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She turned toward him. He’d stooped to pick up his abandoned fishing pole. Madison abandoned all caution, laying everything on the line, being the player she kept telling herself she was.
Heart knocking against her sternum, she licked her dry lips. “I need you to kiss me right now.”
His fishing pole once again forgotten, Levi stood, wiped his hands down the front of his jeans. His expression tight, he stared at her for long moments, seeming to weigh the pros and cons of her request. Really, if he was having to think about it that long, what did it say? Definitely not that she made him lose his head the way he made her lose hers.
“Never mind,” she mumbled, embarrassed heat flushing her cheeks.
“Come here,” he growled, pulling her to him.
Startled, she practically stumbled into his arms, eyed him cautiously. He was going to kiss her. Levi was going to lock his lips with hers. Oh, yes!
Taking his time, he brushed his finger across her cheek, slowly, sensitizing every cell along the way. He stared into her eyes, cupped her cheeks, and bent his head, his lips finally covering hers.
In the same instant, his fishing pole took off towards the lake. Seeing the movement from the corner of her eye, she dove for the pole. Levi did, too. They both missed, but on his second try Levi got the handle and reeled in a large fish.
Madison couldn’t say the fish was pretty exactly, but the way the sunlight hit the shimmery green scales did make them sparkle with color.
“A large mouth,” he said with pride. “A keeper, too.”
“A keeper?” She stared at how he held the fish by its mouth and gently removed the hook.
“Meaning we clean him and have him for supper.”
Horrified, Madison grimaced. “I’m not eating that fish.”
“No?”
“And I’m certainly not going to ‘clean’ him.”
Levi laughed. “I know you’re not a vegetarian, Madison.”
“Yeah, but I’m not used to my food having looked at me prior to me digesting it, either.”
He laughed again, not seeming upset, not even seeming to remember that moments before his mouth had been on hers and tension had sizzled between them like grease over an open flame.
She eyed the fish. “If he goes free, I’ll buy dinner tonight.”
His gaze shot to hers and without hesitation he agreed. “Since that means I get to spend more time with you, you’ve got a deal.”
Madison sat down in the fold-out chair Levi had brought for her and watched as he released the fish. As if nothing had ever happened, the fish swam away, quickly disappearing into the depths of the lake.
“So much for gratitude.” She laughed.
Levi baited his hook with a fresh worm, cleaned his hands in the water, then sat beside her. They sat in silence, holding their fishing poles, enjoying the sunshine and the beauty of the day. On the surface.
Inside, Madison’s brain bubbled with questions, working overtime. “Why is it you want to take things slowly with me?”
He stared out at the water for a long time, although she couldn’t discern what specifically he looked at. “The physical is usually the beginning, middle, and end to my relationships.” He laughed self-deprecatingly. “Outside the physical, there isn’t anything else.”
Her head spun at his admission. “That’s okay. I don’t want anything beyond the physical.”
“Well, that’s where things get complicated. You’re different. I do want more.”
Their chairs were close enough she could touch him. So she did. Leaning over, she placed her hand on his forearm, thrilling at the awareness shooting through her. Thrilling at the awareness she felt shooting through him.
Levi wanted her. Not just physically. He thought her different, wanted more. What did that mean?
What did she want it to mean?
