“Everyone knows the water here is ice cold.” I keep giggling, and he steps closer, eyes squinting with mischief. I don’t have time to run before he’s got his arms outstretched, coming toward me for a hug. “No!” I scream. But either my excessive laughing or the thought of Peter chasing me have turned my legs to Jell-O. I don’t get far before his cool, wet chest is pressed against my back.
“You could have at least offered to warm me up, darling.” While his body is icy, his breath is warm on my neck. His entire front presses against my back, and his arms wrap around me, holding me firmly—but not so tightly I can’t free myself if I want to. All of it causes my temperature to rise. I should walk away, but before my brain catches up with my body, or vice versa, he’s the one pulling away, his low chuckle making me shiver.
Spinning to face him is a mistake. With his hands on his hips, hair disheveled and damp from all the splashing, he is a proper snack. My eyes catch on a drop of saltwater traveling from his pierced nipple over his abs and eventually landing on the band of his shorts. I lift my eyes, bracing for him to make a comment about my ogling.
“Fuck, that was cold. Is it always like this?” We’re a respectable distance apart, and he’s making small talk. This is… confusing. As he raises a hand to run through his hair, he pauses to wave at our friends, flipping Leo the middle finger as his eyes dart back to mine.
“Um, pretty much, yeah. The north shore is warmer, but down here, it’s pretty much always cold.” I shrug, chuckling a little more at the memory of his shrieks. “You scream like a little girl.”
He scoffs, not at all fazed. “Yeah, well, you try having your balls shrivel up inside your body and see if you don’t let out a few high-pitched shrieks.”
“I’m good,” I respond, not fighting my smile.
He gifts me with a wide grin of his own, shaking his head. “Yeah, Elizabeth Cameron. You sure are.” His eyes flick back to me as he sighs. “I’m gonna go dry off and lick my wounded ego for a bit. Don’t get frostbite on your toes out there, all right?”
“Uh-huh.”
His gaze rakes over every inch of me, and I feel it from the top of my head to the ends of my toes. When he begins his walk back to our spot, I inhale deeply, wondering if I’ll be the one to need a cold plunge next.
CHAPTER 18
IDIOT.
DARCY
I’m a fucking idiot.
CHAPTER 19
I NEED TO GET A HOLD OF MY UNRELENTING DICK.
DARCY
Three days after the beach incident Ineverwant to speak of again, I have another meeting with Beth. Thank goodness Leo assumed I didn’t know the water would be so cold because I usually wear a wetsuit for the surfing lessons I haven’t started yet.
As much as I was embarrassed by the whole thing, I’d do it all again to hear Beth laugh like that. I’d do it all again just to get to wrap her up in my arms again for those short few seconds.
I wasn’t thinking when I chased after her, but when my frozen, shriveled-up dick took note of how close her ass was, I let go before he could make a quick comeback and alert the entire beach about how excited he was to be there.
I was ready to chastise myself for my behavior, but chasing a friend is a normal, playful reaction. I probably would have done the same with Leo, so it was easy enough to play it off as a friendly joke. Or, at least, I hope that’s how it came off.
I sure didn’t miss her nipples trying to poke out of her bathing suit top afterward, though. But that was probably because she was cold. Or… Fuck. I can’t think about that, or I’mnot gonna be able to stand once she gets here. I might as well be a horny teenage virgin all over again with how pathetic I am around this woman. I need to get a hold of myself. No. I need to get a hold of my unrelenting dick.
Using the breathing exercises my therapist taught me, I imagine myself sitting in a grassy field, meditating. Thinking about the fifty-year old, balding man who is helping me through this new reality where I have panic attacks is enough to get my cock good and flaccid. Perfect timing, too, as the tall blonde stumbles into the room looking like summertime in wide-legged, flowy pants, a fitted T-shirt, and sandals. Her always straight hair falls in her face, and she blows at it unsuccessfully, unable to reach for the unruly strands as she holds her laptop, a notebook, and a water bottle, her car keys dangling on her fingers and a small purse in the other.
I stand to help her, and in the moment, my hand decides the best course of action is to tuck her hair behind her ear. It’s logical, sure, because she needs to see, but it’s also stupid. Touching her is stupid. Because once I do, it’s all I can think about doing. She’s literally been in the room for three seconds, and I’ve already screwed myself over.
“Um, hi. Thanks. Sorry I’m late.” Her keys clatter on the table as she sets her things down.
“You’re fine. Need a hand with anything?” I clear my throat and sit my ass back down, thankful she chose the chair across from me and not next to me.
“No, sorry, we can get started.” She moves so quickly, she’s practically a blur, arranging her water bottle, her purse, putting keys away, opening her laptop, flipping the notebook to a blank page. “How did things go this week? Did you get a chance to talk to anyone about the marina?” Without stopping or looking up at me, she continues asking me whether I got the blueprint she emailed me.
“Beth, take your time getting settled first.” I move her water bottle before she can knock it over when she opens her laptop to unlock it.
“Billie. And it’s fine. We can get started while I do this. I don’t want to waste your time.” Her clipped words are even more unsettling than her frantic motions, and the way she corrects my use of her name… Fuck, I hate that a lot.
“You’re not wasting my time. You’re making me a little anxious, actually, because you haven’t even taken a full breath since you walked in here. Slow down.” I swallow hard before reaching across the small table and placing a tentative hand on her forearm.
