I pulled my hair away from my face, blown there by the sudden gust of wind that skirted along the water and to the ferry platform.

Tristan’s hand was on my lower back, guiding me forward. “Windy day,” he remarked. “Sure we should be getting on a boat?”

“We’ll be fine,” I said, turning to reassure him. I nearly tripped backwards as my foot slipped on the slick ramp. Tristan caught my wrist and pulled me back up. He was so close, so strong, so confident, so…. Cory.

But not like Cory at all.

It was strange hanging out with my lover’s twin brother.

Obviously, I was attracted to him. After all, I was attracted to Cory. From the day we met, I fell for those clever hazel eyes and that crooked smile, always feigning bashfulness. They had taken their parent’s best qualities and melded into super-hunks. They had it all – the cut and trim figure, the chiseled jaw, the height, the firm lips…

I blushed as I wondered if Tristan’s dick was an equal match to Cory’s.

Sex with Cory had been fun when we first started hooking up. I had balked at the sheer girth of him, certain it would never fully penetrate me.

But once he’d stretched me out, it became the same thing over again, and now it was just something we did to let off some steam or unwind after a long day.

I ripped my thoughts out of the gutter and moved forward, boarding the ferry.

“I can’t believe your brother lives here and you’ve never seen Lady Liberty,” I told Tristan as we moved up to the front of the boat, leaning over the railing.

“Honestly, I’ve only been to New York once,” he said. “It’s not exactly my favorite city.”

I held my blonde hair back to keep it from blowing in my face. “What’s your favorite?” I asked him.

“Sydney, hands down,” he said.

I raised my eyebrows. “Australia? Have you been there?”

“Yeah, loads of times,” he said. His eyes grew distant as he looked out towards the harbor. “It’s crammed full of diverse culture, exotic foods, and best of all… surfing.”

I took in Tristan’s built form. He was nothing but solid muscle rippling underneath his shirt. I could believe he enjoyed surfing.

“And the locals are the friendliest people you’ll ever meet,” he said, turning his gaze to me. “Besides the Irish, I suppose.”

His eyes caught mine, and I looked away quickly, tempted to lose myself in them.

This isn’t Cory, I reminded myself.

“I haven’t traveled overseas,” I said. The boat lurched forward, and I had to grip Tristan to keep from losing my balance. The ferry began making its way towards Liberty Island.

“You should,” Tristan said, his arm slithering around my waist to hold me steady as we swayed on the boat. “It’ll change your life.”

“Cory said he’d take me to Paris,” I said.

Tristan looked down at me. “And do you believe him?” he asked.

It was a strange question for him to ask, but I didn’t have to consider it very long. “No,” I said bitterly. “I was hoping after this Covill project…”

He snorted. “Good luck. Here’s something you may not know.” He leaned his lips close to my ear. I shuddered with an unbidden desire for him to kiss my cheek, longing for a tender touch that Cory had used less and less often. “Cory has a mistress.”

I snapped my eyes to meet his. “What?”

He laughed. “His work, love. He seems to love it more than you. Or me.”

His words bit, but they rang true. Cory was obsessed with making more money.

“You don’t have much of a filter, do you?” I asked him.

He grinned. “I call it how I see it.”

When we reached Liberty Island, we wandered to the magnificent Statue of Liberty, which always looked larger up close for me.

Tristan took a few photos before he craned his head up to look. “Can we climb to the top?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No.”

He looked back at me, eyebrows furrowing. “Why not?” he asked. “Not up to the challenge?”

I glanced at the crown, where I knew a handful of people were gazing. “Only like 250 people are allowed up there a day. You have to reserve tickets months in advance.”

“That’s bullshit,” Tristan said. “What was the point of us coming here, then?”

I shrugged. “If you like heights, we can go to the Empire State building.”

“That’s different,” he said. “Anyone can get up there. It’s hardly worth it. I heard you have to climb 20 stories in Lady Liberty,” he gestured above him. “Now that’s worth my while.”

“You’re crazy,” I said. “No one likes climbing 20 flights of stairs.”

“Have you done it?” he asked. “Climbed to the crown?”

“Once,” I said, leading him around the square. “It’s pretty cramped in there. And hot. Not for the faint of heart.”

My words seemed to make the climb even more desirable to Tristan.

We grabbed a couple of hot dogs and sat at a bench, gazing up at the magnificent statue. “Where to next?” Tristan asked, unwrapping his hot dog.

“If you want to skip the Empire State building, we can always wander Central Park,” I said.

Tristan leaned back, watching some children chase pigeons away. “I would kill for a beach and some waves right now,” he said.

“Well, we have paddleboats in Central Park,” I said, biting into my hot dog. “Sorry this isn’t Sydney.”

He watched me intently as I took a bite.

“What?” I asked around a mouthful of meat, bread, and condiments.

