“Oh I don’t know.” I tapped a finger on the can, as I pretended to think about it. “I guess you could tell me how you plan to collect your debt.” He gave me a hot, hungry look and my heartbeat kicked up to a hammering, because yeah, this was happening. If he was up for it, I was about to cash in on about three years of unresolved sexual tension, with interest.

“You sure about this, culona?” he asked, and fuck, why did him talking about my ass turn me on this much.

“Are you stalling, Theo?” I challenged, and he lunged for me.

“Ah,” I squealed in protest as he plucked me off the float but then my lower body sank into the warm water. “That’s kind of nice actually.” He laughed huskily, close to my ear, those huge hands palming my ass.

“Not as nice as this.” He flexed his fingers, digging in as I circled my arms around his neck. And this did feel nice. Nicer than anything had in a long time.

“I fucking love your ass,” he whispered against my neck, nipping at the skin there, and I ground my hips against him, legs wrapped around his waist.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I sounded winded. Hell, I felt like I’d run for miles. Like I was right on the edge of a cliff and was on the cusp of leaping right off it.

“How am I looking at you?” Theo leaned in, biting down on his bottom lip and making my muscles clench in anticipation.

“Like you missed a few meals and I’m the only thing on the menu,” I teased, and the laugh that came out of him zapped right through me. His eyes were serious though.

“I need to be sure you want this.”

“I am. Why didn’t you kiss me the other night?” His smile turned evil, like his master plan was finally coming to fruition.

“Because I wanted you to be certain.” He was talking with his mouth pressed to my skin, the heat of his breath making me shiver. “If I’d kissed you like I wanted to that night, you would’ve regretted it.” He was right of course, I would’ve done it, then felt guilty about it. Punished myself for being impulsive. But now with days of contemplating what he’d offered, of knowing how bad I wanted it, I was walking into this with my eyes wide open.

“I don’t want it to get complicated, so don’t get any ideas,” I told him even as I pushed up, giving him more access to my breasts. His mouth was ghosting over the swell of them and I was burning up, even with my body half in the water.

His gray gaze fluttered up to mine as he traced wet circles on my skin with his tongue.