He unbuttoned his shorts and dropped them, standing there in just his boxers.
“You coming or not?”
I stood on shaky legs. My tank top was thin enough to swim in, but my shorts weren’t. I hesitated, then hooked my thumbs in the waistband and slid them down, hyperaware of Knox watching me.
“Don’t stare,” I muttered.
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
But when I looked up, his eyes were on me. Not leering, just...looking. I had to stop myself from pulling my shorts back on and sprinting back up the path to the house.
He turned and jumped off the dock, disappearing into the black water so quietly, if I wasn’t watching him I’d never have known.
I stood at the edge with my toes curled over the wood. The water looked never-ending, like there could be an entire universe under its depths. During the day, it was just the lake, familiar and safe. But tonight, there was something unsettling about it.
“You know, you could just say you’re scared,” Knox called from the water.
“I’m not scared.”
“Then what are you waiting for? A written invitation?”
“Maybe I’m just enjoying making you wait.”
I could hear the smirk in his voice. “There she is.”
“Fuck you, Knox.”
He laughed, and the sound gave my stomach butterflies. “The water’s so nice, Thorne. Quit stalling and get your ass in here.”
I sucked in a breath, held it, and jumped.
The water was shockingly cold since my body had adjusted to the hot night air. I gasped as I broke the surface, treading water with my hair plastered to my face.
“See? Not so bad.” Knox’s voice came from a spot on my right. “Told you.”
“You’re still an asshole.”
“Yeah, I am, but a smart asshole.”
I scoffed, not wanting to stroke his inflated ego. “Right.”
He laughed and started to swim out toward the middle of the lake. The shore lights got smaller behind us until we were surrounded by darkness and stars. I could barely see Knox beside me, only noticed the occasional splash of his arms cutting through the water.
The more we swam, the more tired I got until finally my legs felt heavy, and the shore felt like it was miles away.
“Knox.”
I knew not to panic, but my body wasn’t listening.
He was beside me almost instantly. “Float on your back, Thorne.”
Before I could argue, his hand found my back, large and solid beneath the water. His touch sent electricity through my entire body and I began to calm almost immediately.
“Relax, I’ve got you.”
I let myself go boneless, trusting him to keep me up. His hand spread wide across my lower back, his fingers spanning from one side of my spine to the other. My tank top had ridden up, and his palm was against my bare skin.
I should have cared that this was Knox touching me, should have felt embarrassed that I needed help, or at least weirded out a little. But all I could think about was how right he felt holding me. How it made my stomach flip. How I wanted him to move his hand higher. Or lower. Anywhere. Everywhere.
