Page 100 of High Water

“Much. It’s like a real strip club now.” I make a pretend toast and take another gulp. I’ll need to stay hydrated.

He reaches for his belt, slowly unbuckling it and pulling it out of the belt loops of his jeans. I hold out my hand for it, and he gives it to me, a mildly confused but very curious look on his face. I put it on the cushion next to me, setting my lemonade on the floor at my feet before I reach for the button on his jeans.

“The strip clubs you’ve been going to are much more interactive than I remember them being.”

“Go to a lot of strip clubs, do you?” I tease him as I undo the top button of his jeans.

“No. I’m a married man.”

“Surely that gets boring after a while.” I tilt my head to look up at him, and he slips his fingers under my jaw, staring down at me like I’m the only thing he can see.

“You haven’t met my wife. She’s a lot of things, but boring isn’t one of them.”

“I’ve heard she’s bossy and difficult.”

“Only when the situation calls for it.”

He’s already well practiced at saying all the right things. Doing them too, if I’m honest. He wasn’t kidding when he said his main priority right now was being a good husband and a good father. He’s all of that and then some. A better partner than I could have ever dreamed of, and I feel like I’m just waiting for someone to wake me up.

“And when it doesn’t?” I ask as I draw his zipper down slowly, careful to brush the backs of my knuckles over him in the process. He closes his eyes, rolling his lower lip between his teeth as a low hiss escapes him from the contact.

“When it doesn’t, she’s actually pretty fucking eager to please.”

“How do you know which version you’re getting on any given day?”

“I don’t. That’s half the fun.” He smirks down at me.

“I think you deserve a reward for all your hard work this week.” I lift my lashes, biting back a smile. “What do you think?”

“I have a lot of thoughts right now. Ones that might be too much for your delicate sensibilities.” He teases me right back, and I love him for it.

Oh god.

I love him.

Not the way you love someone you’ve cared about for most of your life. Or the way you might love someone who’s a part of your family, whether you like it or not. But the other kind. The one that takes over all of your sensibilities. The kind that makes you lose all reason.

I’m in love with him. Again.

My mind starts to race with the implications of that, analyzing the risks and trying to predict the potential outcomes if I keep hurtling down this path instead of the one I carefully laid. The one with rules and order. The one where nothing is at risk because we make sure we keep our hearts off the table.

“Jones.” His voice drops, and his grip on my chin tightens, forcing my attention back to the present. “Where are you headed?”

“Wondering if we should toss out the rules for good. What it means if we do.”

“I think we should save that decision for another day. One when I’m not seconds from having my cock out while I strip for you on our porch.”

A laugh tumbles from me, and I run my hand down his thigh, trying to refocus on the fun of the moment rather than on the million things running through my mind at any given time.

“Okay. I can do that.”

“How about we follow my rules for tonight instead?”

“Your rules?” I give him a questioning look, but I feel the anticipation ripple through me.

“There’s only one you really need to focus on.”

“What’s that?”