Page 66 of Stroke of Fate

“I promise it was nothing life-threatening,” Bear jokes poking me in the shoulder.

Forcing my muscles to relax, I lift my gaze, only to come face to face with her bikini-clad breasts. Her cleavage is right there, and the urge to press my face between the valley of her breasts is overwhelming. Her nipples pebble under my gaze, and a groan rumbles at the back of my throat.

Bear’s chest rises and falls as her breathing picks up. I know what I’ll see if I look at her face.Lust. Desire. It would be like looking in a mirror.

She clears her throat and slips past me into the water. I watch her swim away, pleasantly surprised by her form. She’s not half bad, and her breathing technique is solid.

“If the plan was to teach me how to swim, you’re about fifteen years too late,” she shouts from the other side of the pool.

“How about you come back here and race me?”

“No way, you’re like Aquaman.” She huffs, and a laugh bursts out of me.

Pushing off the wall, I swim toward her. When I pop back up, she’s wearing an unimpressed look.

“Meh, I’ve seen faster.”

I would think she was serious if it weren’t for the way her mouth twitches, struggling to hold back a smile.

With mock offense, I splash water in her direction. “Oh, no, you did not just say that to me.”

Droplets cling to her long lashes, and her crystal-blue eyes shine with playfulness.

She’s so damn beautiful.

I rub a hand over my chest as it swells with emotion. Christ, I want to kiss her so badly it physically aches not being able to pull her lips onto mine.

“What?” She asks softly as I continue to stare at her.

“Nothing.”

Bear places a hand on my shoulder, and my gaze locks on where her skin melts into mine. It’s the first time she’s voluntarily touched me without pulling away. But with the way my dick is responding, you’d think she stroked me through my damn shorts.

I reach up, covering my hand with hers, partly to keep it there and partly to make sure I’m not imagining it.

“Tell me, please.” She says.

So I do, because this girl has me wrapped around her finger, and she doesn’t even know it.

“I’m glad you came.” I clear my throat to hide the vulnerability that slipped into my words.

Bear’s eyes flicker with a hint of surprise before they crinkle at the corners as her smile grows. “I’m glad you invited me.”

Her voice is barely above a whisper, yet my whole body fucking tingles with happiness.

We spend the next few hours at the pool, talking and laughing. It’s the most fun I’ve had in a while, and I could stay in the water for the rest of the day with her.

Unfortunately, our time gets cut short when Bear’s phone alarm echoes through the natatorium.

“That’s my cue,” she sighs, swimming to the ladder. “I have to hop in the shower if I want to make it to work on time.”

Disappointment washes over me. The more I let her in, the harder it gets to let her go. I want our moments to last forever.

“Okay,” I say, resigned to parting ways. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Wrapped in towels, duffel bags slung over our shoulders, I walk her toward the ladies' locker room.

“There should be another door leading to the shower area if it’s set up like ours,” I explain, holding the door open for her.

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