Page 117 of Stone Temptation

I put my flip phone away to watch Luke swimming, which was my new therapy.

Man, I could watch him for hours.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Luke

Swimming healed my mind, body, and soul. The liquid version of healing crystals, plucking me out of the gloom while I cut through the water.

As soon as I went under, I slipped into another world. A special place for me and me alone. Every stroke, every gasp for air, every moment was restorative for me. It eased my worries, giving them a rinse, ready to hand them back afterward.

A woman joined me after a while, things pretty slow for a Tuesday morning. But never mind. I’d rather this than bustling chaos, other swimmers crossing my trajectory.

I finished up, happily losing count of my lengths. It meant I’d reached an awesome state of mind.

“I’ll be quick,” I said to Asher as I passed him en route to the changing rooms.

“No problem.”

Bless him for his patience. Couldn’t be fun watching me without taking a dive himself.

I padded across the tiled floor of the changing room, stopping at a mirror near the showers and leaned in to inspect my face for any damage, having avoided a mirror at home.

Nothing more than a slightly red cheek. Lucky me.

My attention fell onto my neck, fingers tracing the edges of the neat red line of Asher’s mark. Not angry, not painful, but a clear reminder of my current circumstances.

I smiled at it, happy to have it there.

Okay. Shower time.

Asher appeared in the reflection behind me.

“Pickles!” I spun, slapping a hand over my mouth.

Why did he look so…hungry?

His hands were balled into fists at his sides.

“You look so good.” His voice was melted chocolate.

Those smoldering eyes snared on my crotch, flaring with hunger.

I can be your prey…

I tried shaking off my yearning, my cock swelling, barely contained in my tight trunks.

“Stop looking at me like that…” I breathed.

“I can’t do this.” His husky baritone rolled around me, a sexy wind quickening my pulse.

“Do… Do what?” God, my mouth was so dry.

“This, Luke. Standing here looking at you. Man…” He licked his lips, sending a series of shudders through me. “You’re so hot, you know that?”

Oh. Dear. God. “Asher… Please…”

“What if I came to you now and took you in my arms?”

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