Page 14 of Sweet Talker

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IN THE JACUZZI – SARA

He’s so close. This moment feels so intimate, so right. It’s as though I’ve known him forever, yet I stare at him with wide-eyed wonder and appreciation, noticing every whisker in his face, every freckle on his skin.

My chest tightens, and if he doesn’t kiss me right away, I might combust. My gaze jumps between his eyes and his mouth as he hesitates, his thumb tracing the edge of my bottom lip.

He’s asking for my permission, giving me a chance to back out. Be cautious. Be sensible. But that isn’t what I want.

He leans down and brushes his lips across mine, then pulls away, peering into my eyes to assess my reaction. “Are you okay with this?” he asks, and I nod.

I am more than okay with it. I don’t want him to stop. I grip the front of his shirt, inching closer until there isn’t a sliver of space between us.

When he kisses me again, it’s sensual and sweet. My skin is electrified, my heart hammering so hard, it feels like it’s about to leap out of my chest. The kiss changes. His soft lips become demanding.

He wants this too.

It’s happening.

My fingers curl around his biceps. My entire body pulses with need. Each touch spurs my desire. It’s raw and powerful. One night. I had planned to give myself one night to be someone bold. But now, I’m not sure how I’ll be able to do this only once and walk away.

Beside me, the low hum of the hot tub’s motor kicks into gear. Distracted by the sound of air bubbles, we break apart. My lips are still tingling.

He glances at me, one eyebrow arched high. “Do you want to try the hot tub?”

“Sure.” My stomach tightens.

He frowns, reading the hesitation on my face. “What’s wrong?” He strokes his beard, considering the possibilities.

“I’m, ah…” I glance at my dress coyly without answering.

“Keep your underwear on if you want and I’ll wear boxers. Or if you want to change into a swimsuit I’ll wait.”

I try to drag my mind from the gutter at the mention of him wearing nothing but boxers, but it’s not easy when the taste of his lips lingers on mine.

“Underwear is fine.” My voice trembles as a wave of shyness washes over me. I want him to think I’m perfect. Not to see the scars from the pins and bolts in my body and run from me.

“I have an idea,” he says. He pushes to his feet and saunters inside, turning off the lights. While he’s occupied, I grab a couple of towels from the bathroom, slip out of my dress, and wrap one around my body.

Brax returns with a couple of fragrant candles and a box of matches. His silhouette is lit by the ambient glow from the lights outside the main resort.

“Give me your hand.” Brax helps me step into the hot tub. When both feet are in the water, I remove the towel and throw it over the edge of the tub. As it lands on the ground with a soft thud, Brax rakes his gaze over my body. The look in his eyes is pure lust.

Bubbly water froths and rolls around the Jacuzzi, forming a light mist that evaporates into the warm night air. I lean back and watch as he swiftly strips out of his clothes. His perfect body causes a tidal wave of desire to course through me. Brax drops his clothes on the ground and steps in with me.

Tempted by the warmth, I slip under the water, disappearing momentarily, then break the surface, wiping bubbles and water from my eyes.

His brows draw together, and his lips are twisted in a frown. Did I do something wrong? “Why are you looking at me like that?”

The water stings my eyes and I rub them, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Oh.”

“I’m sorry Sara, I should have warned you,” he says, with a shake of his head. “We use a lot of chlorine. Health and safety regulations, etcetera.”

Of course. How else would you keep warm water clean when it’s used by the public? “Gotcha. I won’t go underwater again.”

The water may be clean, but if it stings my eyes, it will sting other sensitive areas. Despite that being one of my fantasies, if anything’s going to happen tonight, it won’t be in the hot tub.

We sit opposite each other, well, as much as we can with only a few feet of water between us. His arms are outstretched and resting on the rim, and he looks relaxed. He grips my ankles and yanks me toward him. I yelp and try to resist, but he spreads his legs and plants my feet on the seat between his legs with the soles facing down.

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