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‘Never on a new moon, and never in water. The water adds extra strength to the experience because the water has infused its energy too. We are literally surrounded by the new moon.’ She swished her free hand under the water, forming ripples around their bodies. ‘We are bathing in energy.’

‘So, what do we do now?’ Robyn could see the intrigue in his face. He was inspired by this, just like she was.

‘Now we need to lie back and float,’ she whispered. ‘And soak up what the moon can give us.’

They moved as one, lying on their backs, hands clasped between them, keeping them side by side. The crisp of the air met their skin on the surface, but the heat of the pool kept them warm. She squeezed his hand once to check he was okay, and he squeezed back reassuringly.

As they floated, the water lapped at them, the tiniest promise of the moon shining down on them, turning their bodies pale in its light. She lost track of time as she watched her breath cloud in the air above her and felt her whole body relax in the warm water. Any anxiety left her body as her breathing slowed while she lay in that dark pool under the vast sky, turning, buoyed by the water, suspended from reality. The only thing that kept her tethered was Fox’s hand, their fingers entwined, as they floated in space and time.

Sometime later, an owl hooted from the woods, and a mate returned its call.

‘Wow,’ Fox said, finally breaking the spell.

They stood and turned to face each other. Fox’s eyes were wide, unblinking, as though taking something in, or trying to understand it. He opened his mouth to say something, but then pulled her to him and crushed his mouth to hers instead. His tongue was hot and forceful, his arms strong, his hands roving her back and her bottom under the water. She wrapped her arms around his neck, ran her fingers through his hair and kissed him back with everything she had.

He moved them as they kissed, manoeuvring her to the shallower end of the pool, until the water dropped below her breasts and then he dropped to them, sucking at her nipples, pushing her breasts together in his hands. She threw her head back to the sky and smiled to see the moon was watching.

Robyn could feel him hot and hard against her, and reached for him, encircling him, pumping his shaft with long, slow, luxurious strokes under the water. He groaned into her neck and bit her lightly. Robyn gasped as his hand delved between her legs, his fingers opening her and turning her skin to hot silk. His fingers were languorous, lazily teasing her, driving her to push against him, call his name for more.

Backing onto the pool steps, Robyn lay back, opening her legs to him. Fox towered over her, his strong thighs pushing hers wider as he positioned himself at her entrance. Supporting himself on his arms beside her, he entered her, and she arched to meet him. Every inch stretched her until he filled her completely and she raked his back with her nails. Their rhythm quickened, his eyes burning into hers, his jaw taut with intensity. As he ploughed into her, she rose to him again and again. His name was a mantra in her head and it was like he was reading her thoughts. She was going to come and he knew it. He took her to the peak, his eyes locked on hers, and then watched her explode around him before letting himself detonate. He growled as he came, and she cried out with the sheer beauty of the sky, and of the moonlit water, and of Fox.

Chapter Forty-Six

Fox

Fox wrapped Robyn in the biggest white fluffy robe he could find in the pool house, and grabbed another one for himself. Robyn was laughing even as she shivered and he felt the same high inside, an elation he hadn’t felt for a long time. The skinny dipping, their sex under the night sky. It had all been so unexpected.

‘Still cold?’ he asked and she nodded yes, her teeth chattering. ‘Hot chocolate?’

‘You do that,’ Robyn said. ‘I’ll sort dinner.’

Ten minutes later, they were snuggled under a blanket on the sofa, mugs of hot chocolate on the side tables and cheesy baked beans on toast on a plate between them as they gripped a fork each.

‘Cheese beanos – with the secret ingredient!’ she said, grinding black pepper and drizzling Worcestershire sauce on top.

Fox’s first bite was delicious and just what he needed. Their plate was cleared in minutes, and once they finished they tucked the blanket round them, cupping their hot drinks in their hands. Robyn’s cheeks were pink again, her shivering gone, but she still tucked her cold feet under his legs and he let her, gritting his teeth until they warmed up a little.

‘Well, I’ve never done any of that before,’ Fox admitted.

‘First time for everything!’ Robyn blew on her chocolate and he watched her lick her lips before taking a sip. Fox settled back into the sofa, thinking about other novel experiences in his life. He felt open, relaxed, and didn’t want the night to end yet.

‘The first time I got drunk, I mistook the cupboard for the bathroom and weed on my dad’s shoes.’

‘First time I ever kissed someone, he was chewing gum and I ended up swallowing it,’ Robyn said with a grimace and Fox found himself laughing back.

‘And the first time I ever asked someone out, I stammered so much they had to ask me to repeat myself . . .’ Fox shook his head at the memory, and Robyn reached over to squeeze his hand.

‘First time anyone asked me out on the phone, I pretended it was bad reception and hung up!’ Robyn shook her head. ‘How awful! But it’s excruciating, isn’t it? Growing up.’

‘And our kids have got to go through all of that.’

Robyn nodded and he watched her expression cloud over.

‘I realised I was grown-up when my mum left me to my own devices.’ Robyn’s voice was quieter, subdued.

‘And you were only eighteen then?’ Fox asked.

She smiled a half-smile. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘And all I could afford in my weekly food shop were jacket potatoes.’ She met his eye but then chuckled. ‘Or cheese beanos.’ Fox felt his heart swell at her resilience, her eternal optimism.