Page 67 of Flirty Fall Fling

“You’re mesmerizing.”

She moves toward me. “Which room in this house is your favorite?”

I hook my finger with hers, dragging her back down the stairs, across the living room, and to the patio. The pool runs the length of the house, and the water looks turquoise against the night. Below, the carnival in Pine Haven glitters. A sliver of moon hangs lazily in the sky.

“I prefer to be outside of that ridiculous house. Each morning, I stand here and drink a shot of espresso. This view is my favorite.”

“It’s starting to become mine too.”

I glance at her, and she reaches behind her, then drags down the zipper of her dress. The material falls to the ground, and her bra follows it. Then she slides out of her panties. I want to memorize every inch of her. Goose bumps scatter down her arms, and her nipples tighten in the cool September breeze. She confidently stands there, completely bare, knowing exactly what she’s doing to me.

“Join me.” She says it like a dare, then dives in. She comes up giggling, dark hair slicked back. “The water feels amazing,” she says, floating on her back.

My hat comes off. I unbutton my shirt, remove my belt and jeans, then slide out of my boxers. Her grin widens as she watches me walk toward her into the pool. When I’m close, she wraps her arms around my neck. Drops of water are on her long lashes.

“You okay?” she asks.

“Just thinking.”

She pushes my wet hair back off my forehead with both hands, studying me from an inch away. “Don’t do that. Live in the moment. All we have is right now anyway.”

Then our lips crash together. At first, it’s ravenous, then transforms into something more seductive. Her fingers tighten in my hair as everything pours out of us. I walk her backward through the water until her spine meets the pool wall. She gasps when my mouth is on her throat, jaw, then ear. Steam rises around us. She arches into me as both my hands travel over her under the surface, learning her like I haven’t spent two nights doing exactly that.

“Turn around,” I say against her ear. “Hands on the edge.”

She doesn’t object and does so without any hesitation. My palms slide up her thighs, her stomach, over her breasts, until her head drops onto my shoulder. Her breathing grows more ragged as I touch her.

“I can’t fucking stand the thought of another man’s hands on you.”

I slide my palm down between her thighs, and she moans. There’s no need to be quiet up here. She’s loud, like she was in the secret room, riding my hand. The town lights twinkle below us as she fills the silence.

“You make me feel so good,” she confesses. “Like you know exactly what my body needs.”

“I do,” I whisper against her hair, rubbing circles on her clit.

I take my time with her, backing off when she’s close. I tease her until she’s trembling. The next time I touch her, her thighs clamp around my hand, and she breaks. Blaire cries out into the empty valley, and I work her through her orgasm. It’s intense, and I love that it’s me bringing her this pleasure and not anyone else.

Eventually, she relaxes with her back against my chest. As her breathing settles, she finally turns to face me. The teasing is gone. She kisses me slow, tasting like wine and whiskey. Her fingers rest on my cheek, and she reaches down for my cock. I could take her right here against this wall. An hour ago, I would have.

“Not here,” I softly say against her mouth.

She studies me for a second, trying to read my face. Then I lift her out of the water, and she wraps her arms around me without a word.

The September night is cold as I carry her across the patio. Water drips from both of us, leaving a trail of puddles, marking where I’ve been. Neither of us says a word as we enter the house and float up the staircase. She’s naked and wet in my arms, and it’s hard for me to believe.

I lay her down in the middle of the bed. She reaches for me. I catch her hand and kiss the center of her palm. Then I start at her ankle. My mouth moves up her, placing slow kisses along her skin. I want to worship her. I kiss her calf, the inside of her thigh, the soft skin on her hip bone, and the curve of her waist. Her eyes close, and she sighs and shifts under me. By the time I reach her throat, she’s whispering my name.

Downstairs, she told me to live in the moment. She said all we had was right now anyway. It should comfort me, but it doesn’t. Somewhere between High Spirits and this bed, right now isn’t enough for me.

“Jamie.” Her hands frame my face. “Where’d you go?”

“Nowhere. I’m here.”

I reach for the duffel beside the bed, out of habit, and she catches my wrist.

“No,” she says. “Not tonight. I’m on birth control.” She drags her thumb over the inside of my wrist. “I want to feel you. Just you.”

It’s one rule I’ve never broken. There’s never been a time without one, not once, with anyone. Even when I was in a serious relationship. But when Blaire looks up at me from the middle of the bed, with wet hair and shining eyes, I want to give her this part of me. That would usually scare the shit out of me, but it doesn’t.