Page 48 of Reaching Gavin

Your penis? I thought to myself. I bit that back and stuck with “I’m good.”

I looked around the room, taking it all in. There was a little balcony that looked out over the water. Not the marina side, but rather a calm, unbroken expanse. The view was breathtaking. The room itself was spartan save for a couple of book piles and a few more filled bookshelves. There was no television, which was just fine since I had other plans for entertainment.

And in the dead center of the room was my favorite part: the biggest bed I’d ever seen.

“The bathroom is in there if you’d like to freshen up,” he suggested.

That was probably a good idea. I supposed that after throwing up all over the runway, I needed to do that. I grabbed my bag and ducked inside with a shy grin. Digging into it, I found my toothbrush and brushed my teeth three times to be safe. While I did, I wandered around the bathroom. It was probably as big as his bedroom. It seemed like he’d decided to sprawl here. In the city, space was at a premium. Here, he had the freedom to indulge. Behind the duel sinks was a large walk-in shower with four rainwater heads. It looked like it belonged in a show home. But what really caught my eye was the large, jetted bathtub in the corner. It was surrounded by oversized windows that looked out over the trees. The condo didn’t have a bathtub. Neither had my dorm room. Maybe I had one more thing to add to this weekend’s to-do list.

Once I’d finished my final brushing, I stepped back and surveyed myself in the mirror. My dark hair swung over my shoulders, still fresh thanks to Gavin’s intervention at the airfield. Since I’d opted for the natural look, I didn’t need to touch up my make-up. Despite my breakfast’s encore appearance I didn’t look half bad. I considered digging into my weekender for the one slip of a nightgown that I had brought along. I hadn’t been sure if we were at the full-blown lingerie stage, so I had decided to keep it simple. Would it be presumptuous to go back in there in something like that?

Of course, I was well past the point of presumptuous. We were here, in very close proximity to a very empty bed, and I was ready to seal the deal. I found the nightgown and changed into it. After a quick check in the mirror, I decided it wouldn’t do. It looked like I was ready to go to bed. And not in the way I was hoping for. Nope, I needed something that screamed ‘take me now.’ Or I would actually be screaming take me now. I whipped it off and dropped it back on my bag. Catching sight of myself in the mirror, I realized that I didn’t need anything at all if I wanted to send a clear message.

Even with a summer of questionable fitness practices, I didn’t look half bad. There would also be no mistaking what I was after if I wore absolutely nothing out that door.

I loved how careful Gavin was about making sure we were on the same page, but I was ready to let him take control of me—my body and my heart.

“Now or never, Cassie,” I said in a firm voice. Squaring my shoulders I marched toward the door and stepped out, with a flourish, to an empty room.

It was more than a bit of a letdown. Gavin was nowhere to be seen. No doubt he was off checking on some other part of the house. Or he’d gone to grab something. It wasn’t a blow to the ego exactly, it was more like the split second I needed to feel embarrassed by my complete and total nudity.

I was naked and alone and really regretting my choices in life. I started to back toward the bathroom and the safety of my clothing when Gavin walked into the bedroom holding two bottles of water. He froze as soon as he spotted me.

“Where’s a fig leaf when you need one?” I said under my breath. Instinctively, I tried to wrap an arm around my torso, but couldn’t decide what parts of me were most important to cover. My double Ds put up a fight, spilling over my arm and refusing to play along and I could nearly hide my cootchie if I crossed my legs right. “I’m so sorry.”

It was all I could think to say. It was probably the first time a woman had ever apologized to a man for being naked.

“Don’t be sorry and don’t leave,” he tacked on hurriedly as I kept backing into the bathroom.

“I should put something on.”

“Whatever you do don’t do that.” He tossed the water bottles onto the nightstand and strode quickly toward me. I’d given up on trying to cover my body and instead hid my face with my hands as though if I couldn’t see him he couldn’t see me. Gavin gripped my wrists and drew them from my face. “God, you’re beautiful. You should be ashamed.”

“I’m feeling a little exposed,” I whispered. All the confidence I had when I walked out here had completely deflated, leaving half a Cassie in its wake.

He dropped my hands and stepped away. With one fluid motion he pulled his shirt over his head. “Then allow me to even the playing field.”

I’d already seen some very impressive parts of Gavin, but with his washboard abs on display, I almost forgot I was naked.

“Better?”

“Much.” I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Would my tongue vibrate if I licked that six-pack?

He reached down and slowly began unbuttoning his jeans. “What about these?”

All I could manage was a nod. Apparently, that was good enough, because they hit the floor. I’d seen what he was packing under his boxer briefs, but with his legs on display I realized that he must have spent a lot of time at the gym. I should have known they’d be as powerful as the rest of him after he had held me against that wall. He clucked his tongue, catching my attention. “Your eyes seem to be wandering.”

“Hey, you can’t blame a girl for looking.” I was about to scream ‘show me your peen’ when his boxers hit the floor revealing the full Gavin package.

He really was Mr. Right.

“I kinda like this nudist lifestyle.” He strode around the room strutting and showcasing his lean, muscular body. “Are we going to do this all weekend? I’m not sure how they’ll take it at the restaurant. I wish I’d known you were into this.”

I began to laugh, somehow he’d made the whole thing feel ridiculous. But not in a ‘I want to run and hide way’—in the way a friend would.

Of course, he was a friend I wanted to fuck.

He lit up at the sound of my laughter and before I knew it, he caught me in his arms and swept me off my feet.