CHAPTER
Eight
TY
I turn over and reach for Lo, but she’s not there. I open one bleary eye and scan the room, but she’s nowhere to be found. The bed is still warm where her delectable body was curled up beside me, so she hasn’t been gone long.
It’s only seven in the morning on a Saturday. If she’s already downstairs working, I’m going to drag her ass back up here and bury myself in her for the next few hours.
On second thought, I think I’ll do that anyway, no matter what she’s doing.
I sit up and scratch my head and then notice the note in her pretty handwriting.
Ty,
I’m down at the pool. It’s just off the mudroom out back. Feel free to come down when you wake up.
Lo
She’s swimming. She told me yesterday that she still swims every day¸ and given how tight her body is, it shows. I’ve never been with another woman whose muscles are so toned, yet she’s still soft and curvy in all the right places. Her abs are defined, but she still has round breasts. Her thighs are toned, but not hard.
She’s fucking amazing.
I jump out of bed, not bothering to throw on my boxer briefs, and go in search of her.
The house is cold this morning, just one more reminder that winter is just around the corner. I pad through the kitchen and the mudroom and see the door leading to the pool house.
It’s enclosed in glass. The pool is Olympic length, and three lanes wide, so it’s perfect for swimming laps. A few chairs border the side, along with an open, stand-up shower in the corner.
It smells of chlorine and the air is humid and warm.
But what catches my utmost attention is the stunning woman swimming nude.
She’s swimming away from me. The ink on her back is moving back and forth with each stroke, and her ass pokes up through the water in the rhythm of her movements.
She has her hair tucked in a white swim cap.
When she reaches the end of the pool, she tucks down and pushes off the side, then turns into a backstroke. Her perfect breasts surface out of the water as she moves her arms gracefully and quickly over her head toward me. Her eyes are closed and her breathing is even.
She’s breathtaking to watch.
I wonder what she thinks about when she’s in this space.
She tucks and pushes away from the wall again, back into a front stroke, showing me glimpses of her back and ass.
Not wanting to interrupt her, I sit at the side of the pool and dip my feet into the warm water, watching my woman move gracefully back and forth before me.
In the time I’ve been here, I’ve counted twenty-five laps.
She finally stops and stands in the pool, bouncing on the balls of her feet, her breasts peeking over the waterline. She’s panting. She pushes the water off her face and pulls the cap off her hair, letting it fall around her shoulders.
The attraction is swift and hot, like lightning in a night sky.
She turns and sees me sitting at the side of the pool.
“Good morning.” I smile and push off the side into the water.
“Hey, I’m sorry, have you been here long?”
“Long enough to be staggered by your graceful body in this water.”
Her big blue eyes go round. She stands still as I approach her and pull her into my arms.
“You’re beautiful in the water,” I whisper.
“You look pretty hot in here yourself,” she whispers back with a grin.
Unable to resist her delicious lips for another second, I cover them with my own. She tastes of chlorine and toothpaste and Lauren.
I’m addicted to her sweet mouth. I pull her legs around my hips, easily moving her through the water to the edge of the pool. Her hot pussy molds around my cock. I didn’t think I could get harder, but I just did.
One touch of her, and she undoes me.
I brace her against the pool so I can touch her face, her breasts. Her skin is so smooth.
“Ty?”
“Yes, beautiful?” I kiss the soft skin below her ear.
“Please.” She hitches her legs higher on my hips and I know she wants me to push inside her and fuck her blind here in the pool.
And I fully intend to.
But I can’t stop kissing her.
I scrape my teeth along her jawline to the corner of her lips, cup her tight ass in my hands, and slide into her waiting heat.
“Fuck me, you’re so damn tight,” I growl against her mouth. She moans, leans her head back against the lip of the pool, and moves her hips rhythmically with mine as I pump in and out of her, slow and steady.
I don’t want this to be over too fast.