He shrugged. “Just wanted to see if you could take it all. I bet Cory is married to his job because you can’t fit his massive dick in your mouth.”

The comment was completely unnecessary and rude, I thought. “I can, though,” I said before I could stop myself. It was something I was proud of.

His eyes lit in amusement, and I clamped my mouth shut. “Will you stop assuming what’s going on with Cory and me? We’re just taking a break. Hopefully we’ll figure out where our relationship should go from there. Other than that, we’re happy.”

“Are you, though?”

I frowned at him. He laughed, throwing back his gorgeous head.

“Come on, love, I’m just fucking with ya.”

I somehow felt like my pride had been wounded. I hoped he wasn’t being serious when he implied I wasn’t satisfying Cory. I did everything I could and more… Cory just never seemed very interested. My gut twisted.

After riding the ferry back to the mainland, I took Tristan to Central Park. We rented a paddleboat and took to the water. I enjoyed the tranquility you couldn’t find anywhere else in New York. The water rippled gently as we paddled with our feet, working as a team to get the boat where it needed to go.

“Cory has always been by the book,” Tristan remarked. “Go to college, get a job, contribute to a 401K… get married. I’m assuming you’re like that, too?”

I wasn’t sure what he was getting at. “I didn’t go to college,” I told him. “My life is at my parent’s bookstore. After Dad died…” I stopped, realizing I was about to open up to a complete stranger – one who didn’t seem to care much for my feelings anyway.

But Tristan leaned towards me, listening. “I’m not like my brother, love,” he said. “You can tell me. I’ll listen.”

I sighed. “After Dad died, I resolved to take care of his bookstore the way he’d want it run. I decided that would be my career. Then I met Cory, and… suddenly it didn’t seem like I’d need to keep working. Especially if marriage was brought into it.”

Tristan cocked an eyebrow. “Are you expecting a proposal?”

I bit my lip, pumping the paddles a bit faster. “Maybe. Cory had made a few suggestions early on in our relationship that he was ready to settle down. My mom would hate it if I ever admitted it out loud… but I’m not confident in the idea of marrying Cory if he ever asked.”

His full attention was on me. “What drew you to him in the first place?”

I didn’t answer right away. What did happen? “I guess Cory swept me away,” I said with a smile.

Tristan snorted. “Barf,” he said. “You two have the most boring story ever. There was only one girl who ever caused the thought of marriage to cross my mind, and you know where I found her?”

I shook my head, wary of what I was about to hear.

“Sucking my tour guide’s dick in Barcelona while some other fiend fucked her from behind. I looked at that and thought… what a woman.”

I seriously had no idea if he was joking or not. “That’s gross,” I said.

“It’s pleasure at the most carnal level. You wouldn’t know. You’re still basically a virgin. Have you ever had a three-way?”

What the hell? “I can assure you I am not a virgin,” I said, feeling the need to defend myself. “And… no. Why would I do that? Sex is what you do with someone you love.”

“Oh, Lordy.” Tristan laughed. “Aren’t you a pretty little slice of apple pie. Have you always been a little goody two shoes?”

Tristan was really starting to get under my nerves. “No,” I said.

“Prove it,” Tristan said. He pointed. “Jump into the water and swim over to that bridge there. Come on. I dare you.”

I looked at him incredulously. “What are you, two?”

“Too cool for you,” he teased. He leaned towards me so our noses were nearly touching. “Go ahead. Live a little.”

His proximity set my heartbeat racing. Cory had never dared me to do anything in our entire relationship. We always… went through the motions.

I looked at the rippling water in front of us. The August sun beat its rays on the back of my neck. It would feel so refreshing to just jump in…

“I don’t want to be wet the rest of the day,” I said.

He leaned away from me, disappointed. “As I thought. You really are a good fit for my brother.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing,” I said.

But not only did I feel I’d let him down… but myself.

I groaned, removing my camisole to reveal a tight-fitting white tank. Of course I had to wear white today…

I stood, rocking the boat slightly. I stared at the water, willing myself to just jump…

The boat suddenly rocked violently, and before I could react, Tristan had pounced on me, and we toppled together into the water.

The sounds of a splash was engulfed in the sudden silence of the water as it churned around me. It was cold.

I rose to the surface with a gasp.

Tristan appeared right next to me, flinging his wet hair out of his face. “Fuck, yeah!” he crowed.

I couldn’t resist a smile. I splashed him. “I was going to jump,” I shouted.

“No, you weren’t,” he teased. He splashed me back.

Oh, it was on.

What followed was a series of splashes and kicks, trying to fill each other’s mouths with the pond water. When that wasn’t enough, I tackled him, straddling his back and splashing water right up his nose.

Spluttering, he threw me off him, his shoulder muscles pulsing. I landed with a splash, and he cradled me, pinning my arms to my side in an effort to stop my splashing. I screeched with laughter.

