The thought of it not working out between them was almost unbearable and she could see the same truth reflected in his suddenly serious features. Their relationship was balanced on a tipping point and the last thing she wanted was to bring it crashing to the ground.

He ran his hands up the sides of her body. A delicious shiver danced in its wake.

“One thing I do know is I have spent the last god knows how many months regretting turning you down last summer even though it was the right thing to do.”

Her eyes widened. “You never said you regretted it…”

His mouth twitched. “There are so many reasons we shouldn’t get involved, all of them valid.” He reached up and cupped her jaw. “When I got that phone call yesterday, I thought I’d lost you forever.”

Her pulse beat noisily in her ears. He was saying all the things she’d dreamed he’d say.

“I felt as if I’d wasted not just an opportunity, but the opportunity of my lifetime. And I knew I had to give us a chance, if you are still interested.”

Still interested? Didn’t he know? Couldn’t he read the truth in her eyes?

He tilted her chin and then pulled her closer so he could place a soft kiss on her mouth. His tongue ran along the seam of her lips and her toes curled.

“But the idea of screwing up our friendship…” He rested his forehead against hers and they stared into one another’s eyes.

“We won’t,” she said softly.

He closed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. “We might. Are you willing to risk it?”

“Are you?”

In answer, he pulled her even closer and sealed his lips to hers. He kissed her deeply, sweeping his tongue into her mouth, his fingers tightening on her waist.

Her heart thudded in her chest, especially when she pressed against him and felt his arousal trapped between them.

He pulled back, watching her as if she was a live grenade with the pin pulled. She touched his cheek and kissed him again, slowly, lowering herself against his hardness and sliding over him, gasping at how the delicious friction felt between her legs.

She took her time, moving cautiously, not knowing what she was doing but chasing the good sensations. She ran her hands over his chest, following the line of dark hair.

She didn’t release his mouth and felt his gasp against her lips when she reached into his shorts and felt the fullness of him against her palm. This was all new territory for her. This wanting to explore, allowing herself to explore.

She squeezed him and felt his entire body tense beneath her, his fingers tightening on her slick skin.

She kissed him again and pulled back. She touched his chest, stroked the dark nipples below the surface of the water.

“You’re going to destroy me.” He smiled as he said it. Then he drew her closer to kiss her again and she wrapped her arms around his neck savoring the feel of his mouth on hers, wanting to hoard the taste of him that she’d been craving all these months.