Page 97 of Getting Down to Business

“You deserved better than what they did to you.”

“Thanks.” He leaned closer, enthralled by the way she spoke while still out of breath from running. He wanted to kiss her more than air.

His lips touched hers like they had many times over the last few months. It shouldn’t have felt any different, but something flared between them.

Alyssa must have felt it too, because her eyes popped open for a second before she pulled him back to her lips. Giving into the flames completely, he found himself gasping for air again. They needed to go somewhere they could be alone.

“Come on. I know a place,” he whispered.

* * * *

Without questioning him, Alyssa nodded and put her hand on his.

It was only six minutes to the lake, but Gray found it difficult to drive with his pants constricting him as they now were.

At the lake, he circled around to see if anyone else was there before he found a spot by the dock. As Alyssa got out and looked around, Gray got two blankets out of the trunk of his mother’s car along with a bag of towels. She was always ready for an impromptu picnic.

Alyssa kicked off her sandals while Gray arranged the blankets on the worn wooden boards that were still holding the sun’s warmth from the hot day. He looked up at Alyssa and was speechless.

The moonlight was shining through her golden hair, which hung down her bare back. She was beautiful.

Of course he shouldn’t have been surprised. He’d known this since the second he met her, but sometimes he was still caught off guard by just how perfect she was when she wasn’t even trying.

“Swim?” she asked with her head tilted to the side.

He nodded and smiled at her as she kicked off her shorts and jumped in the water nude.

“Come in. The water’s warm,” she said as she raised herself out of the water enough for him to see her amazing breasts, her nipples peaked from coolness of the air.

“You look like a mermaid, luring me into the depths,” he mused as he unbuttoned his shorts and let them slide down.

“I’m sure I can lure you into some depths if that’s what you’re after,” she joked. He jumped in recklessly, letting his entry throw water all over her.

After her squeal of protest she laughed. The sound echoed over the surface of the water, making them seem so much more alone. The water wasn’t deep. Standing flatfooted on the sandy bottom, the water came to his shoulders.

“So who’s the guy with the hockey mask and the chainsaw?” she said in mock horror as she pointed over his shoulder.

“Very funny.” He swam after her, grabbing her and pulling her against him. Her wet arms slid around behind his neck and her legs eagerly wrapped around his waist.

“You’re right where I want you now,” she said with an evil laugh.

“Well, maybe you’re right where I want you too.”

“Hmm. Convenient,” she allowed with a little giggle before she pressed her lips to his. Like before in the car, something flared again. Only this time, it engulfed him. He didn’t fear it, he embraced it, wanted it. He wanted her, more than he’d ever wanted anyone.

Not just for the sexual release, but to be as close to her as humanly possible. To be connected to her on the deepest level.

She pulled back slightly to look into his eyes. Did she feel it too? Her eyes glowed silver in the moonlight, but he could still see something there. Surprise, maybe?

“Gray,” she whispered.

He didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. He knew what she wanted. He moved them back to the dock and assisted her up onto the blanket before flinging himself over the edge of the dock to join her there.

They kissed again and again, and each time she lured him closer and closer. Just like a mermaid.

He reached for his shorts and slid them over so he could get to his wallet in the back pocket. As he opened the wallet, it occurred to him that he had just done this same thing a few days ago. The evening he came home and took Alyssa in the kitchen.

The absence of the foil pack reminded him he’d never replaced it.