A small smile touches her mouth. “That first time I wore that red bikini...” She glances at me. “I did that so you’d notice me.”
I let out a quiet breath. “I was already noticing you. Didn’t need the bikini.”
She huffs a soft laugh and rolls upright, treading water as she turns to face me.
“Being in the water like this takes me straight back. I didn’t realize how much I needed it.”
I swim toward her, and she meets me halfway. My hands settle at her waist as I pull her close. Her legs wrap around me, her arms sliding over my shoulders like they always do.
I hold her there.
“I don’t know what I’d do if you ever left me.”
She stills, then leans back enough to look at me properly. “I’m not going anywhere. I will never leave you.”
I hold her gaze.
“Not ever,” she adds, softer now. “It’s always going to be you. I chose you, and I’ll keep choosing you.”
Something in me eases at that, her words smoothing over the edge Brayden left behind.
“Good. Because I’d be completely useless without you.”
She laughs and presses her forehead to mine. “I love you. Always.”
“Love you too.”
She’s still wrapped around me when my cock makes its own decision about the situation.
Charlotte notices. One look and I can see the exact moment it hits her. The composure is there one second and gone the next.
“Well, hello there,” she says.
“Don’t.”
“I literally just said hello.”
“Charlotte—”
The corner of her mouth lifts. “Your naked wife is wrapped around you. It’s a perfectly reasonable response. Can’t hold that against you.”
“I’m going to swim laps.”
“Yeah?” She doesn’t unwrap her legs. “How’s that going to help you?”
I open my mouth, then close it again.
I don’t actually have an answer for that.
I look at her, and she stares back.
“Are we really about to fuck out here?”
“Oh yes. We are very much about to fuck out here.” Her mouth curves. “No one’s watching us, Dane.”
I think about it. Not for long.
The house is dark, the yard quiet. No lights nearby. No close neighbors. No one coming or going.
