“Are you okay?” he whispered afterward,shifting to lie on his side facing her. He reached one arm across her body tobrush the hair from her face.
“Oh no.” Miranda marveled at his concern andtenderness. “I feel wonderful. That was wonderful. Thank you.”
Chase’s fingertips traced her eyebrows, noseand lips. They stayed like that for a long time until Miranda began to realizehow exposed they were. “It’s lucky you live on a very quiet lake!” shewhispered.
Chase grinned. “I’ve been watching. No one’sbeen by.”
“They’re probably all in bed.”
“A great idea,” he said. “But how about a swimfirst?”
“Swim?” She rose up on her elbows. “But I’mnaked.”
He chuckled. “So? I don’t think the fish willmind, and the water’s perfect.”
A moment later, Chase was wading into thelake. “The sandbar slopes a little here, so you can get in easily and quickly.”He slid into the water, and executed a short dive. When he popped up again inthe moonlight, his hair and chest were gleaming. “Come on.”
Miranda glanced around. They were more than ahalf mile from the mainland, so no one could see. Boldly, she raced into thelake, quickly wading deeper until the water covered her shoulders.
Chase was soon beside her, and he pulled herto him and kissed her. He slipped a hand between her legsand touched her gently. “See? Lake water’s good for cooling off.”
As he stroked her she emitted a small cry anddropped her forehead on his shoulder.
“Ah, that’s what I like,” he teased.
She marveled at how sensitive she was, and howready. “We’re supposed to be cooling off.”
“We have the whole night ahead of us.” Andwith that he wrapped her legs around his waist and brought her to him. Mirandafloated there as Chase made love to her again. Then they returned to shore.
“We need to go. Our bug spray’s washed off andwe’re going to get eaten,” Chase told her. “But don’t think the night’s done.”
He tugged her tank top down over her head, andMiranda pulled on her shorts. Soon they were on their way back to the dock,Chase steering the runabout and Miranda sitting in his lap.
He docked the craft and grabbed the bag,carrying it into the boathouse to dispose of the wine and cups. Then he ledMiranda to the center of the room.
His gaze searched her face. “You doing okay?No regrets?”
How could there be? This was what she wanted.Regrets could come later, once the sun came up. She knew she’d have them. Butshe would have regretted even more not risking, not knowing the truth of howwonderful being with Chase could be.
He bent to kiss her and she began to tug onhis shirt.
“You are insatiable,” he said.
“You’ve made me that way.” She pushed him backagainst the pool table and pressed against him, kissing him.
“You’d better move oryou’re going to be in trouble. This has always been a fantasy of mine,” he saidwhen she let him come up for air.
She drew back for a moment. “You havefantasies? From the way you talked at the gazebo tonight…”
“It was all I could do not to lay you out andtake you on that picnic table. That’s what a pirate would do.”
“Then be a pirate,” she offered in a huskyvoice. “Claim your spoils.”
“You know, I’m the one being spoiled,” Chasetold her after they’d made love once more. “I doubt I’ll ever be able to lookat this pool table again without thinking about tonight. I need to get you tobed.”
For a moment she panicked. “Your grandfather.He’ll know. How will I face him?”
“Shh. We’ll sleep in your room. I’ll leaveearly in the morning. He gets up after six, so we have plenty of time. Nowlet’s go find a shower. Lake water’s great, but hot water’s even better.”