CHAPTER TWO

NATALIE

It's getting hot out here and it's not just the South Carolina temperatures. I can't believe I came down from my room in a bikini and shorts. I've never been brave enough to do something like that. Hell, I've never worn a two-piece bathing suit before and certainly nothing as revealing as this red bit of fabric.

I wasn't kidding about being overheated while unpacking, but it wasn't the task that was doing it. It was my overactive imagination. I kept playing out different scenarios involving Luke, me, and that huge bed.

It's a good thing I packed my vibrator and that his room is far from mine. That little toy and I are going to be spending a lot of quality time together this summer.

"Natalie?" Luke says, breaking me from another inappropriate daydream. "You're flushed. Are you okay?"

"Um, yes. Maybe it's the wine?" Maybe it's you and that sexy beard I want to feel between my thighs.

"You've had less than half a glass," Luke points out. "Do you want to go for a swim before we eat? We can cool off and then have dinner after the sun goes down?"

Nodding, I stand up and walk toward the pool. There is a set of steps leading down into the water on one side and a diving board on the other. An in-ground hot tub is also next to the pool. Huge magnolia trees surround the pool on one side and lend a certain amount of privacy.

I quickly slip off my shorts and step into the cool water. I don't look at Luke until I'm submerged and then I find him still standing outside the pool, watching me. He's removed his shirt, revealing his washboard abs and the light sprinkling of hair on his chest. The man looks like a model.

My gaze wanders down to his swim trunks and I see an unmistakable outline. I don't know how to react, so I do what any sexy, mature woman would do in this situation – I go underwater.

* * *

LUKE

Fuck. I stand stunned for a few seconds after Natalie disappears underwater and then I react. I jump into the deep end of the pool and swim to her, pulling her out of the water.

She spits water out and coughs. "I'm sorry," she says with tears gathering in her eyes. I hope they are from the chlorine and not a reaction to me.

"You need to stop apologizing, Natalie. You did nothing wrong. You're perfect."

I move the pieces of wet hair off her face and smile at her. She truly is perfection.

"I'm not perfect. I don't know how to react to things and then I overreact or do the wrong thing. I spent all my time at school studying and no one wanted me anyway." She stops talking abruptly and tries to pull away.

"No one wanted you?" There's no way that's true. I believe she studied all the time and maybe didn't notice.

"Can you pretend I didn't say that?"

"Of course, baby, but I don't think it's true. A man would have to be dead to not want you." I take a chance and let her feel my body against hers. Despite diving in after her, my dick hasn't softened.

There's a catch in her breath when she feels me against her body, but she doesn't pull away.

"Luke?" Natalie looks up at me and I'm shocked by the desire I see reflected in her eyes.

I slowly lean toward her, while pulling her more firmly against my body. My mouth slants across hers and for a moment I'm afraid she's going to pull away. Instead, her arms come up around my neck and her legs wrap around my waist. She moans into my mouth letting me slip my tongue beyond her lips and finally get a taste of her.

I've spent the last month dreaming of her, waking up with a hard cock and jerking off to pictures from her social media. To have her here is a dream come true.

Slightly pulling away, I smile at the dazed look on her face. "I've been dying to taste you, baby. Are you okay?"

She nods but doesn't say anything. For tonight, I think we need to cool things down a little, so she can make sure this is something she wants. Never would I want her to feel like she has been rushed into something she may or may not want.

"Let's get out of the pool and eat dinner, sweet girl."

"Did I do something wrong?" She asks as she pulls away to stand on her own feet and puts space between us.

"No, I just want to make sure we take our time. This isn't something fleeting for me. I've been thinking about you since I saw you in May."

"You have?"

"Night and day, sweet girl." I hold out my hand and she gives me hers. I lift her fingers to my lips and place a kiss across her knuckles. "I'm sure you're hungry after your drive. Let's eat and talk."

She nods and climbs with me up the steps and out of the pool. I had no intention of moving things so fast with her, but I can't regret sharing our first kiss in the pool.