“What was that for?” she asked, dizzily fluttering her eyes open when I pulled away. I love how my kisses could do that to her. Not only that, she couldn’t take her eyes off my chest, her eyes flickering back and forth, trying hard not to stare.

Gazing into her eyes with sincerity, my hands fell on her back. “I don’t know where we’re going with this. All I know is that I’ve missed you like crazy, and I wouldn’t be able to handle it if I knew you dated or kissed someone else. I want to be more than your friend, Becca. I’m sorry I have some baggage, but I promise it will get better. In fact, I’m letting the past go so I can have a future, hopefully with you. You’ve brought me back from the dead and given me the life I’d lost. You made me whole again. All I needed was you.”

“I’m not her,” Becca said wearily. “I can’t replace her.”

“I don’t want you to.” I paused, gathering my thoughts. “You know what I did just before I came here? I went to Tessa’s grave and told her that I was moving on.” I nodded when I saw the uncertainty in her eyes. “I told her that I found someone and that it was time to let her go. You are not Tessa, and I wouldn’t want you to be. You’re my beautiful, sexy firecracker. You put every Victoria’s Secret model to shame. You’re the one who makes me smile, who can’t use chopsticks, who delivers wild, hot sex, who makes me want to be a ‘book-boyfriend,’ and who can give one hell of a lap dance. Becca, you are the one, and I’m so glad I’ve found you.”

“I don’t know,” she said softly.

“We need to take this one day at a time. If you give me a chance, I’ll make sure that for the rest of your life, you’ll never regret your decision. I need you, Becca. I’ve been miserable without you. I don’t want to be without you another day. I want to be the one putting your book boyfriends to shame.”

I absolutely stunned Becca. I think I got her when I talked about her book boyfriends. She not only froze in place, but her eyes were dancing widely and her lips slightly parted. She was positively speechless. When she regained her composure, she threw me totally off guard.

“Take off your pants,” she demanded, her eyes gleaming with an obvious plan in mind. Knowing Becca, it was a devious plan for sure.

“What?” I said, chuckling as I started to step out of my jeans. I enjoyed sex anywhere, and in any position, but not usually on the hard ground. I gave into her order anyway.

“I owe you one.” Biting her bottom lip, she gave me a sexy hot smile. “Time for payback.”

At that moment, I knew she meant to throw me in the pool. I didn’t have time to avoid it, but my reflexes were fast, grabbing onto her robe as she pushed me in, she fell on top of me. I had prepared myself for the freezing water, but in fact, it was rather warm.

Becca screamed, her head emerging from the water, and she wiped the hair out of her face. Thank goodness, we were at the shallow end. The thickness of her robe would have been too heavy for her.

“You deserved that,” I laughed aloud, pulling her closer to me.

Becca’s eyes beamed happily, biting her lips playfully. “Did you mean everything you said?”

“No,” I said without thinking things through.

She tried to pull away, looking hurt, but I wouldn’t release her from my hold. My firecracker was struggling to break free, twisting and pulling. “Hold on. That came out wrong. Yes, I meant every single word I said. I said no because there is so much more I want to say, but I can’t seem to find the words, so I’ll have to show you instead.” Capturing her eyes, I dove in for a slow, lingering kiss. Her arms ran over my chest, around my shoulders, then to my back. Hearing her moan softly excited me, and I wanted more.

After I untied the robe, I slithered my hands inside and realized she was completely naked under it.

37

I WISH I COULD’VE taken a picture of Matthew’s surprised expression. He had no idea I had been relaxing in the pool totally naked just before he came.

“Becca, you were waiting for me, weren’t you?” How he could say those words and make it sound so sexy, was beyond me.

“You wish,” I teased, surrendering into his hands as they were exploring my body, then peeling the robe off me.

“Yes, you were, and now, I’m going to make it up to you.”

Before I could say a word, his lips pressed to mine as he guided my legs around his waist. Holy shit! His pants were off and he was hard and ready for me.

“When do your parents come home?” he asked between sucking my tongue.

“Oh, my parents. I uh…I lied,” I mumbled, kissing him back.

“My kinky Becca. You’re lucky I can’t spank you under the water, instead I’ll make you suffer some other way.”

What did he mean by that? I didn’t have to wait long, as I soon found out what he meant. With a deep inhale, Matthew went down into the water and next thing I knew, his tongue and lips were between my legs, devouring me. Lord, have mercy! I went completely limp, as I threw my head back.

Rising out of the water, Matthew brought my bottom up, exposing me to the cold breeze, tantalizing my body even more. With my hands anchored to the edge of the pool, my body floated while taking in what Matthew had to offer.

After letting go of my legs, Matthew pressed me into the wall. His eyes filled with desire. “Have you ever done it in the pool, Becca?” he asked, spreading my legs with his knee.