Page 72 of Be More Lucy

‘I don’t normally parade naked in front of my friends.’

So they were still friends as far as he was concerned.

They went outside onto the deck. The pool looked inviting, the water glowing turquoise in the dark. But she’d been caught out by enticing-looking swimming pools before.

‘It is heated, isn’t it?’ she asked.

‘Yes, at this time of year,’ he said as they walked to the edge. ‘Ladies first. I’ll be a gentleman and turn my back.’

Lucy threw her towel onto a sun lounger and jumped in.

She screamed. ‘You told me the pool was heated!’

‘It is heated. Just not that much,’ he grinned. ‘You’ll soon get used to it.’

‘Ok, smart arse. Your turn.’

‘You’re looking.’

‘I’ll look away.’ Lucy shivered. ‘Not that there’ll be anything left to see with water this cold.’

He laughed. She heard a slight splash. ‘I’m in,’ he said.

‘Do you have to say that to all your women?’

‘I don’t remember you complaining before. I’m going to make you pay for that.‘

‘You’ll have to catch me first.’ She gave him a cheeky grin, then started swimming towards the other end of the pool.

She could hear splashing as he followed her. She giggled as his hands slipped around her waist.

‘I don’t think you were trying very hard to escape,’ he said.

‘Why would I want to do that?’

He was staring at her intently now. No more “friends only” by the look of it. He was as turned on as she was. He pulled her close to him. The feel of his damp skin against hers made her shiver, but not with cold this time.

‘Do you need warming up?’ he whispered in her ear.

‘Depends what you mean by warming up. Parts of me are very warm already.’

He lifted her up easily. She instinctively wrapped her legs around him.

‘I’ve missed you, Mark Farnham,’ she murmured, brushing her lips lightly against his cheek.

‘Mummy, there are two naked people in the swimming pool.’

A child’s voice. They both instinctively looked up towards the apartments in the direction of the child’s voice. Mark held Lucy tighter and dipped down so only their heads were above the water.

‘I thought you said no one else was here,’ Lucy whispered in his ear.

‘I didn’t think there was. There must be someone stopping in the penthouse.’

The floodlights on the building burst into life, and someone stormed out onto the top balcony. The silhouette looked like it belonged to a woman standing with her hands on her hips.

‘Don’t look, Noah,’ she said. ‘This was advertised as a family-friendly accommodation,’ she shouted over the balcony.

‘We’re family, we’re friendly, and we’re very accommodating,’ Lucy yelled back.

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