Her breasts are cresting the water, begging for my mouth. The nipple tightens in my lips as I suck on it, becoming a hard nub.
God, I love her tits.
She cries out and grinds her hips against me, wanting more friction.
“Harder, Ty, please.”
“You want it rough, sweetness?”
“God, yes!”
I pull out of her and turn her away from me. “Grip the side of the pool.” She follows my command, and I loop one arm around her lower belly, holding her up in the water, and push inside her, hard, in one swift motion.
“Yes!” she cries, and I pull out and slam back inside her, hard, setting a new rhythm. Slower but harder, burying myself balls-deep with each thrust.
My free hand glides from the nape of her neck to the small of her back, over the bright tattoo between her slender shoulders as the water splashes loudly around us, waves rippling over the side of the pool. Our moans and sighs are bouncing off the glass around us, echoing in the sexiest song I’ve ever heard.
I feel her body tighten, her grip on the pool intensifies, her fingertips white with exertion. Her pussy pulses around me, those tight muscles ripple and milk me, until my eyes roll back in my head.
“Ah, fuck, Lo, I’m not gonna last if you keep doing that.”
She laughs and squeezes me harder, the little vixen. I grip her hair in my hand and pull back, exposing her neck to my mouth as I lean over her body and pound harder, sending the water around us into a frenzy.
“You want me to come inside you?” I growl.
“God, yes,” she moans as I sink my teeth into her shoulder. The base of my back tingles, and I feel my balls tighten and lift, and just as she cries out and grips my dick like a fucking vise, I explode inside her, jerking my hips uncontrollably.
Fucking hell, I just took her in the pool like a fucking animal.
And damn if I don’t want to do it again.
I slide out of her and turn her into my arms. Her lips seek out my own and I happily oblige her silent request, kissing and nibbling her beautiful, plump lips.
“Come on, beautiful.” I climb out of the pool with her steady in my arms. “Let’s get in the shower.”
“Okay.” She curls up against me, her face buried in my neck. “I think that was the best morning workout of my life.”
“Definitely not a bad way to start the day.” I chuckle and kiss her forehead softly. She curls up in my arms and rests her head on my shoulder as I carry her upstairs. “Can I stay with you this weekend?”
“I have to work.” She frowns and looks up at me with worried eyes. “But I want you to stay.”
“I can run home and grab some work of my own, pack an overnight bag, and bring back some breakfast if you like.”
Her smile is wide and brighter than the sun in Tahiti. “I’d love that.”
“Okay, shower first.”
“Good idea.”
The sound of Lauren’s fingers clicking on her keyboard is surprisingly soothing. I’m sitting in her chaise lounge with my own laptop on my lap, and a pile of paperwork beside me on an end table.
We’ve been working for the better part of the day, taking breaks to eat and stretch before jumping back in. Her work ethic staggers me.
I’ve watched her smoothly move from her Word document to her e-mail, answer a phone call, answer a question on social media, and then dive back into her project.
I have no idea how she doesn’t lose her concentration.
She also talks to herself, and her characters, while she writes, which I find absolutely hilarious.
“No, damn you, I don’t want you to say that until the next chapter,” she murmurs, then groans in frustration.
Completely adorable.
“I’m going to go outside and make a phone call, baby.”
She mumbles and waves me off, not paying attention to me as I chuckle and leave the room, then step out onto her front porch and call my friend Brad Hull, one of Cunningham Falls’ police detectives.
“Hull,” he answers immediately.
“Hey, it’s Ty.”
“What’s up?”
“I need a favor.” I take a deep breath, gazing out over the trees bordering Lo’s property. “I want to know everything there is to know about Lo’s ex-husband, Jack.”
“Did something happen?” Brad asks, his voice hard.
“He was an asshole at the charity gala, and Lo has said that he’s threatened her. I talked her into filing an order of protection, but I don’t trust the fucker. Just because there’s a piece of paper that says he can’t come near her doesn’t mean he still won’t.”
