Page 81 of 7+Us Makes Nine

“Come swim with us?” Michael asked.

“I can’t honey. I’m not very stable right now,” I said.

“What if I held onto you?”

I panned my gaze over to Jace as he walked out of the water. Droplets of crystal clear liquid fell off his shoulders and ran down the divots of his chiseled muscles. Every single part of me wanted to take him then and there. His legs flexed with his movements and his arms bulged with veins. His hair was soaking wet and pouring down his forehead, dripping water down to a pair of lips I was determined to suck on more than once over the course of our two-week stay.

“I’m not sure you can,” I said with a giggle.

“Let me be the judge of that,” Jace said.

He held out his hand for me and I took it. He helped me to my feet and guided me into the water in nothing but my skirt, my panties, and my t-shirt on. I gripped his hand tightly, trying not to topple over onto my stomach in the water. The kids’ eyes began to light up the deeper I came, and soon I was standing in chest-deep water with the warmth of the pool relaxing every muscle in my body.

Then, I felt it.

Jace

’s lips come down against my neck as his hands slid around my body.

I leaned into him as the kids continued to splash around and jump from the diving board. I cheered them on and clapped at their amazing tricks as Jace peppered me with kisses. Small little dots of love that cascaded over my skin and trickled up my neck. He nuzzled my ear and whispered sweet nothings. Phrases that shot electricity through my veins and made that sweet spot between my legs pulse.

It was all so wonderful, and the feel of his strong arms around me brought such comfort.

We swam until well past eleven, then it was time to get the kids to bed. I told them they could take showers in the morning, but I didn’t want them falling asleep in their wet clothes. Jace told me to go change while he got the kids ready for bed and I was thankful for it. My body ached with exhaustion despite the fun we’d had that day. The songs we all sang while traveling still echoed in my ear, bringing a smile to my face as the lights slowly turned off in the cabin.

But I had struggled so badly to get my wet clothes off that I decided to pile into bed naked.

“Oh, what a beautiful sight,” Jace said.

I laid on the bed with my arms and legs flopped out.

“I’m so tired I can’t even get dressed,” I said.

“No problem with that. I can sleep naked, too.”

I heard the door shut before the sounds of wet clothes hitting the floor graced my ears.

“Yeah, but you don’t bust a sweat taking off your clothes.”

“Trust me, you look gorgeous all sweaty and mussed up,” he said.

I giggled as his shadow loomed over me.

“What are you doing?” I asked. “I’m tired. Come cuddle with me.”

“Just admiring your beauty, Catherine. Can a man not do that with the woman he loves?”

My body shook willingly at his words.

“Did you like hearing that?” he asked.

“Hearing what?”

“How much I love you?” he asked.

I felt his hand fall to my inner thigh as he sat on the edge of the bed.

“Jace, I’m so tired,” I said with a whisper.

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