Page 64 of California Dreaming

It made her ache deep inside to think about leaving him, but they were from such different worlds she truly didn’t see how they could work out long term. Which was why her best option was simply to enjoy every second she still had with him as much as she could.

“I was thinking,” Tessa said as they entered the kitchen, “now that you’re out of your cast, we can switch up your exercise routine and work on building back some of the muscle in your leg. How does warming up with some laps in the pool sound? Then I’ve got some water rehab exercises for you.”

Arch’s eyes lit up. “I would love to get back in the water,” he said. “I’ve missed it so much.”

“I thought that might make you smile.” She went to the fridge and poured him a tall glass of coconut water. “Drink this. It’s important to stay hydrated, and this is full of electrolytes. I’m going to get changed, and then I’ll join you.”

“In the pool?” Arch asked, a sexy look coming into his eyes.

“Nope, I’ll be able to check your form from the sidelines,” she said firmly, but unable to hold back a shiver of longing.

Upstairs, she slipped off her skirt and shirt and changed into leggings and an oversized T-shirt, her usual uniform for working out.

She was glad Arch liked her suggestion of getting back into the water. Swimming was the perfect exercise for this stage of his rehab, and she enjoyed knowing that she could introduce small pleasures back into his day. There was nothing like looking after the wellbeing of someone you cared for deeply.

Down in the basement, she watched as Arch performed a confident front crawl. Soft spotlights warmed the surface of the pool so that it appeared twinkling and glossy, the room cozy and intimate. The floor and ceiling were tiled in a deep blue, and she felt as if she’d entered some hidden pocket of the ocean.

Arch looked so hot and manly slicing through the water. She stood beside the pool, happily gazing at the sight until he must have felt her eyes on him. He slowed his pace and then swam over to the shallow end, water streaming off his skin, his hair slicked back.

“I thought you might have changed into a bathing suit,” he said. “A very small one, with little strings I can untie with my teeth.”

The image reverberated through her, sending a shiver of excitement along her nerves. But no. As much as she wanted him, she couldn’t abandon her role as caregiver.

“Exercises first,” she reminded him, sounding a lot cooler than she felt.

She took a seat halfway down the pool deck, determined to keep it together. “Let’s start with some leg sweeps. We want to target your inner thighs. Lift one leg out in front of you and sweep it to the opposite side. The goal is to feel the squeeze in your inner muscles.”

“I’m not sure I got that,” Arch said in a teasing tone. “Maybe you need to get in and show me.”

She shook her head, barely fighting back the urge to slip into the water with him, and repeated the instructions. Arch performed the exercise dutifully.

“Now how about we get those hips moving?”

“Sure thing.” He gyrated his hips in the water, and she remembered the way they’d moved last night as the most exquisite pleasure shook through her.

“Your glute medius is an important muscle,” she said, working to hold on to her concentration. “It helps to keep you stable. This exercise works the outside of the hips. Hold on to the edge of the pool for balance. Now lift one leg out to the side, aiming for hip level. Pause at the top… Yes, like that, and then come back to standing.”

It took everything she had not to drool as she watched his impressive flexibility. Even his look of concentration made her feel hot all over. The water supported his healing leg and offered resistance as he pushed through it.

As he completed the rest of the exercises, Tessa couldn’t help but reflect on how well they worked together. No doubt about it, they were a good team.

“I’m exhausted,” he said when they were finally finished. “You’ve worked me to the bone.” He huffed in and out. “I don’t think I can even manage getting out of the pool by myself. You’ll have to help me.”

He moved toward the stairs, where he lifted two dripping arms out of the water. Tessa stood to grasp them. But no sooner had she reached for him than Arch grabbed her by the waist, effortlessly lifted her into the air, and pulled her into the water.

She gasped as the water soaked through her clothes. It wasn’t cold so much as unexpected. Then she glanced into his eyes and found him holding her gaze with the sexiest expression she’d ever seen.

How tenderly, how carefully he held her in the water. So while his move had been cheeky and playful, he made sure he hadn’t hurt her.

At long last, she gave in to the longing she’d felt since he’d gotten into the pool and happily wrapped her legs around his waist.

“I’ve finally got you right where I want you,” he said and then kissed her deeply.

She moaned with pleasure into his mouth as his hands slid down her back and over her hips. With his arms around her, she felt weightless, as if suspended in a dream. And then his lips moved from her mouth to her neck. He bit the flesh there gently at first, then more roughly.

He was as hungry for her as she was for him, and she could feel the swell of him grow against her thigh.

The fabric of her leggings and T-shirt clung to her skin. She couldn’t bear them a moment longer. “You’d better get me out of these clothes.”

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