“You’re right. We don’t need to rush.”
Serena sits up, and I do the same. But when her hands go to the hem of her sweater and she starts to lift it over her head, I find my voice again. “I thought you said we don’t need to rush?”
She tosses her sweater to the side, and it takes all of my restraint not to fall on her like a hungry dog at the sight of her with nothing but some lace covering her torso. “We aren’t rushing. Do you remember what we tried to do at Haywood that one summer? But we chickened out because the water was too cold?” Her boots come off next, then Serena’s tongue darts out to lick her lips as she stands up and shimmies off her shorts.
“Right now I don’t remember anything,” I say hoarsely, fixated on the almost naked goddess in front of me.
With a laugh, she takes off toward the water’s edge. Standing there in just her bra and a barely there thong, she looks ethereal. As if she’s a specter, a mirage, dancing on the edges of my sanity. When she peeks over her shoulder back at me and reaches around to unclasp her bra, my conscious mind finally catches up. I scramble to my feet, ripping my shirt over my head in one motion just in time to see her drop her panties to the ground and walk into the water.
Good. Fucking. God.
The teenage girl I was in love with, with her lithe dancer’s body, is now a mature woman. She’s still slender, but her curves are in all the right places, and watching her naked body enter the water has me rock-hard in an instant.
Hopping on one foot, I kick off my shoes and pull my shorts down, trying desperately not to trip in my excitement. But that excitement drops slightly when I hit the water.
“Holy shit woman, it’s cold!”
Serena turns around, but she’s deep enough that the water covers her incredible tits. Her eyes drop down to my dick. “From what I can see, shrinkage isn’t something you need to worry about. Get in here, Talbot.”
I flash her a cocky grin as I make my way out to her. “What can I say? I’m a groweranda shower. But you already knew that.”
Coming to a stop just in front of her, I inhale deeply. “Okay, it’s not so bad now that I’m in.” I reach out for Serena and pull her into my arms. Her legs lift up and around my waist, bringing our bodies into perfect alignment.
“So much for not rushing,” she murmurs, pressing a kiss to my wet skin.
“I’m not rushing. I’m sharing body heat.”
Her indelicate snort sends both of us into fits of laughter.
“Seriously, though, can we get out now? Mission accomplished; skinny-dipping is officially checked off my nonexistent bucket list.”
She grins up at me before dropping her legs down. “Yeah, fine. Let’s go.”
Keeping hold of her, I pivot and bend forward. “Hop on, Tippy.”
Her delighted giggle has me smiling wider than I have in years. Her arms come around my neck, and I lift her up and piggyback her onto the beach, the same way I used to carry her when we were younger and being silly together. When we hit the blanket, I grab one of the spare ones and bundle Serena in it.
“You go to the truck and get it warming up while I clean all of this up.”
Serena shakes her head. “No way, if we freeze, we freeze together.”
Given the fact that it’s late summer and not all that cold out, we aren’t going to freeze. But something about this moment has connected us again. I manage to pull my boxer briefs over my wet legs and help Serena into her underwear and sweater. Then we make quick work of tidying up our picnic, scooping all the blankets and pillows into our arms, rushing back to my truck, and dumping it all in the back before climbing into the cab, breathless with laughter.
“Damn, woman. You’re still wild.” I turn my head to look at her. Serena is one of those people who radiates energy and joy. And right now, she’s beaming.
I want her.
“Leo,” she whispers.
Our lips find each other instantly. A low, feral-sounding growl escapes me as my hand cups the back of her neck, holding her to me. She’s mine, now and always.
Chapter thirteen
Serena
Climbing the steps that lead from the studio to my apartment has never felt like foreplay before. But with Leo’s hand in mine, and the promise of what’s coming, I’m flushed with anticipation. I hardly remember the drive home from the beach. My head is still swimming from our kisses, and the thrill of skinny-dipping is flowing through my veins.
Thankfully, Summer’s yoga class is long over, and the studio is empty.