Page 20 of Saddle and Bound

“You know what would be really crazy?” she suddenly says, interrupting my thoughts. Her eyes shine with a dangerous, exciting light.

“What?” I ask, already ready to follow her into any adventure.

“Let's go for a swim in the lake!”

I laugh, incredulous and excited at the same time. “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely,” she responds, grabbing my hand and dragging me away from the party.

We run towards the lake, laughing and stumbling along the path. The damp grass under our feet, the low branches brushing us as we pass. We arrive at the shore, panting and euphoric, adrenaline rushing through our veins.

Without hesitation, Rosie dives into the water with a cry of joy, the water rising around her like a silver veil.

The moonlight caresses every curve of her body. I'm left breathless, unable to look away. I follow her, diving in next to her. The cool water envelops us, a stark contrast to the heat of our skin. We swim, joking and splashing each other. Rosie laughs, a free and contagious sound that echoes on the surface of the lake.

As we swim, our bodies brush against each other under the water. Every accidental contact sends electric shocks through my body. Rosie's wet dress clings to her like a second skin, revealing curves that leave me breathless. It’s a struggle to keep my eyes anywhere but on the delicate curve of her breasts, perfectly framed by the clinging fabric of her soaked dress. The cool water has left her nipples visibly hardened, and the gentle bounce of her chest with each movement is becoming harder and harder to ignore.

The way the dress molds to her, leaving little to the imagination, is utterly distracting. My self-control is hanging by a thread, every shift and sway drawing my attention like a magnet. I know I shouldn’t look, but resisting feels like an impossible feat. She’s utterly alluring, and it’s driving me to the brink.

We move closer, drawn to each other like magnets. Our hands brush under the water, and I feel a jolt run through my body. We're so close now that I can count the water droplets on her eyelashes, see the desire in her eyes.

Rosie moves even closer. I can feel her heart beating wildly, or maybe it's mine. Her hands wander over my chest, light as feathers. My breathing becomes heavy.

My hands find her waist, pulling her even closer. Our faces are inches apart, our breaths mingling. The air between us is charged with tension, with unexpressed desire.

For a moment, time seems to stand still. We're on the edge of something dangerous, exciting. My eyes lower to her lips, wet and inviting. Rosie bites her lower lip, an innocent gesture that sends waves of heat through my body.

“Hey, princess,” I tease her, splashing water in her face. 'I thought city girls couldn't swim.'

Rosie gives me a challenging look. “Oh, really?” With a quick movement, she pushes me underwater.

I resurface, coughing and laughing. “Now you're in trouble!”

A water battle begins, both of us determined to win. We chase each other in the lake, laughing and shouting like children. The alcohol in our veins makes everything more fun, more intense.

At one point, I grab her by the waist, trying to submerge her. But Rosie is surprisingly strong. She wriggles, turning towards me. Suddenly, we're face to face, our bodies pressed against each other.

For a moment, we stay like this, panting and surprised. I can see every detail of her face: the water droplets on her eyelashes, the slight blush on her cheeks, her lips slightly parted.

“I got you,” I whisper, my voice huskier than I'd like.

“Are you sure?” she responds, a mischievous smile curving her lips.

There's a tension in the air, an electricity that has nothing to do with our usual rivalry. For a moment, I wonder what would happen if I leaned a little closer, if...

But then Rosie splashes water in my eyes and frees herself from my grip, swimming away laughing.

“You'll have to do better than that, cowboy!” she shouts over her shoulder.

I shake my head, emerging from my trance... I need to clear my thoughts.

What was I thinking? This is Rosie, the city princess, a girl I've only known for a few days. Yet, as I chase her in the lake, I can't help but smile.

Chapter 12

Rosie

The rooster's crow abruptly tears me from sleep. I grunt, fumbling for the pillow to cover my ears. Who on earth decided roosters were a good alarm clock? My phone vibrates insistently on the nightstand, adding to the morning concert. I reach out to grab it, blinking sleepily as I try to focus on the screen. It's the girls' WhatsApp group, and it's exploding with messages.

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