“So, the rumors are true.” Brad’s voice softens, taunting me. “You’ve got a thing for Lauren Cunningham.”
“We’re seeing each other.”
“I’m glad you talked her into filing the protection order, and that she has you looking out for her. I don’t have to run his background check. I already did that when she first separated from him.”
“What’s on it?” I prepare to hear the worst.
“Not a fucking thing,” he replies with frustration.
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Never been arrested, no abuse or harassment suits. He’s squeaky-clean.”
“Not anymore.” I lean on the porch railing, scowling.
“He’s not going to be happy when words gets out around town that she filed that order and embarrassed him. Not to mention, he works with kids, so it could threaten his job.”
“Good,” I reply immediately. “We’ll keep our eyes open.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
I end the call and scrub my hand over my face. Fuck. It didn’t occur to me that the order could jeopardize Jack’s job at the school, but Brad’s right. Not that it matters. She needed to file, for her own protection.
We’ll deal with any aftermath together.
I return to Lo’s office and grin when I see she’s still sitting exactly as she was when I left. I turn my attention back to my own work, responding to e-mail and drafting letters to clients.
Suddenly my phone vibrates with an incoming text.
Lauren: You look hot sitting over there.
I glance up to find her staring at her computer screen, smiling while biting her lower lip.
“I’m right here, you know.”
She doesn’t respond and I go back to my e-mail. Within seconds, I have another text. She must be using iMessage on her Mac.
Lauren: I think you should work naked.
“I’m sitting in the same room. There is no need to text me.” My voice sounds stern, but I’m grinning. She is so funny. I love her playful side. She still doesn’t acknowledge my words, just pretends like she’s still working.
Lauren: Don’t be a killjoy. Take off your shirt. We’ll call it research.
I laugh and shake my head, then respond to her text: Heads up.
She looks over at me as I throw a pillow at her, making her laugh out loud uncontrollably.
“You did not just throw that pillow at me.” She laughs.
“I’m right here. Talk to me.”
“Okay.” She wipes tears of laughter from the corner of her eye. “Take off your shirt.”
“I will if you will.”
She raises her eyebrows in surprise and tilts her head in thought. “Hmm, that could be interesting. Okay.” She whips her T-shirt over her head, leaving her in a lacy, white bra. “Your turn.”
I reach over my head and pull my T-shirt off and throw it on the floor before leaning back against the cushion. “Happy?”
“Mmm.” Her blue eyes rake up and down my torso. “Very happy.” Then she turns back to her computer and continues to tap her pink-tipped nails on her keyboard.
“Seriously?” I laugh.
“What?” She doesn’t even look my way, but her lips are set in a smug line.
“I just got half-naked and you’re going back to work?”
“I told you, I needed you to strip for research.”
“Research for what?” I ask curiously.
“My character has tattoos up and down his arm, and I wanted to see yours.”
Well, what in the hell am I supposed to say to that?
“Of course,” she continues with a perfectly straight face, “I have yours memorized. I just wanted you to be half-naked.”
She’s so fucking funny.
I laugh and stand, setting my computer aside, and pull her out of her chair and into my arms, carrying her back to the chaise lounge. I settle her in my lap and nuzzle her neck. “I think we need a break.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” She sighs, relaxes against me, and brushes her fingertip over the ink on my arm. “These are sexy.”
“I had no idea you were into tattoos.”
“I didn’t either.” She laughs. “I like them on you.”
I love the way she touches me.
“What is this one for?” She traces the yin and yang on my biceps.
“It’s Zack and Josh.”
She purses her lips. “That’s appropriate.”
“I think so.” I smile. Zack and Josh King are identical twins and have been my best friends since early childhood.
“And this one?” She traces the crown across my shoulder.
“It’s for Jilly.” I kiss Lo’s forehead and breathe her in. She smells like peaches and cream.
“Why a crown?”
