“What the hell are you doing?” a familiar voice barked at me.
I paused and found Matt barreling toward me, his forehead covered in worry lines and his lips in a frown. “What?”
“Walkingnear a lake while tipsy is a terrible idea,” he said, his angry tone becoming soft. “You need a buddy.”
“Are you my buddy then?” I asked, a little breathless at the way his shirt strained against his chest. He’d replaced the dumb Santa shirt for a forest green Henley, and that man couldweara Henley. His broad shoulders filled out the material so well, and his black jeans hugged his thighs. My body hummed in his presence. I stepped closer and trailed my fingers over his hard stomach. “Hm?”
His eyes heated, and he placed his hand over mine, gently squeezing it. “Forever. You made me pinky promise in junior high.”
“Glad you remembered that,” I said, my hands shaking as everything hit me. Swallowing became increasingly more difficult, and my palms sweated despite the wind. I wasn’t the one who did shit like this, confessing things. I was the receiver, and I hated the roles switching. Becky’s words replayed in my head like a billboard on the Vegas strip, and I sighed, pursing my lips and saying, “Matt, I need to ask you something.”
He sucked in a deep breath, covered my hand with his, and I swore I could feel the tension radiating off him like the sun reflecting off the water. While the temperatures were still in the 70s, without the sun it was a little chilly. “Yes, I’ll go skinny-dipping with you.”
I scoffed. “It’s too cold.”
“Nah, the water is still pretty warm for December.” There was an edge to his tone, and his hand moved to my hip, holding tight against me. “Maybe I just want you wet for me.”
Oh boy.My face heated, and my eyes fluttered. Matt being a dirty talker? How had I not known this about him all these years? I fought a smile. “Who said I wasn’t already? Looking at your shoulders in this shirt,” I said, licking my lips. “Makes me want to do stupid things.”
“Like go skinny-dipping with me?” he said, backing us up a foot toward the water.
“No.” I swallowed, the heated look in his eyes making my mind race. Was he inlovewith me or attracted to me? I’d always loved him, but how did I know if it was the same, safe love or something more? “Look, Mattie, I really—"
“Are you backing out of a dare? My Maddie, not going through with something?” he teased, tugging on my braids. “Never thought I’d see the day.”
“I’m not backing out.” I stared at the water, my heart in my throat. “We need to talk about—"
“No, that’s not—hey!” I yelled. He picked me up and tossed me into the water. Clothes and everything. The blast of cold numbed me for a second, but the impact did the job. All my emotional worried thoughts left and instead, revenge took over. “You asshole!”
Laughing, he joined me seconds later, fully clothed, and swam up to me with his hair sticking to his forehead. Fuck. I liked how he looked. Wet, dry, clothed, naked. Matt was extremely my type. It was a real smack to the tit that I’d never noticed it before. “Come here,” he demanded.
“We shouldn’t be swimming.” I backed away from him, but he caught my leg and yanked me back. He easily stood at the bottom of this part of the lake, and he ran his hands along my wet thighs until he cupped my ass. Maybe it was the alcohol or the hormones, but I forgot it was cold. Being near him had my bodysohot.
“We’re not swimming. I’m holding a very wet you against me in the water. No danger.”
My body heated, and without thinking, I kissed him. I had to. He was dripping wet, and the green shirt plastered to his body. It wasn’t even fair. The nicest man in the world had a beard, brought me to orgasm with his tongue and what had to be a magic cock, and he was looking at me with hooded eyes.And he might be in love with me.
It was all too much, so I kissed the hell out of him.
It thrilled me since I knew him so well. The kiss hit differently compared to every hookup or temporary boyfriend I’d had. The movements were the same, even the tingles on my skin and the heat in my gut. But my mind was different. My soul. Myheart.
“Matt,” I said, clinging to him and trying to communicate the absolute shitshow of emotions racing in my head. He nipped at my bottom lip and grinned against my mouth. There was something hot about that gesture. “Why are you smiling?”
“You’re wet and sliding all over me. There’s so much to smile about.” He dug his fingers into my ass. “I’m a simple guy.”
I opened my mouth to either kiss him more or lick him, undecided, but he dunked me. Water flooded my mouth, and I pushed off, hitting his stomach. “You asshole!”
He laughed as I swam away as fast as I could. He chased me. It wasn’t smooth because I could hardly doggie paddle, and his limbs were too long and useful.Damned athletic monster.He pulled my ankle hard, yanking me back to him as he tickled my waist. I screamed, causing Becky to poke her head over the side.
“Are you drowning?”
“No but help me. He’s trying to kill me,” I said, being dramatic. He tickled me so hard I cried. “Please.”
Becky laughed. Super unhelpful.
My horrible stepsister walked away, a smile on her lips. Matt continued tickling me as I squirmed against him.
“I’ll get you back,” I said between hollers. “I swear it.”
