“Yeah. Swimming, sailing, water polo, crew. Anything in the water, really.”
I smile. “Very Viking-esque.”
He belts out a laugh, his full mouth parting to reveal those Colgate commercial teeth. “No long boats, I’m afraid.”
“Shh. A girl can dream.”
“Rowing is a dream-worthy activity?”
In my mind, I have a sudden vision of Lance’s calloused hands gripping a heavy oar, his thick thighs bracing his weight, his chest glistening with beads of sweat beneath a bright sun, powerful muscles rippling with each stroke. “I have a very vivid imagination.”
“Are you going to get in the pool or will you just imagine that, too?”
“I’m working on it. It’s a process.”
He lets go of the edge and pushes off the side, floating into the center. The interior lights are on, and I can see his legs kicking beneath the surface. “Are you—Are you naked?”
He shrugs. “You didn’t seem to mind last night.”
I press the heels of my hands to my eyes. Had I known Lance was awake, I would have gone straight to my room. “You’re not going to let me forget that, are you?”
Another grin. “Nope.”
I sigh and pull my hands away from my face, bracing myself against the edge and lowering my hips into the water inch by inch, finally letting go and dipping my head back to get my hair wet. I breathe out a deep sigh before pushing off the side wall, scissor-kicking until I’m in the middle of the pool, a few feet away from Lance.
There’s still a buzz running through my veins, but my mind is clearing. I’m sure I’ll regret some, or most, of what I said at the restaurant, or maybe even getting undressed and swimming with Lance, but tomorrow feels as far away as the stars twinkling high above us. “Wanna swim a few laps?”
“Thought you’d never ask,” he quips, then surges toward the shallow end, his wake splashing me in the face.
“Hey!” I race after him, but the cheater has a head start and longer limbs.
After a few laps, Lance pulls level with me, slowing his pace so we’re moving at the same speed. I wasn’t a competitive swimmer in college, but I did swim on my high school team, so I can competently execute a flip turn at each end, not breaking through the surface until I’m halfway to the other side.
I don’t know how much time passes, and I lose count of the number of laps after twenty. But it isn’t long until my muscles are buzzing from exertion rather than alcohol. Until my thundering heartbeat and the struggle to keep my breaths steady is because of my pace rather than my proximity to Lance.
I finally stop, clinging to the ledge at the deep end and panting. Tonight’s been . . . fun. And it’s been ages since I’ve just relaxed and let go like this. Regrets or no regrets, I’m having a great time right now. I’ll worry about reality and common sense tomorrow.
“Hey Vivienne, you lose something?”
It takes me a few seconds to turn around, and when I do, I see Lance standing in the middle of the pool, holding . . . my bra.
Shit. I should have known a strapless bra would never survive those damn flip turns. “Throw it to me,” I call out.
Now that I realize I’m not wearing it, sensation floods my breasts, my nipples furling into tight peaks that savor every ripple of the water.
“If you agree to do something for me.”
I narrow my gaze at him. “I thought you said I drank too much for that.”
He chuckles. “This isn’t for me. It’s for you.”
“Is it embarrassing?”
“No.”
“Am I going to regret doing it tomorrow?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Does it involve getting out of the pool?”
“No.”
There’s such a look of anticipation on Lance’s face that I decide to go for it. “Okay, I’m in. What am I doing?”
A minute later, I realize that the reason I won’t regret it tomorrow is because I already regret it tonight.
Chapter 14
Lance
“Absolutely not.”
“You agreed.”
“That was before I knew what I was agreeing to.”
“Have you done it before?”
“Of course not!” Vivienne is so absorbed in her own outrage that she doesn’t realize her breasts are rising above the surface of the pool with each choked inhale. In the moonlight, her skin is as radiant as alabaster, pale pink nipples capping the lush mounds of her breasts.
“Come on—never?” I’m incredulous.
“No. Until this summer, I’ve never had a pool all to myself. And I haven’t exactly been in the mood.”
I study her face for signs of deception, but don’t see any. “All the more reason why you should.”
“And you’ve decided tonight’s the night?”
“Yes. Because, quite frankly, I don’t know that I’ve ever met a woman more deserving of an orgasm than you.”
She makes a strange hiccupping sound in the back of her throat. “Sounds like you’re admitting you’re not capable of giving me one yourself.”
I bark out a laugh. “Oh, I’m more than capable. But you’ve had too much to drink, and if I touched you tonight, I’d be the one regretting it in the morning.” I swim to the side of the pool and put a hand against the water jet. The pressure is perfect.
“You’re really serious, aren’t you?”
“One hundred percent.”
Vivienne lets go of the ledge and begins treading water halfway between me and the edge of the pool. “What if I say I don’t want to?”
I look at her seriously. “Is that what you’re saying?” I would never force her, or any woman, to do anything against their will.
Vivienne’s movements bring her closer to me, and it’s impossible to forget that there’s only one tiny scrap of clothing between us. “No. I’m sure it would feel amazing. I just . . .”
Her fingers close over my shoulder, and it takes all my willpower not to pull Vivienne against my chest. “Don’t you think you deserve all the orgasms?”
Her nervous laugh is carried away by the breeze. “Well, when you put it like that.” She covers her face with her hand, groaning into it. “Okay, okay. Fine. I’ll do it.”
“That’s my girl.” The possessive endearment slips out of my mouth before I think about what I’m saying. But what really surprises me is that I don’t immediately want to take it back.
Not realizing how out of character it is for me, Vivienne only says, “What should I do?”
I toss her bra on the pool deck. “Take off your panties.”
Her eyes widen slightly, but then her hands disappear beneath the surface of the water, emerging with a black ball of fabric in her left hand. She throws it beside her bra. “Done.”
“I’m going to put my hands on either side of your waist and bring you in front of me, okay?”
She nods. “Okay.”
Moving slowly, I find the curve of Vivienne’s waist with my hands, positioning her so that her back is to me and she’s facing the pool wall. We’re at a depth where I can stand, but Vivienne can’t.