“Jeremiah, this is my friend Magnus. Do you remember him from the lumberjack competition?”

“Yep, you know Wes.” Jeremiah smiles with a toothy grin and his green eyes sparkle up at me from a face so similar to his mom’s.

He’s adorable and I can’t help but smile back at him. “Hey Jeremiah, it’s great to meet you.” I hold out my hand to high five, but instead he stretches his out.

“My mom says boys shake hands when they meet,” he informs me earnestly.

“Your mom is a smart lady,” I reply, taking his hand. His fingers are so tiny in mine as he pumps our joined hands up and down.

“Okay, I think that’s good enough, Jer,” Lucy interjects with a smile of pride.

“How do you feel about swimming?” I ask.

“I love it,” he shouts, bouncing up and down with excitement.

“Have you swam in a lake before?”

“No, just our pool.”

“Well, I have a special vest for you to wear that’s going to help you swim in the deep water with me.”

“Awesome. I like to go into the other end of our pool where the water’s over my head, but mom only lets me when I’m swimming with Wes.” Jeremiah obviously spends a lot of time with him. He’s mentioned Wes twice in only a matter of minutes. I don’t want to say the thought of the three of them hanging out like a family makes me jealous, but it does. I don’t want any man spending time with them, but me.

“Are you going to come in the water and play?” I ask Lucy with a wink.

“I sure am. Playing in the water is one of my favorite things.” She smiles suggestively and watches as I tug my t-shirt over my head and drop it on one of the cushioned lounge chairs that look out over the lake. Lucy’s heated stare burns into me as if her small hands are caressing my skin. Our eyes meet and I know she can see how much I want her too. “Later,” I say with a wink.

She nods and steps forward to help Jer get remove his shirt.

I grab the life jacket from one of the chairs and slip it over his head. Lucy fastens the clips and I tie the bow at the top. “Are you ready, Jeremiah?”

“I’m ready.” He jumps up and down. I clasp his hand. “We’re going to run down the dock and jump off the end. Your life vest will keep you from going under.”

“Cool.”

“Lucy, are you okay with this plan?” I’m careful to ask her permission.

“As long as he’s wearing a life vest, I am.”

“Okay, on the count of three we’re going to run.” Jeremiah nods his eyes open wide with excitement. One. Two. Three,” I yell, and we’re off, feet pounding down the smooth wooden planks of the dock. When we reach the end, we jump and soar through the air before plunging into the cold water with a huge splash. We barely go under before Jer’s vest springs him to the surface.

“That was awesome,” he shouts, water flying from his lips with each word. “Can we do it again?”

“We can do that as many times as you’d like.”

The next fifteen minutes are spent climbing out of the lake and then jumping back in. Jer is having so much fun, and I am too. My eyes wander to Lucy, where she leans back on one of the lounge chairs with her eyes locked on us and a smile gracing her lips. I know firsthand how soft those lips are.

“Do you want to try it on your own this time? I’ll stay in the water and wait for you. I’ll be right here when you land.”

His face lights up with excitement. “Yes,” he squeals, eagerly climbing up the ladder to the top of the dock. Pausing, he glances in Lucy’s direction. “Mom, I’m going to jump by myself this time. Watch me.”

“Don’t worry, I’m watching.” Her gaze sweeps briefly in my direction like she’s signalling that she’s seeing me too. I like knowing her eyes are on me.

Jeremiah takes off running and a giggle slips out just before he reaches the end. There’s no hesitation on his part as he explodes from the balls of his feet, soaring through the air to land in front of me. The splash of the water reaches me as his little head pops up, with an ear to ear smile on his face. “That was awesome. I want to do it again.”

I chuckle at his reaction and shake away the water dripping from my face and hair.

“Jeremiah, that was amazing.” Lucy claps her hands.

“Mommy, will you jump with me?” He swims toward the side of the dock.

Lucy’s smile freezes and she looks like she wants to say no.

