Page 8 of Silent Heart

A rush of blood made my dick pulse in my board shorts. Thankfully there’d been time to discreetly flip the stiff erection up into the waistband, hiding it the best I could so I didn’t greet the neighbors with a boner.

But just the memory of her skin, sparkling with waterdrops, as I helped her from the water had me salivating. My fingers itched to peel the wet tank off her body, and my mouth still watered for a taste. I would run my lips over the smooth planes of flesh, decorated tastefully with various inked designs. How long would it take to have her clawing at my back? How long would I tease her before I let her naked, wet body press against mine?

Fuck.

As soon as Luka left, I would have to disappear upstairs and fuck my fist in the shower. Because if I was going to do this swimming thing—and my brother and I both knew damn well I wouldn’t refuse her the pitiful hundred bucks a lesson—there would be no touching, no tasting, and certainly no claiming the pretty little sprite.

I can’t have her.

***

There wasn’t sunlight, but I knew it was close to morning. The next detail I became aware of was that I wasn’t lying on my bed.

“Shit,” I breathed.

It happened again.

Peeling myself off the floor, I blinked. This was the kitchen of the lakeside mansion, where I hadn’t been….

Nine hours ago.

Shaking my head, I went to the sink. Cold tap water streamed from the faucet, a welcome relief to the fog still lingering around the edges of my consciousness. I splashed my face, letting the sharp bite make my senses come alive. I poured myself a pre-workout energy shot, shaking it with a metal ball as I went to the home gym. Instantly my eyes tracked the equipment. It seemed that in my nocturnal ramblings, I’d also visited this space.

At least I woke up with enough time to put in a grueling workout before the swimming lessons. Pushing aside the horrifying reality that I’d lost myself yet again, I focused on driving my body hard. Time flew, and before I knew it, I was showered, teeth brushed, and waiting for the pretty little farm girl down by the dock.

Her boat sped across the water, moving at a decent clip. Unlike the leisure floater from yesterday, this was a small fishing boat. There she stood, light blonde hair tied back to hide the darker roots and narrowed gaze sweeping the lake.

Heat returned to my blood, and I let out a short growl of frustration. Yesterday’s cool shower should have taken care of that problem. But one look at the toned body in the blue Speedo one piece with just a pair of cotton shorts over her legs, and the effort to rid her from my system evaporated in the rush of blistering need.

No. No!

I clenched my jaw tight, breath coming hard and fast. Women didn’t affect me this way. I wasn’t some playboy, chasing every skirt. I was controlled, a well-regulated machine that was driven by objectives.

And yet one look and it was clear to anyone with eyes that this wholesome beauty was far from normal.

The motor slowed to a gurgling putter as Harley pulled the fishing boat alongside the dock.

“Good morning, neighbor, how did you sleep?” She grinned up at me and threw a tether rope expertly over the metal hook on the side of the dock.

I rose to the balls of my bare feet, suddenly wanting to say something light and breezy to put her at ease. To show her that I could be neighborly. Friendly.Normal.

“Not too bad.” I still sounded gruff to my own ears. “Yourself?”

Harley chuckled softly. “Like the dead. Didn’t close down the Landing until nearly one this morning.”

She’d been out late and now was bright-eyed and ready to teach me to swim.

Before going to work at a veterinarian clinic,my subconscious added helpfully.

Damn. I wanted to cancel. Send her inside for a snooze. But what good would that do? She was already here, and like my brother reminded me twice more before leaving yesterday afternoon, it seemed she could use the money.

Springing onto the dock, Harley planted her hands on her hips.

I tracked the movement, fingers itching to touch the same place. She was barefoot like yesterday, pretty pink toes and tan feet drawing my attention to the smallest details about her.

“So! How much experience do you have swimming?” Harley swiveled her gaze to me, cocking her head.

It dawned on me then, the subtle shift in her warm brown eyes giving it away. She was nervous but bravely trying to hide it.

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