"That was so hot," she says as she wriggles away from my hand. "But I'll drown trying to go all the way and make you come in my mouth." She tickles my chest. "Especially with you touching me like that."
"Couldn't help myself."
She glances around like she's searching for something. "Don't suppose you have a condom on you."
"I ran out here in the nude. So no, I didn't think to grab one." I start to turn around, intending to haul myself out of the water. "I'll do that now."
She lays a hand on my chest and pushes me back down. "Let me get the condom. Where are you keeping them?"
"In my suitcase. The big one."
"You stay right here and think filthy thoughts about me." She plants her palms on the tub's edge and hoists her body out of the water. Then she leans in to whisper to me, "You better still be hard when I get back."
"That's a certainty."
As soon as she disappears into the house, I realize she might have trouble finding that box of condoms. I'd stuffed them into my suitcase under my clothes. Not sure why I did that, but it had seemed like a good idea at the time. I climb out of the tub and grab one of the towels lying on a wooden chair, neatly folded, as if they're waiting for us. Sam must've put those towels there earlier. I quickly dry myself off and sling the towel around my waist, then trot into the house.
I bump into Sam on the threshold between the hallway and the living room. I literally bump into her. She veers into the hall just as I reach the threshold and runs into me. Yelping, she stumbles backward a step.
"You scared me," she says, laying a hand on her chest. "Thought you were waiting for me in the hot tub."
"I suddenly realized you might have trouble finding the condoms."
"Nope." She lifts the box. "No trouble at all. I had to dig around in your underwear, but I didn't figure you'd mind."
"You can rummage in my underwear anytime you like."
She's still naked, but I don't mind that either.
I hear a mobile ringing and realize it's mine. "Sorry. I should check that in case it's important."
Maybe I shouldn't check. After all, it could be my mother. Well, she has no idea where I am, so it's not like she can hunt me down if I answer the call. Besides, the screen will tell me who's ringing me.
"Go on," Sam says. "Answer your phone. It's cool."
"I'll be quick, promise."
Walking away from a wet, naked woman who wants to shag me doesn't seem like the cleverest idea. But I act like a good boy and rush over to the bar where I'd left my mobile. And I answer it.
"Sorry to bother you," Chance Dixon says, "but Elena wanted to make sure you remembered to water the plants."
Oh bollocks. He thinks I'm at his house in Hartmoor.
"Ah, there's been a change of plans," I say. "I took a wrong turn and got lost, then I sort of got stuck in a blizzard. The roads are still closed, so I can't get to your house yet. I hope the plants will survive."
"Where are you staying?"
"I made a new friend, and I'm staying at her cabin near North Slipperton."
"Ah, I see. Well, at least you're not lonely."
The tone of his voice suggests what he means is "have fun shagging that girl you just met and don't forget the condom." Chance would never say that to me so baldly. He's a lawyer, so he prefers to couch his statements in vague terms. Besides, everyone loves to harass me about the fact that I don't have a girlfriend at the moment.
Does Sam count? We're getting a leg over as often as possible, but I'm not sure that counts as dating. Of course, we did have lunch together, so…
"Are you still there, mate?" Chance asks.
"Yes. Sorry. Did you just call to check on the plants?"