Chapter 7
Ryan woke up with the sun shining in his face. Another night falling asleep on the uncomfortable couch in the cabin, and it got worse when he realized he was alone. Last night, Lucy had fallen asleep in his arms. He had thought about just leaving her there and going back to his bedroom or maybe trying to move her, but he didn't want to risk waking her up. Instead, he just closed his eyes, figuring he would move a little later. He ended up sleeping there all night.
Lucy, apparently, did not.
He took a deep breath and sat up, resting his elbows on his thighs, and thought about what had happened last night with Lucy. Their relationship had definitely taken a very different turn and he wasn't sure that was a bad thing. He also wasn't sure what exactly that meant now either.
On one hand, he had lots of casual relationships with women so maybe he could do a casual relationship with her. They both had demanding jobs — at least during the regular season — and they could have the option of just being friends with benefits.
But there was also the possibility that they could be more. Ryan rubbed his hand over his face and looked over at the kitchen counter. He remembered boosting Lucy up on that counter last night, feeling her silky skin under his calloused fingers, watching her chest rise and fall, her breathing erratic, her moans erotic. It was a damn good night for him and he hoped it was a good night for her too. He hoped he gave her what she wanted.
But she wasn't with him when he woke up this morning.
He reached over and grabbed his phone off the coffee table to check the time. It was barely six in the morning. He figured as much considering the brightness of the sun shining through the trees, but it was still shaded enough to remind him that most people wouldn't be up yet. The lake would be quiet and calm again.
He liked skinny dipping early yesterday morning. Lucy told him she liked it too. But it was one thing to chance it with him in the water by himself early in the morning. Having a naked Lucy next to him with the water glistening off her bare skin would be too much. An early morning skinny dip was meant to be enjoyed without being noticed. With Lucy there, he wouldn't be able to help himself, and they would definitely be noticed by someone. Better to have some time by himself — again.
He walked into his bathroom, took off his shorts, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he started to head out, nearly tripping over his discarded boxers on the kitchen floor. He reached down to pick them up and noticed something underneath them: black lace panties. Lucy had left them behind.
Ryan ducked his head, an audible moan escaping his lips. Why the hell did she leave those? And was she not wearing them when she laid down on the couch with him? Those thoughts only made Ryan remember her naked body. He needed to get in the lake and let the cold water clear his head considering the memories of what he did with Lucy last night were getting him hot and bothered again.
The birds were chirping and there was barely a cloud in the sky as he walked down to the dock. He took a quick look around to make sure no one was around, then a glance up the hill. Lucy's cabin looked serene and quiet. There didn't seem to be anyone spying on him like yesterday morning, which kind of disappointed him.
He stripped off the towel and quickly jumped in, letting the cold water wash over his body. Despite it being the middle of June, lake water never seemed to really get warm until late in the afternoon, if that. It wasn't the cleanest water, but it was refreshing and soothing in a way. There was something about the cold that always appealed to him. Maybe it was because he was Canadian, or maybe it was because he was a hockey player. Whatever it was, it was working.
The water wasn't too deep, enough to cover him probably up to his abs. But without any clothes on, he crouched down a little so it would come over his shoulders. He probably looked like just a floating head out in the water from some boat driving by, making it easier to conceal that he wasn't wearing anything underneath the still surface of the lake.
"Morning."
Ryan jumped up and spun around, splashing water on Lucy's feet where she was standing on the dock. He immediately reached down to cover his crotch, but his torso was still exposed and he could feel drops of water cascading down his muscles.
"Holy crap, you scared me."
"Uh, sorry."
She was standing there holding an ugly flowered mug in her hand and her eyes looking at him intensely.
"You're staring, Lucy."
A small smile spread across her face as she peered down at him. "No woman in her right mind could resist staring at you right now."
He just shook his head and slipped under the surface of the water again, his hand still strategically placed. Sure, Lucy saw all of that last night, but having her right in front of him while he's naked and she was fully clothed didn't seem like a fair trade. Although her "fully clothed" looked to be a pair of black pajama shorts with a white tank top that was somewhat sheer. He could tell she wasn't wearing a bra under it, which made him thankful that he was in cold water with his hand over his junk.
"Are you here for a reason?"
"Yes," she replied sweetly. "I have coffee at my place and thought I would check and see if you wanted some."
He smiled up at her. "Coffee sounds good."
"Good." She started to awkwardly look around as if she hadn't thought out the next steps just yet. "So just uh… come over whenever and I have coffee."
"OK."
"No rush, just whenever you're ready." She started to walk up the path before turning to holler back at him. "Maybe put some clothes on before you come over."
Ryan swallowed the growl that was trying to escape his lips. Put some clothes on? He wasn't sure exactly what she was implying. Did she not want to see him naked again? Was she just teasing him and winding him up? Because he definitely felt like she was winding him up.
He also realized that he had to get out of the lake without anything on. He thought it was a good idea to come down here and have some privacy. He didn't know it would be interrupted by Lucy. He also didn't know if she would be watching him climb out again like she did yesterday. But he didn't care either way. She saw him last night, and he was pretty sure she liked what she saw. He wouldn't blame her if she wanted to see him naked again considering he wanted to do the same with her.
