“You okay?”
Her eyes meet mine and she nods. “You?”
I nod back, flashing her a smile. “That was something else, Aria.” I’d been with my fair share of women, but it had never felt like that with anyone. It was like I couldn’t get enough of her, and as amazing as the sex had been, I was equally as happy holding her. I was fucked. Big-time.
Aria
Pressing my body tightly against Jack, I sigh inwardly. Why couldn’t sleeping with him have been crap? Why does he have to make my heart stutter and my body come alive with his touch? Before I slept with him, I knew saying goodbye was going to be hard. Now, I know it’s going to be impossible.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve gone very quiet,” Jack asks, and I can hear the concern in his voice.
Turning in his arms, I lean up on his chest. “I’m good,” I assure him, brushing my lips across his. “That was incredible, Jack.” He holds my gaze and smiles. “It’s never felt…” I shake my head and trail off, not knowing how to finish what I was going to say without taking us out of the casual zone.
“Me too, Aria,” he whispers, and I know he feels it too.
“You should know I don’t usually do this.”
“Do what?”
“Sleep with a guy I’ve just met. In fact, I’ve never slept with someone I’m not in a relationship with. You just make me a little crazy.” He chuckles and kisses my head.
“You make me a little crazy too, Aria.” He gives me a small smile and I look up to the sky.
“I think the rain has stopped,” I say, changing the subject. His fingers reach up and stroke my cheek. “I guess I can’t keep you here naked all afternoon, as much as I’d like to.”
“I guess not.”
Sitting up, I reach for my bra, but it’s still damp from the rain. “This is still wet. I think I’ll leave it off.”
“No!” Jack exclaims, and I swing my head around to look at him. “Put it on, please. I won’t be able to concentrate enough to ride Titan knowing you don’t have any underwear on at all.” He has a pained look on his face, and I burst out laughing when I realize he isn’t joking.
“Fine, I’ll put it on.” He exhales sharply. “If I catch pneumonia though, I’m blaming you.” I wink at him, and he laughs.
“Aria, it’s like a million degrees, even when it’s been raining. I don’t think you’re going to catch pneumonia.”
“You never know!” I quickly get dressed, his eyes all over me as I do, and I feel myself getting turned on. “I’ll be wanting to get naked again if you keep looking at me like that,” I warn him, bending down to kiss him.
“I wouldn’t say no to that.”
“As appealing as that sounds, we have to get back. Aren’t you going out tonight? Boys’ night?”
He nods. “Spoilsport. But, yeah. We should get back. I need to feed and bathe Jacob before I go out.”
I’m the one staring now as he stands and pulls on his shorts, followed by his t-shirt, which pulls tight across his chest.
The dark clouds have cleared, and the sun is hot on my already heated skin as we slowly ride back. We talk the whole way, and I feel like I’ve known him forever. I don’t want the ride to end, but I know it has to when we arrive back at Savannah and Josh’s place. Tying up the horses again, I can hear squealing, and Jack smiles.
“Sounds like they’re having fun,” he says. “We may as well head straight round the back.” I nod and follow him around the side of the house and through the gate that leads to the backyard. Josh, Hope, and Jacob are all in the pool, and Josh is pushing Jacob and Hope on a pool float. Shrieking, they fall off and into the water. Both are wearing floaties and pop up to the surface, their floaties keeping them afloat. Savannah is lying on one of the loungers around the pool, and she waves as she sees us.
“Hey, you’re back. Did you have fun?” she shouts across the pool. I flick my eyes to Jack, who winks at me.
“Yeah, we did,” I shout back, my cheeks flushing with heat. Thankfully, she’s far enough away not to notice.
“Come and sit down.” She gestures to the lounger next to her. “I found some of Hope’s old swim diapers. I hope it was okay to let Jacob in the pool?” she asks Jack.
“Of course. It looks like he’s loving it! I’m going to have trouble getting him back to the house,” Jack says on a laugh as he sits down sideways on the lounger. “He hasn’t even noticed I’m here yet.”
Sitting next to him, I watch as Josh chases an excited Hope and Jacob through the water.