“Not so boring now, are we?” he asked. I struggled against him for a moment before realizing it was futile. I stilled, and his eyes captured mine. Heat rose to my face as he held me there, completely defenseless and at his mercy. A thrill shot through me. Our legs tangled together as we tried to stay afloat, keeping our heads above water.

“You should let me go,” I told him with a small laugh.

“Nah. I want to see you try to escape.”

“…I’m not going to do that.”

His face was inches from mine. “Then I’m not letting you go,” he nearly growled.

Why was that such a turn on?

To prove his point, he wrapped his arms completely around me, pulling me against his warm chest.

I wriggled, kicking at his legs. I twisted in his arms, trying to find his weak spots and use them to my advantage. The problem was, he didn’t seem to have any….

I gasped as a mouthful of pond water went down my throat. “Please, just let me go,” I laughed.

I pushed against his chest, then wrapped my legs around his waist so I’d have some kind of purchase as I pushed him away.

Something warm and solid met me between my legs. I startled and looked up into his eyes. They glittered with amusement.

“Do you really have a hard on right now?” I whispered.

He shrugged. “So what if I do?”

I seriously pushed him away this time. “Let me go,” I commanded him and he did.

Flustered, I swam back to the paddleboat, heaving myself clumsily over the edge. He watched me from the water, his t-shirt plastered to his chiseled chest.

My heart was in my throat. Was he turned on by me? I had just announced a break from his brother yesterday. That was just… so wrong.

But it was so hot.

I didn’t think I’d had that effect on Cory in weeks. Not since the Covill project. It was nice to be desired again… especially by someone who looked just like him.

“I want to get dry,” I called to him. “Let’s go.”

With a single heave of his arms, Tristan was in the boat, water dripping from his hair, his elbows, his chin…

A warmth tickled between my legs and spread, making my head light and giddy. He made no effort to hide his stare.

“What?” I asked.

He parted his lips, and a slow smile crept up them. “If I were Cory, I’d make love to you right now, right here in this paddleboat.”

He had been skating across the line all day, and that was deliberately crossing right over it.

“Should I tell Cory his brother is making me severely uncomfortable?” I snapped. “Do you have any respect for women?”

He looked surprised that I had finally told him off. He ran a hand through his wet hair. “Yeesh. I’m just fucking with ya, love.”

“Yeah, you’ve said that,” I said, an icy edge to my tone. “Will you please cut it out?”

“As you wish.”

We paddled back to the dock. He gently helped me out of the boat and minded his manners this time. As we made our way back to Cory’s apartment, I caught him staring. The moment I frowned at him, he smiled and looked away. Jerk.

But he had kindled something inside me. Joking or not, his words had turned me on. Cory was never so forward, never said whatever came to his mind like Tristan did. I had to guess what Cory was thinking and feeling and sometimes my mind jumped to the worst conclusions. I’m not pretty enough for him. I’m not like one of the porn stars he watches on his tablet when he thinks I’m not around.

Worse yet…. Maybe he’s not interested because he’s seeing someone else.

I was usually able to banish the thoughts, but they often lingered at the back of my mind, hovering for the right moment….

Tristan… he had a different kind of mind. It was dirty, playful. Something I had craved without knowing it.

When we entered the apartment, he shed his shirt, peeling it from his back. “So, shower together, or…?”

I plucked his wet shirt from the couch and threw it at him. “Hamper, please,” I said. “And you can wait your turn.”

I turned the shower on and stripped completely naked after ensuring the door was locked. I didn’t think Tristan would be nasty enough to walk in on me while I was showering… but then again, I didn’t really know Tristan.

I stared at my naked form in the large mirror. My smooth breasts were pointed from the cold, and my torso curved perfectly to join with my round hips.

Damn, I thought. Why doesn’t Cory want to do more with this?

My mind wandered to what Tristan might do if he had the chance….

I stepped into the shower, feeling the warmth sprinkle down on me. Using my fingers, I placed them between my legs and parted my folds, letting the water hit the right spot…

Tristan’s erection had thrown me for a loop. It sparked a burning desire to have it inside me. I wanted to ride it harder than I’d ever ridden any of Cory’s erections. His rarely lasted five minutes anyway.

My fingers gingerly rubbed at my throbbing clit, and I let out a soft moan. What if I had told Tristan to fuck me right there, in the boat? He would pin me to the bottom, pressing his warm weight against mine, pulling my pants down just enough to get access…

I slid two fingers inside, drawing them delicately in and out. Pleasure shuddered through me as I imagined Tristan nearly suffocating me with his weight as he entered me with one, swift thrust…

The boat would rock as he made violent love to me.

My orgasm blossomed as my mouth hung open, my leg propped up on the side of the tub. I gasped, shuddering as it subsided, my blood pounding to my head.

I leaned my forehead against the cool shower wall.

Shit.

This was going to be a long three weeks….