“Yeah, Lucy, why don’t you give it a try. Unless you’re a giant party pooper.”

Jer, giggles. “Come on Mommy. Don’t be a party pooper.” He quickly scurries up the ladder.

Lucy gazes at me pointedly. “Thanks for that.”

I flash a quick grin. “Don’t mention it.”

She rolls her lips inward and rises to her feet, tugging off the red tank top and cutoffs. She drops both articles of clothing on the lounger before striding toward the dock in her sexy black one piece. Her chocolate brown hair is up exposing the straight lines of her collarbones and smooth skin of her shoulders. She’s stunning.

“Hurry mommy.” Jeremiah bounces on the balls of his feet with excitement. When she reaches him, he takes her hand. “Don’t be scared mommy. I’ve got you.”

She leans down, kissing the top of his head. “You’re such a brave boy to look out for me.”

“Ready. Set. Go,” Jer, yells and they both start running. The joy on both their faces is overwhelming to me. My chest squeezes tight with love and admiration for Lucy. She’s a wonderful mother. It’s no surprise he’s such a great kid. I’ve only spent a few hours with him and I’m already crazy about him.

Lucy screams when they push off the dock. They crash into the water side by side. She breaks the surface spitting water from between her lips. “It’s freezing.” Her teeth immediately chatter.

Reaching out, I tug her back into my arms, and continue wading water. “I’ll warm you up, Luce.” My lips press against the skin behind her ear and she shivers in reaction. “You’re giving me the chills even more.”

“Different kind of chills,” I mention, tightening the arm around her waist while my other hand slides down the outside of her thigh. “I like you wet and slippery.” I press my hard cock into the crease of her ass.

“I can’t tell,” she jests, teasingly rubbing her ass over me.

“Mommy, now watch me do it by myself.” Jeremiah interrupts, reminding us where we are.

“To be continued,” I growl in her ear.

* * *

“Jer, come on out here and eat your dinner,” Lucy calls, placing his plate with a cheeseburger, salad and chips down on the long rectangular table on my back deck.

“I’m glad he likes Sybil so much,” I mention as I man the grill.

“Yeah, he loves cats and dogs, but we’ve never had the time to devote to caring for one.”

“Maybe that won’t always be the case,” I say. If things continue to progress with us, then I have every intention of them coming to live with me. I’m keeping that hope close to the vest for now, though. If Lucy knows I’m thinking about such things, she might get spooked.

Jeremiah slips out the French door and takes a seat at the table, immediately digging into his meal.

Closing the grill, I turn to Lucy and pull her into my arms. “I’m having such a great time with you both.” I place a kiss on the side of her forehead.

“Me too. Thanks for being so great with Jer. He likes you, I can tell.”

“He’s a great kid. You should be proud of the job you’ve done raising him. I”m sure it’s been much harder than you’ve let on.”

“There have been some tough times for sure. My mom’s stroke was devastating to us all, but we made it through.”

“And now you have me to lean on.”

“Do I have you?” She questions, resting her chin on my chest.

“Do you really have to ask? I’m pretty sure you knew from day one it was never just about the sex for me.”

“Yeah, I think I was trying to convince myself more than you.”

“I think you’re right. I knew right away how this was going to play out.”

“What do you mean?”

“I had a feeling deep in my gut from day one about us.”

“What kind of feeling?” she inquires with curiosity.

“The loving kind.”

“Why are you being so cryptic? Spit it out.”

“Each day I fall more in love with you.” I take in her surprised expression. “How’s that for blunt?”

“Do you really mean that?”

“Of course I do.” Cupping her cheeks between my hands, I gaze lovingly down at her. “Lucy, I’m head over heels in love with you.”

She rakes her teeth over her bottom lip and her eyes fill with tears. “I love you, too,” she whispers with a jubilant smile. “I can’t believe I’m in love with Magnus Fucking Andersen.”