Page 45 of Swim To Me

“On me?” Now it’s my turn to raise an eyebrow independently. “Why would you do that? You agreed this would be a one-night thing. Remember the whole ‘we’ve only got one night together, so you’re going to let me do everything I want to do to you’ speech last night?”

Grey pushes his empty plate away from him, resting his corded forearms on the countertop to lean in towards me.

“And I meant it when I said it. But I got it wrong. You’re not out of my system yet, Delilah, far fucking from it. I madea mistake. It’s okayto make mistakes sometimes, you know. It won’t kill you.”

My chest spasms at just the sound of the word.

Mistake.

Ugh.

I manage to repress my shiver, swigging my now lukewarm coffee. “What are you saying, Grey?”

He combats my question with a question of his own. “Am I out of your system, Delilah? Completely, honestly—”

“No.”

The single word slips past my lips. I sit there, unsure if I want to take it back or not. If I’m truthful to myself, I don’t. I want Grey to know the want for him isn’t fully gone, it lingers beneath my breastbone, making me breathless.

“Another night. That’s what we need, to get it all out and then – then we can just go back to…”

“To you being my swim teacher?”

Grey nods. “To me being your swim teacher, nothing more.”

I ponder, mind running on overdrive. “I’ve never had a two night stand before.”

“Me either.”

Mind made up, I slip off the barstool, dragging the tips of my fingers up Grey’s bare torso once I reach him. “Pick something off my shelf, read it. I’m going to go shower and then…”

I dare not let my imagination run wild with thoughts of what we’re going to do afterwards.

Grey’s hands drift down to cup my arse, bringing me into his body, squeezing and kneading, before he gives the thick flesh a smack. “Go on, gorgeous. I’ll wait for you.”

I shower quickly, much faster than usual, thoughts of what the hell Grey is doing out there whirling through my mind. My mind isn’t quite convinced I’m doing the right thing, getting involved in a two night stand with Grey, but my body wants himagain, that much is clear. My nipples throb, my core too, but I resist the urge to slip my fingers between my thighs and take off the edge. It’ll feel that much better if I wait.

Stepping out of the steamy, floral scented bathroom wrapped in just my towel, I find Grey lounging about my bed like he belongs there, a book in his hands.

My bare feet eat up the space between us. “What did you pick?”

Grey holds up the battered front cover, the book’s delicate spine peeling in the top corner. The book Grey has picked is one of my favourites, something I’ve read over and over again, so I’m not surprised to see it in a slightly sorry state.

“There’s five men involved with the same woman in this book, Delilah.”

“I know.”

“Five.”

“Five,” I confirm, swallowing dryly under his stare. “It’s called a ‘Why Choose’ romance.”

“And is that something you’re interested in?”

“Not for me personally but reading about it is pretty fun.”

Grey closes the pages softly, placing it on my nightstand and then pinches the hem of my towel with his forefinger and thumb and pulls.

I allow it to slip from my body without protest.