Page 42 of With Us

“I know,” Tina said, grabbing the empty cups. “Take a minute to really take it all in. If I lived closer, I’d come over to cook meals here and then leave. The counter space.” She gave a dreamy sigh.

“You know my favorite feature,” Julie added, gesturing with jazz hands to the wine fridge. She looked at me and grinned. “Don’t worry, I won’t pop open a bottle. Theo already told us you weren’t a fan.”

“Hence the umbrella drinks.” Tina lifted the pitcher, adding the jazz hand before refilling our cups. “There’s barely any rum in it since Theo said you guys were watching a movie and Julie is driving. We’ll get together with just the adults soon, and I’ll make a regular batch.”

“By regular, she means a little coconut, a little pineapple, and then a big bottle of rum.”

Tina nodded. “Exactly. And I might skip the pineapple if it’s too tart.” She picked up my drink and handed it to me before grabbing hers. “Now, I’ll show you my real favorite feature.”

Heading back outside, my steps faltered and I nearly dropped the cup.

I knew Theo was in good shape. What I hadn’t known, however, was he was inridiculouslygood shape.

Shirtless and stretched out on an inflatable raft, Theo’s eyes were closed as he floated. His shorts were low on his hips, showing the pronounced ‘vee’ muscle. Dark hair lightly covered his chest, thinning as it trailed down. His tanned skin gleamed in the sunlight, and I was tempted to dive in, clothes and all, so I could count each individual water droplet that seemed to cling to him.

“Well,” I vaguely heard Tina say, “I think it’s safe to say what her favorite feature is.”

“Yeah, she hasn’t even noticed he’s floating on an ice cream sandwich.”

Even more delicious…

Wait, what?

Reluctantly tearing my eyes away from Theo’s muscles, I looked down to see he was floating on an ice cream sandwich. Seconds later, Mar jumped in on an inflatable slice of pizza, and Kat carefully used the ladder to position herself in a tube decorated like a sprinkled donut.

Laughing, I looked back to see Theo watching me.

His smile widened as he winked before leaning back and closing his eyes again. “You showing her the reason I’m your favorite cousin in the world?” he called out.

“Yup!” Tina called back, already on the move.

When we reached the opposite end of the pool, I noticed a dark stone circle connected to the pool.

Tina lifted a small metal rectangle to reveal some buttons and knobs. Adjusting a few, the water in the circle started bubbling, steam raising. Her and Julie stripped down to their swimsuits, happily sinking into the hot tub.

Setting my drink down, I gripped the bottom of my tee and started to pull it over my head before looking out and catching Theo’s eyes.

No longer on the floatie, he leaned against the edge of the pool, a beer in his hand. I flicked my eyes away to see the girls playing up on the grass with their toys.

I wasn’t sure what got into me. Actually, I wasn’t even sure who I was being, because it certainly wasn’t me.

Returning my gaze to his, I slowly pulled my top off. Undoing my shorts, I hooked my thumb into the waistband and slid them down. Inhaling deeply, I stood straight as I stepped out of them and met his eyes again.

Like fire.

Burning.

Dark.

Wickedness and depravity, heat and want.

Unable to hold the contact any longer, I tucked my hair behind my ear and stepped carefully into the hot tub. Tina and Julie shifted so they could watch the girls, and I sat with my back to the pool. The initial temperature shift was unpleasant.

Oh man, don’t tell me I’ve waited all these years thinking a hot tub would be so amazing, and it’s overrated.

Forcing myself to sit, I sipped at my drink and wondered how much longer I should stay in so I didn’t seem rude. Once my body adjusted, however, muscles that’d been tense for years began to loosen.

“Whoa, mama,” I muttered, my eyes closing for a second.

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