Page 35 of Hothead

As he submerged his body further into the water, he couldn’t help but flinch. It might have been a hot summer’s day, but this dip was far from refreshing. On the plus side, he probably wouldn’t have to worry about his hard-on for much longer, not when his whole body was on the verge of shriveling up.

Musical giggles filled his ears as splashes were sent his way. “You really need to lighten up, Luke. You look like you’re constipated.”

Nice to know he still wasn’t hiding his facial expressions in her company.

Taking the plunge, he dropped his body until only his head was above water. That was better at least. As he took in Bella, he started to unthaw. Sunlight was bouncing off her golden hair as it floated around her, while her arms waded through the ripples. But it was her innocent smile that had his stomach warming. She was so damn beautiful.

“So, how do we do this?” he asked as he floated closer.

“Do what?”

“This whole forming a connection thing? This is your domain, angel—you’re the teacher and I’m the student here.”

She took her time considering him. And he let her. Getting his own fill as she did.

She was the one to get closer this time, treading water until she was in his space. Her hands wrapping around his neck as he felt her legs go around his waist. When her body was safely curled around him, he found his hands going to the small of her back. To hold her in place.

Both of their breathing picked up. It was the only thing he could hear. That and his overactive thoughts. He was all too aware that in the short time he’d known this woman, he’d touched her more than he’d touched anyone in thirty-five years. He’d hugged her, carried her, held her all night long. And now he was enveloped in her. But that wasn’t what was bothering him. It was the thought of not touching her. And in a few weeks’ time, never touching her again.

“Having a connection isn’t something you can teach.” He watched her swallow hard as their eyes locked. “This is about getting to know each other, opening up and letting another person in.”

“I don’t know how to do that either,” he rasped.

“I know.” Her nose nudged his, and he took the opportunity to breathe her in. Even with the smell of his shampoo in her hair, he could swear he could still taste berries. “That ... I can help with.”

Was he really going to do this? Let her in?

Three weeks. That’s all, remember? How much could she possibly learn about you in three weeks?

“Okay.” The words were scraped from his throat. There was no going back now. “What do you want to know?”

CHAPTER TEN

Bella had eased Lukeinto the whole “getting to know you” thing. She’d started with the basics—favorite color, movie, and music, and then she’d slowly graduated into talking about his job. What he liked about it. What he didn’t. But as soon as she’d asked him why he’d become a firefighter, he shut down.

Baby steps.

---