Chapter 22
Cool water lapped at Rosie’s back in the still inlet of Little Potato Creek, a contrast to the warmth of Cruz’s arms holding her. With her legs around his waist, she was at eye level with him. She toyed with his hair, running her fingers through it and pulling the strands up into spikes. The moon had waned down to a sliver that shrouded them in near-darkness. Only the dense canopy of stars shone above.
“This is different,” Cruz said. “Not walking on a concrete pool floor.”
“You’ve been missing out.”
“Hell, yes. In a lot of ways. And what’s that sound?” He frowned. “Insects?”
He was so cute. “Those are frogs, city boy.” She added extra drawl to emphasize what he clearly didn’t grow up with. “Sometimes they sing all night, up in the trees.”
“Huh.” He turned them around in the water, alternately looking at her and scanning the banks. “So the guys told me something about you.”
“What?” Uh oh. A flicker of worry flared, but the teasing note in his voice calmed her down.
“They said,” he stroked a hand across her hip, under the water, “you used to be a cheerleader.”
“Oh my gosh. It’s true.”
“That’s hot. You still have your uniform?”
‘Umm, no.” She traced a finger along his jaw. “Why, you wanna see me in it?”
“That might be every guy’s fantasy. Especially if you don’t wear panties.” Quick as a wink, he took her finger in his mouth and swirled his tongue over the tip.
She sucked in a breath at the hot tease. “You’re bad. And anyway, there’s a different item up next on the dress up agenda.”
He released her finger with a pop. “I’m up for that, any time you want.”
“Me too,” she whispered. In the barely there light, she could just make out tiny droplets on his tattooed shoulders. He was sculpted, strong. Hard, but not hardened, like she imagined many men would be in his circumstances.
Could she ever be this strong? She’d never thought she could be…but she’d never met anyone who’d been through such back-breaking injustice. Maybe, if he could find a way to push through it, she could too. One day.
“Tell me more about you.” Rumbled words broke into her reverie. Did he always know when her mind went to that sad and hopeless place?
“I told you, there’s not much to know.” Soft words uttered. A lie. Even she was starting to doubt them.
“I didn’t know you were a cheerleader.” He rotated them again. “Did you play sports?”
“Pfft, no. I was terrible at the whole hand-eye coordination thing. Cheer was the closest I could get.”
“What else?” He leaned in to kiss her neck.
“I can cook a mean batch of French toast.” She melted into his hold, tilting her head to allow him her whole neck.
He straightened. “Yeah?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“That’s my favorite. I’m putting that in for the official breakfast request tomorrow morning.”
“Keep kissing me and I’ll make it.” A low purr stirred in her throat. “I think I have all the fixin’s.”
But he didn’t keep kissing her. She pouted and glanced at him…and oh god. He was giving her that look. He’d already done it once that night. That look that said he saw more in her than he should. More than what she could give him. His eyes pierced her with an intense glow that unnerved her as much as it made her feel safe. “What’s that look for?” she whispered.
“I like looking at you, Rosie-girl,” he murmured. “I plan to keep on doing it. That okay with you?”
“Sure.” The word left her lips, born on the beat of her heart, before the logic of her brain could stop it. He was irresistible and her body wanted more and more of him.
“I’m serious, Rosie. I don’t want you skinny dipping with anyone else. Putting on dresses like tonight for anyone but me.”
“I don’t want to either, Cruz. I don’t want to share you.” That was the truth. The selfish, parts-omitted truth. It would break her heart to see his arm around another girl. To look at another woman with those slate blue eyes full of desire and promise.
“Good.” His kiss stopped her thoughts, bringing her back to right now and his strong body clasping her tight. He nipped at her lip, the bite of his teeth such a delicious contrast to his soft lips. One hand drifted to her belly, moving up in a slow tortuous path.
God, he already knew how to make her crazy. Her mind couldn’t even wrap around all the things he would probably do to her. She was ready for all of it.
His hand covered her breast, wet fingers rubbing her skin in a stroke that heightened everything. She tightened her legs around him, blocking out all but his touch. He was what mattered.
The sudden flap of wings overhead had them both glancing up. A soft thud, and a scrape of twigs were the only sounds to accompany the quiet creek. “What the…“ Cruz frowned.
A gray-brown feather drifted down to land on the water’s surface. “Owl,” Rosie murmured. “He probably just found dinner.”
“An owl.” Cruz shook his head. “This place is something else.”
“You’re something else.” She traced a dark swirl on his bicep.
“Let’s go back to your house. I’ll get you in the shower and wash all this creek water off you.” A devilish grin flickered in his eyes.
“You just wanna get me in the shower, period.” She kissed his shoulder.
“Hell, yeah. That’s only for starters.” He shifted her higher. “And let’s get your sweet ass moving before you get me too hard to walk.”
“Okay.” She held on as he walked them to the bank. “But you know I’ll take care of you.”
He growled as he climbed out of the creek and set her down. She pulled their towels from her bag and handed one to him, but not before noticing his cock, semi hard and dripping with creek water. Oh god. He was temptation in its purest form.
He rubbed the towel over his hair and stared at her like she was his prey. “Let’s go, baby. One more second and we aren’t getting back to your place for another hour.”
She wrapped herself up in her towel and grabbed the flashlight, wanting nothing more than to get him in her house, in her shower, in her bed. In her life.