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The freezing water knocks every lust-addled thought straight out of my head.

By the time I break through the surface, gasping for air, there is absolutely nothing seductive about Milo Fletcher anymore.

“You asshole!” I shriek, splashing him the second his head pops out of the water.

He only laughs, and to my surprise, instead of being annoyed, I start laughing right along with him.

“God, it’s cold!”

“Just keep moving your arms and legs,” he shouts, still chuckling.

“If I can even feel my arms and legs, you mean.”

“Come on, Morgan. Swim with me,” he says, diving back into the lake.

I must have lost my mind, because I follow him.

The water swallows me whole, the world above disappearing as I swim beneath the surface. Thank God for the full moon. Its pale light filters through the water just enough for me to make out Milo swimming ahead.

So I go after him.

He turns his head toward me and somehow manages to smile underwater.

I wink back. Then I kick harder and blow right past him toward shore. Only when my lungs begin to burn do I push myself upward. The second my head breaks through the water, I suck in a deep breath.

“Wow!” Milo says when he surfaces a few seconds later. “You’ve got some speed on you.”

“That was amazing!” I say, completely energized as I push my wet hair away from my face.

Milo swims over to me and places his hands on my hips while my arms naturally wind around his neck.

“Thank you. I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”

“I’m glad.” He grins. “Though I must be losing my touch if you managed to outswim me.”

“Don’t take it personally. My apartment building has a private gym and pool, and I use both most nights. Sometimes I have all this pent-up energy after writing and can’t fall asleep. An hour at the gym and a few laps in the pool usually mellow me out enough to get a good night’s rest. The health benefits are just an added bonus.”

“I can tell. Look at this muscle.” He chuckles, lifts my arm, and presses a kiss on it.

“You’re teasing me again.”

I know damn well I’m not muscular. Sure, I’m stronger than I was in high school, but I’m still eons away from competing for Ms. Olympia.

“Just a little.” He winks before pulling me closer.

My breath catches in my throat, when his whole demeanor changes. His playful demeanor gives way to something darker. Hotter.

“Milo,” I whisper when the intensity of his stare becomes too much.

“Shh, sweetheart. Remember our deal. Just… feel,” he says before lowering my bra strap and pressing a kiss on my shoulder.

I hold on to him for dear life, watching as he peppers my skin with wet kisses, his mouth traveling from my shoulder to my neck, then slowly down along my collarbone.

I hiss when Milo’s lips close around my pebbled nipple, drawing it into the warmth of his mouth.

Every nerve ending in my body awakens faster than any swim in a freezing lake could.

My head falls back as he continues to tease each nipple until they’re like puckered diamonds, practically daring him to bite them. When his teeth clamp down on one, my core clenches.