Bare
Snow slid out from the sand dunes like frozen fingers clasping the earth.
I ran toward the water, shedding clothes in my wake. Each piece of clothing freed that burning desire to be wild, for once. Embrace this body. Dive past the clinical side of my anatomy.
I might not get another chance—especially not with someone like Angel, who made me feel everything so intensely.
He peeled off his shirt, then his undershirt, his bared skin all the more alluring. So much of him caught these phantom strokes of starlight: the white hair, the arrow piercing, the glint of the button on his slacks as he popped them open.
Oh my gosh.
I was going to see his penis. Maybe even feel it.
He caught me staring and smiled, his breath coming out in a steamy little puff. “Is this as far as it goes?” he asked.
“Huh?” I must’ve gotten distracted, because I was down to my bra, but I’d only unfastened my skirt instead of shimmying out of it. “N-no. We canfully strip. I just want to test the water, first.”
“Go ahead.” He gestured to the dark lake.
Scrubs, this was going to hurt.
I eased out of my non-slip orthopedic shoes, then stuffed my tights into them. The packed sand exfoliated the bottoms of my aching feet with each step. It was almost enjoyable until I dipped my toes into the frothing stream.
“Cold,” I squeaked, my knee shooting up like I was some flustered flamingo.
Angel cackled with laughter. “What’d you expect?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’ll get warmer once I’m in.” I shimmied out of my skirt and tossed it onto my shoes, enjoying the way he admired my newly exposed legs, before I waded out thigh-deep.
I hissed through my teeth as the cold gripped my knees. The discomfort would fade. Just had to get through this initial strain.
“How’s it feeling?” Angel called.
“No worse than a pelvic exam,” I said.
He snorted, shucking off his shoes and pants. “Having regrets?”
“Not yet.” I grinned, eyeing him.
He flexed for my benefit, then sauntered down the beach.
What a ridiculous peacock of a man. How could anyone help but smile at him?
I flicked some water at him to break that strut of his.
He shivered through a laugh. “Ah, pidge. That’s like getting stabbed with a bunch of syringes.”
“It’s not that bad once you get used to it.” My toes were almost numb after a few seconds. I flexed them to resume circulation. Maybe we should dance.
“I’ll join you, but I won’t get naked,” he said, frowning at the water and inhaling sharply as he walked into the wake.
“What? Why not?” This was supposed to be romantic.
“The first time you see my dick, it shouldn’t be shriveled to the size of a walnut,” he said.
I burst out laughing. “That doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it does. In normal climates, my dick is magnificent.”
