“You know,” he said against her wet skin. “If you reach a little lower, I think you’ll find I’m far from worn out.”
Laughing, she did just that. “So it would seem.”
He bit the curve of her neck and rocked into her hand. “Nothing fake about it.”
“Mmm…” Tipping her head, she gave him better access, while her fingers grew bolder, stroking him full tilt. “It’s a shame I have to go to work.”
Reaching between them, he slipped his fingers into her cleavage, gave a quick tug, and her towel fell onto their feet. “You can’t go just yet,” he said, sweeping her into his arms.
“Why not?” Her playful gaze sparkled beneath a raised brow.
He fucking loved that he was staring into one brown eye and one blue eye. Loved that they both stripped away all pretense and came at each other without anything to hide.
“Because.” He set her on the covers, then grasped her ankles and spread her legs. “It’s time for breakfast in bed.”
***
For most of the day?okay, for all of the day?Sophia walked around with a smile on her face. She couldn’t help it. She was happy. Content. Satisfied. All thanks to Ryder.
Her mind revisited the amazing things the man had done to her last night…and this morning, and heat rushed through her tired and sore body. And just like that, she was instantly rejuvenated, which was good. She was on her own today, but Ryder and the college students were scheduled to help tomorrow and Sunday.
Today she was feeling inspired, so she started work on painting one of the background scenes. She was halfway done when Phoebe breezed into the area backstage where the sets were built and stored.
“Hey, Sophia.”
“Hi. What’s up?” she asked, setting her paintbrush down. “Will I be in your way during rehearsal tonight?”
Phoebe shook her head. “No. You’re fine here.” Her gaze narrowed and mouth twitched. “I wanted to apologize for leaving you in the lurch last night, but something tells me it’s not necessary.”
“You’d be correct.” She grinned. Couldn’t help it.
Dammit.
Her friend leaned against a ladder, a smile spreading across her face. “Anything to do with a certain, good-looking carpenter from your past?”
She nodded. “It has a lot do with him.”
“That’s great. But what changed?”
“He did,” she replied. “He finally realized I wasn’t going to make any demands on him. That I wasn’t looking for forever.”
They had commitments. People depending on them. Lived in two different states. The list was endless.
Phoebe cocked her head. “You going to be okay spending time with him, then leaving at the end of the summer?”
“Yeah.” She lifted a shoulder. “Why not? I left him before.”
“But you’d only spent two days together.” Phoebe shook her head. “That’s a lot different than two months.”
She waved a hand. “It’ll be fine. I already know going in that it’s just a summer fling thing. And that makes a difference.”
“I hope you’re right.” Phoebe sighed, gaze not so convinced. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Thanks,” she said, doing her best to reassure her friend. “I don’t have time to get hurt. I have more productions to help you with, besides this one. Plus, South Pacific renderings to produce.”
Phoebe pushed from the ladder and nodded. “Then I won’t keep you, especially from this background. It already looks amazing, Sophia.”
“Thanks,” she said again.
