Page 86 of Someone to Tempt
I reach around, unclasp my bra, and then throw it in his direction.
“Fucking hell,” he whispers.
“If you like what you see, come and get it,” I shout before turning to rush into the lake, only to shriek and freeze mid-step. Freeze being the operative word.
Because, yeah, I’ve never dipped a toe in a Colorado lake, never mind swam in one.
I figured it would be like the water in Minnesota and warm up enough to make it tolerable over the summer and into early autumn. It gets way colder in and around Minneapolis than it does in Colorado over winter.
But glacier-fed lakes in the mountains are a whole different ball game. Right. I get it now.
I hear the low rumble of Jake’s laugh directly behind me, and before I can fully turn, he’s lifted me into his arms, holding me close against his chest as he strides toward his truck.
“Well, I don’t know how you’re feeling, but that was a shit-ton of fun from where I was standing.”
“You’re mean,” I whisper, but I’m laughing along with him as I shiver closer. “Why didn’t you warn me?”
He chuckles again. “Obstinate woman,” he mutters. “You told me you trusted me to save you, so think of me as your foolish fun cavalry.”
He opens the truck’s passenger side with one hand, deposits me gently on the cloth seat, then leans across my body to turn the key in the ignition.
He adjusts the temperature dial all the way to hot before brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Chill out here for a minute—or warm up.”
“I need my clothes,” I say.
“The hell you do,” he answers, then captures my mouth in a long, tangled kiss that leaves me breathless. Then he’s gone.
I scooch further into the truck cab, close the door, and wrap my arms tight around myself, feeling embarrassed and exposed. So much for spontaneous fun.
Jake appears only a minute later, and I gesture to his empty hands. “Where are my clothes?
“I told you. You don’t need them.” He reaches to the back of his neck and pulls his T-shirt off by the collar. “I’ll be your personal space heater. It’s all part of the cavalry service.” He takes a step closer. “Lean over and turn off the truck, sweetheart.”
I do what he says, and when he opens the door and holds out his arms, I launch myself into them.
“And I don’t think you need to worry about bears. That scream you let out when your feet hit the water scared them all away.”
I sniff. “That was a sexy shriek.”
“It sounded like a cat with its tail stuck in a door. Trust me, I know what you sound like when you’re sexy screaming, and I’m ready to hear it again.”
“I’m cold,” I protest, even though the heat from his body is quickly warming me. Both because he’s holding me tight against him, and because he’s holding me tight against him.
“Not for long,” he says conversationally as he walks toward a cluster of trees, but I know the hitch in his breath isn’t from carrying me.
He places me on my feet on the blanket he’s spread over a clearing of flat earth. “I got rid of the sticks and stray pine cones just for you.”
Given my earlier bravado about skinny dipping, I feel oddly self-conscious standing naked in the forest, watching Jake kick off his unlaced hikers.
He takes a condom wrapper out of his back pocket and then, with what feels like practiced efficiency, shoves down his pants and boxers, his cock jutting out like it’s reaching for me. My mouth goes dry.
“I don’t know…” I begin, but he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me forward.
“I do.” His big palms cup my ass, and all my doubts disappear. “I can’t wait, Iris.” He holds my gaze and then whispers, “Please let me have you here.”
He reaches a hand between us, and the tip of one finger slides across my center. “You’re already wet.”
A sound somewhere between a laugh and a groan escapes my lips. “Should I apologize?”
