here.Snow isn't a big deal."
She patted my hand and said, "Humor me."
Then I remembered that her parents had died in a storm.She'd feel better if I stayed, and I wanted to anyway."It's not a hardship to stay here with you."
She smiled, and I was pleased I'd gotten her mind off other things.
We settled onto the couch, the throw blanket on our laps.She curled up next to me with her head on my shoulder.It felt exactly like old times, except we were older and more mature.But the stakes were higher than ever.
