Page 83 of Overtime
“Argh!”
I feel his heat move away and peek out once more.
Urgh, his back muscles have muscles, and all of them bunch and flex as he drags himself out of the car. There, he leans one arm against the open door and peers at me.
“So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to keep watching or join in the fun?”
I fold my arms and try to copy his bravado. “Is this all a ploy so you can see me in my underwear?”
“Of course it is.” Aran has the nerve to smile as he adds, “I mean, I’ve already seen your underwear, but what I’m really interested in is what’s underneath.”
I paw around me until I come up with his sweatshirt. Then I ball it up and throw it at him. Which was useless, since he catches it easily and tosses it back onto the blanket.
“C’mon, Maddie. Don’t be a coward.”
“I’m not a coward. What happened to professionalism?”
“It can get bent for all I care.”
Aran leans away, giving me ample view of his incredible body, clad in only black boxers. Folding his arms, he throws a final challenge. “Don’t writers need to experience a lot of things to write about? Stop being a spectator, Maddie. Do somethingdifferent.” And he bends his fingers in the way he must know drives me wild.
I grit my teeth, knowing he had me the second he started taking his clothes off. Knowing I’m not going to reject any chances at another tutoring session in the romance part of the hockey romance. My own body feels so hot I could melt my clothes off. Obviously, the only way to not turn into a sweaty mess is to take them off.
No! What am I doing?
Something different.
Something I want.
Something my mom would never imagine me doing.
I want to have fun with Aran. Maybe get in just a bit of trouble. Nothing terrible.
“Okay.” His eyebrows rise at my response, and I motion in circles with my hand. “But turn around.”
“Why?”
“Because, unlike you, I’m shy.”
“But you enjoyed the full show. Why can’t I?”
I don’t know whether he realizes he sounds like a whiny kid right now. It’s adorable and normally would make me tease the crap out of him. But not right now. Right now, I’m fighting with my insecurities.
“Aran, not all of us have zero percent body fat like you.”
“I do have fat. Eight percent of it.” I give him A Look and he puts his hands up. “All right, I’m turning.” And he does, and I’m ashamed to find my eyes lowering to his perfect bubble butt. Unfair. The man is just perfect. If he knew I’m well into the double digits of fat percentage, he’d probably be put off.
Even then, I start taking off my clothes. A part of me is defiant. He’s known I’m a chubby lady since day one, like everyone else. But on the other hand, it’s different when you’rewearing clothes than when you’re not. Or when you’re wearing as little as underwear.
Wait a second. I glance down at my bra and relax. It’s a cute pink one. And I know I wore matching undies.
Oh my word. Am I really undressing in Aran’s car?
Yep, I am. I pull off my leggings, and that’s it. I’m semi-naked.
Slowly, I scoot to the edge of the car and lower my legs. Despite how warm the day felt earlier, now the breeze raises a chill out of me. The sand feels like snow under my bare feet as I stand.
Clearing my throat, I say, “Okay. I’m ready.” Aran starts to turn, and I push my hands against his back. “No! I didn’t mean you could turn yet.”
