Page 44 of Love and Order

“I’m fine, and yes, I liked it. I know you won’t hurt me.”

“Okay, I just don’t want to cross any lines.”

She shut him up with a kiss before hopping up and pulling his hands to force him to stand.

“Let’s go for that swim,” she said, ending any conversation about what was safe in the bedroom.

She found a green one piece that still had the tags on, and he dug out his yellow trunks in the other room, where she found him.

“Is this your usual room?” she asked, stepping into the well-lit cozy space. There were sailboat prints in black-and-white, and one wall was covered in a deep royal blue. A queen-size bed, a tall bookshelf, and cozy chair in the corner were all the room offered.

He couldn’t help but smile. “Sort of. This is the healing room.”

“Healing?”

“Yah, when I returned from a long deployment, I would come here and just rest. My mom said it was healing because I was always in a better mood after a few nights out here.”

She stepped into his arms and hugged him around his waist and squeezed.

“This will be your suit now,” he said, noticing the kelly-green material was cut low in the back with a crisscross of straps. He couldn’t keep his hands off her and started to move her closer toward the door. “We better get out of this house before I change my mind. We only have about an hour left of light. Then I’ll make dinner.”

“Are you trying to butter me up so I’ll let you take the lead in court on Monday?”

“No, I’m trying to butter you up so you’ll sleep in that bed with me later.”

Her laugh rang through the empty house as he flipped on a light, and she seemed to grow self-conscious all of a sudden standing in the kitchen in only her bathing suit, looking like his fantasy come-to life. She crossed her arms over her chest, and he noticed the smattering of old scars along her beautiful skin.

“No, no, no, you can’t be bashful with me. Not after I’ve kissed every inch of you.” Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her eyes then her mouth. “No hiding with me.”

She nodded.

“Alright, so when was the last time you went swimming?” he asked, grabbing a few towels from a hidden bench in the bay window by the French doors leading to the deck.

“Do you count being tossed in a pool and flailing to the edge to survive? That was in college, the one and only time I attempted to attend a party.”

He fought the anger that bubbled up at the idea of anyone putting their hands on her and tossing someone unable to swim into the pool.

“You made it out, so yes. But we’re going to start with the basics, and at no time will you be in any danger, okay?”

“Okay, coach.” Her smile confirmed she believed him.

She wouldn’t be in any danger, but he was in danger of losing his heart.

Chapter Twelve

Hailey

The cold waterwas soothing to her tender skin. After she’d rolled around on the floor with Finn, her knees were sore, and her body felt fatigued but in a good way, like Finn’s kisses washed away any old wounds. She hadn’t slept with anyone in years, and sex had never felt as intimate as it had when her body was joined with Finn’s. It wasn’t just the physical act. He saw her. He immersed her in affection and cherished her body. If it weren’t so foolish, she would say he made love to her, but she had no idea what that would really entail and they weren’t in love. Lust was a given.

No one else had ever made her feel so safe or given her so much pleasure.

Now as she floated on her back in the lake under Finn’s watchful eye, she felt it again—secure, knowing he would protect her as well as a desire for him that was unwavering.

“Good, I want you to always trust you can survive in the water, at any depth, by floating on your back,” Finn said with steady confidence. “Now, slowly drop your feet to the floor and stand.”

She did as directed and discovered the water was only up to her hips.

“Next, let’s try blowing some bubbles and dunking our heads.”

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