Page 14 of About That One Night
“Not exactly,” I reply, swiping my key card to lock the floor.
“What are you doing?” Zoe asks, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
I turn to her with a grin. “I told you, babe, we’regoing to teach you how to live. Before I take you to the murky water of a lake, I’m letting you do this in a clean pool.”
She takes a step back, hesitating. “Do what, exactly?”
I grin. “Skinny dipping, of course. I want to make sure you know all your parts are safe when they’re in contact with water.”
“All my parts?” Her voice is a tad pitchy.
“Like your . . . cute little cunt, baby.” I wink at her, my lips curling into a smug smile as I watch her cheeks flush a deep crimson. Her eyes widen in surprise, and I can see the mixture of shock and something else flickering in her gaze. I savor the moment, enjoying the way my words unsettle her, a mischievous glint dancing in my eyes.
“You did not just bring me here to get naked,” she stammers, her eyes darting around nervously, though a hint of curiosity flashes in her expression.
“No. I brought you so you could swim naked,” I correct her with a grin. “There’s a huge difference.”
“Your neighbors are going to see me,” she protests, a mixture of horror and consideration playing across her face. “Naked.”
“Nope. I paid so that we could have privacy for the rest of the night,” I state, looking at my watch. “That gives us almost ten hours of fun.”
“What is the purpose of this exercise?” she asks, a mix of curiosity and apprehension causing her voice to rise slightly.
“You’ve never been naked in a public . . . well, anything. Lake, pool, swamp—” I pause, dramatically,putting a hand to my chin in mock contemplation before breaking into a playful smile. “I don’t recommend that last one, though. I also want to show you that you won’t pick up an infection from having water touching your?—”
“I know that—I mean, I shower and take baths like everyone else,” she interrupts, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink. She’s flustered, but I can’t tell if it’s from embarrassment or something else. “Just, a lake or a pool are different.”
“How so?” I ask, genuinely curious, leaning a little closer to catch every nuance of her reaction.
“People have been there. I’m not . . . If you had told me, I would’ve brought my swimming suit—maybe.”
“But where’s the fun in that?” I tease, but I can see she’s genuinely uncomfortable. I soften my tone, wanting to reassure her. “Look, Zoe, I’m not trying to pressure you. I just thought it might be a fun, spontaneous thing to do.”
She hesitates, looking down at the water and then back at me. “I don’t know, Max. It’s just so… unexpected.”
“That’s the point,” I say gently, stepping a bit closer. “Sometimes it’s good to step out of your comfort zone. But only if you want to. No pressure.”
Zoe bites her lip, considering it. “Alright,” she finally says, her voice barely above a whisper. “But turn around while I get in.”
I chuckle, holding up my hands in mock surrender. “Deal. I’ll be the perfect gentleman.”
As I turn away, I can’t help the grin that spreadsacross my face. This night is turning out even better than I’d hoped. If necessary, I’ll stay far away in one of the lounging chairs—hopefully, she’ll invite me to join her. Either way, I’m happy to know that she’s taking chances and if not this weekend, someday, she’ll agree to jump in a lake without thinking about it. It’s just a matter of patience.
Chapter Seven
Zoe
The pool sparklesunder the starlit sky, a secret oasis high above the bustling city. I stand at the edge, staring at the clear water as Max’s invitation to take an impromptu dare-swim hangs in the air between us.
“That’s the point,” Max says gently, stepping a bit closer. His eyes shine with warmth and sincerity. “Sometimes it’s good to step out of your comfort zone. But only if you want to. No pressure.”
I hesitate, looking downat the water and then back at him. Why am I even considering this? I promised myself and Max that I would do more unexpected, out-of-the-blue things. This is one of them. “Alright,” I finally say, my voice low and filled with nervousness. “But turn around while I get in.”
He chuckles, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Deal. I’ll be the perfect gentleman.” He winks before spinning around.
As he turns away, I let out a shaky breath and start undressing. First, I slip off my black high heels, wincing as they clatter to the ground. So much for being stealthy. Next, I unbutton my white silk blouse with trembling fingers, revealing the lace trim of my camisole. I slide off my fitted navy pencil skirt, nearly losing my balance in the process.
Standing there in my lingerie, I hesitate. Should I keep it on? It’ll probably get ruined with all the chlorine. Black lace with weird spots is not a great look. But going completely bare is something I’ve never done before. This is crazy, isn’t it?