“I’ve always called her princess.” I shrug and smile down at Lo. “She’s always acted like one. She’s the baby, and we all spoiled her.”
I frown and Lo sees it immediately. “What?”
“I am pretty protective when it comes to the women in my life.”
Lauren chuckles and continues to softly slide her fingertip over my skin. “You don’t say,” she murmurs dryly.
“She had a bad marriage,” I murmur softly, my gut tightening in anger when I think of the asshole who hurt my baby sister. “She doesn’t talk about it, and she won’t tell me what happened, but she got hurt.”
“And that pisses you off,” Lauren whispers.
“Hell yes, it pisses me off. I was just thinking that we all spoiled her, and the one person who was supposed to take care of her was a douche bag.”
Lo cups my cheek in her hand and I instinctively turn my face into her touch and kiss her palm.
“She’s home,” she croons, and kisses my shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m happy she’s home.”
Lauren goes back to concentrating on my ink. I have a feeling our whole break is going to be consumed with talking about each tat.
When what I wanted to do was make love to her here on this chaise.
“This?” Lo asks with a chuckle.
“It’s a skull, Lo. It’s because I’m badass, naturally.”
“Naturally.” She laughs loudly.
I nod and hug her close.
“I’m assuming this one is for your mom,” she says dryly, pointing to the heart with MOM written though the middle of it.
“Safe assumption.”
“Okay”—she trails her finger down my forearm, sending chills through me—“what’s with the bluebird?”
“It’s Cara.”
Lo’s head snaps up and she narrows her eyes on my face. “Why?” Her cheeks have reddened and she looks . . . pissed.
“Because she’s important to me. She’s been in my life a long time, and she was there for me when some bad shit went down.”
“How was she there for you?” Lo asks quietly.
Well, fuck me, she’s jealous. “She just offered me the comfort I needed in a really difficult time in my life.”
Lo stiffens, and I cradle her face in my palm, tilt her head up to meet my gaze. “Cara is like my sister, Lauren. She’s never been in my bed, I’ve never had a romantic relationship with her.”
Lo deflates in my arms, but she says simply, “I didn’t ask.”
God, women are so fucking difficult. “Okay, well, I’m letting you know anyway.”
She nods and buries her face in my neck, hugging me tight. I wrap my arms around her, press my hands to her back, and hold her close to me.
Finally, she backs away and grins. She scurries off my lap and snatches my shirt up off the floor, slipping it over her head as she saunters back to her desk chair.
“Hey,” I protest. She can have the fucking shirt if she’ll wear it for me every time I’m here.
She’s sexy as hell in it.
“You need to stay naked, not me,” she smirks, and turns her attention to her computer.
“What if I’m cold?” I ask with a laugh.
“Man up, Sullivan,” she retorts.
My phone vibrates at my hip. “I’m right here, Lo. Seriously, you don’t have to text me.”
“I’m not.” She frowns.
I glance at my phone and see a text. “Speak of the devil, it’s Cara.”
Her eyes narrow on my face.
I just chuckle and open the message: Bring Lo out to the ranch tonight. Jill and I are having ’ritas on the deck. My eyes meet Lo’s across the room.
“What is it?”
“Do you feel up to going out to Josh and Cara’s tonight? Jill’s gonna be there, and the girls are planning to have drinks on the deck.”
Lo looks shocked at the invitation, and part of me softens. Does she never receive invitations to hang out with friends? Probably not, now that she’s finally cut that bitch Misty out of her life.
“Do you want to go?”
“Sure.” I shrug, trying not to sound too eager. I’d love for her to become friends with the people who mean the most to me. She means the world to me and I don’t ever plan to let her slip through my fingers. “But we don’t have to, if you’d rather not. Although I think you’ll have fun.”
“Where will you and Josh be?”
“There is plenty for us to get into trouble with out at the ranch, sweetness. I won’t be far.”
A shy smile moves across her face and she nods happily. “Yeah, let’s go.”