She rolls her eyes. “You’re talking to an erotic voice actor. You can say you’re fucking.”
“Mills.” I gasp. “He’s your brother. I’m so not discussing this with you.”
“Oh, grow up.” She smiles. “Besides, I’m not asking for freaky details.”
Groaning, I say, “Can you please not tell Asher you know? We said we’d keep it quiet.”
She studies me for a moment through the screen, her lips pursed. “I guess so. If that’s what you want.”
Millie may be dramatic and she may be the life of the party, but she’s consistently loyal and trustworthy.
“Thank you. So tell me how married life is.”
For nearly an hour, she dishes about Ezra, new audio projects, and her next musical production. Only when Bea accidentally pees her pants a little does Millie end the call.
I’m startled awake by Asher. He’s looming over me, his face cast in shadow. Disoriented, I try to sit up but give that up quickly when the world sways beneath me.
Hammock. I’m in the hammock.
As it moves gently, I take in the very pretty man standing close. He’s barefoot, wearing a backward hat, and damn… maybe dreams really do come true.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” His words are gentle when he runs his fingers through my hair.
“That’s okay,” I say through a yawn. “What time is it?”
Just the top crest of the sun can be seen behind the trees, and gray clouds have moved in, along with the smell of sulfur signaling the impending rain.
He removes his hat and tosses it next to me. “Time for you to jump in the lake.”
My brain swirls, not quite ready to process what he’s saying. “What? Why?”
“Come on, Doc. Jump in the lake with me. I’m sweaty, and it’ll be fun. Up.”
He rocks the hammock and I instinctively clutch the sides. When I don’t climb out, he loops his arms around my waist and throws me over his shoulder effortlessly. Before we get too far, I toss my phone onto the hammock.
With my face plastered to his sweaty shirt, I kick wildly. “Ew, put me down. You stink!”
“Rude girl.” He swats my ass, laughing, and strides toward the shore.
A family of ducks flap chaotically at our intrusion. Then cool water is splashing my face. As Asher treads into the lake, I brace myself for the inevitable cold plunge.
It may be summertime, but the water temperature is barely above seventy. Refreshing after a workout, but it’ll no doubt be a shock to the system after lying in the shade all afternoon.
He drops, and we’re under water. Right away he lets go and my gasp reflex kicks in when we bob up for air. I grab his neck for purchase and wrap my limbs around his waist like a pathetically soaked koala.
“I didn’t consent to this,” I sputter.
I opted out of a bra when I changed, and the ice-cold water has made my nipples so hard they could cut through this thin T-shirt. Asher notices immediately, dipping his head and clamping down on one with his teeth.
“Asher!” I yelp. “Someone could see us.”
He spins us around in dramatic fashion. “Who? The ducks?”
Heart thundering, I scan the area. He’s right. We’re hidden between the boat and the lush shrubbery that juts out into the water.
“Unless someone is creeping on us with binoculars from across the lake, I think we’re good.”
I roll my eyes but slam them closed when he crushes his mouth against mine, claiming me with an urgent kiss. The kind of kiss that makes my stomach swirl.
