Page 57 of Bountiful
His smile was the panty-melting kind. “That’s funny, because they see me sweaty allthetime.”
“Be that as it may…” I cleared my throat and tried to find somewhere to put my eyes. Dave was sweaty, too, and his eyes were bright. He looked exactly how I remembered him in the middle of sex. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather meet strangers when I’ve had ashower.”
And boy, did I need one. Cold,probably.
I tipped my water bottle up to my lips, but nothing came out. Another smooth move on my part. I’d drained the bottle within the first twenty minutes of class, just trying to keep up with Mr. ProfessionalAthlete.
The corners of Dave’s mouth turned up in a smirk. Then he offered me his own water, which appeareduntouched.
“Thank you.” I grabbed it gratefully and took a gulp, hoping it would squelch the fire raging inside me.Asif.
“Don’t mention it, yogi.” He watched me take another sip, and I felt his gaze like a hot stroke ofhishand.
As if I weren’t already self-conscious enough, a drop of sweat chose that moment run out of my hairline and down the side of my face. Since I was holding my stuff in one hand and Dave’s water bottle in the other, I made an awkward movement that tried and failed to wipe it off with myshoulder.
Dave’s low chuckle reverberated in my chest. He stepped closer, into my personal space. His muscular body leaned close to mine. He grasped the water bottle and then slowlykissedthe drop of sweat off my cheek. All my blood stopped circulating as his lips tasted and then teased my skin. Then they skimmed lower. He tortured the sensitive corner of my mouth, as every nerve ending in my bodylitup.
If I turned my head a fractional degree, that full mouth would land on mine in a heartbeat. He’d tilt my chin justsoand…
“Time out,” I gasped, leapingbackward.
Dave blinked at me through anarousedhaze.
He looked so hot, so ready to do every amazing thing we’d ever done together, all over again. But wecouldn’t,damnit.
So I got angry. Because that always helps. “What thehellwasthat?I’m…”
“Sweaty,” he finished. “I heard you the first time. Thing is, I never minded yousweaty.”
“Dave!” I warned, as my heart rate doubled. “That is not the problem. Youcannotkiss me.” I was furious at both of us. At him for showing up here and reminding me how badly I’d wanted him. And at myself for being so fuckingpredictable.
“I can’t?” He crossed his sculpted arms and stared me down. “Because I swear you’ve been staring at me with your tongue hanging out for an entire sweaty hour. So sue me for remembering exactly how good it was to get you all hot andbothered.”
“Stop. It,” I hissed, wondering if anyone was still inside the building behind us, listening through an open window. “Maybeyoucan still think with your dick, but things changed for me. You don’t have the first idea whatit’slike!”
“I don’t, huh?” His face flushed even redder. “I wonder why. You never answered a single question I ever asked you. ‘Hey, did you grow up around here, Zara?’ ‘Shut up and take off yourclothes,Dave.’”
His complaint had the sting of truth. Emphasis on sting. It ignited all my pent-up fear and frustration at once, and that’s when I lost my ever-loving mind. My hand flew up, unbidden, connecting with his face. I heard a loudsmack.
I’d actuallyslappedhim.
Dave reeled back, as if the surprise hit him harder thanmyhand.
Horrified by my own actions, I stood there with my mouth open, my heart thundering with a toxic brew of rage, fear, and regret. I expected him to put a hand up to his cheek, which was reddening quickly. But he didn’t. Instead, his expression just…dimmed. Like the lights went out inside. Then he backed slowly away from me, like I was a wild animal that needed to bewatched.
I feltlikeone.
He turned and walked quickly away, disappearing a moment later behind the row of scrubby pines bordering the cabinproperty.
ChapterEighteen
Dave
Ibarely noticedCastro in the hammock as I stomped into the house. “How was the class?” he called after me. “Worthgoing?”
He got noanswer.
Quick strides carried me up the stairs and into my suite, where I threw my clothes on the floor and stepped into the shower. I stood there a while, letting the water sluice down over my body, wondering what the hell had justhappened.
