Page 24 of Up All Night
"No, I think I just got into the pool a little too fast after eating.I think I'll hang by the deck for a while."
She frowns and shrugs."Suit yourself.Do you want me to build a fire?"
I look outside the gazebo.The fire pit sits right there."I can handle it."
"You sure?"
"Sure, I'm sure."
"Excellent.I have marshmallows on the kitchen counter if you want."
I love it how she just lets me take over.She lets me make myself at home and doesn't feel inclined to hover.It's nice.Once I set up the fire and grab the marshmallows, she comes out of the pool.I notice that she doesn't put that beach cover up back on, and I start to worry.Keeping my eyes firmly on hers, I place a marshmallow on a skewer and set it over the fire to roast."Nice swim?"
"Beautiful."She says, lying back in the lounge chair.
You can say that again.I feel like saying, as I allow myself a glance at her body, but I keep my mouth shut.The marshmallow is ready and I try to get it off the skewer, but it doesn't come off easily, and I've got goo all over my face and hands."Shit."I swear, trying to lick it off without looking like a fucking pervert.
"Are you okay?"She chuckles."Do you need a napkin?"
"Jesus, all the mess I'm making, I might as well climb back into the pool."
I watch her rise."I'll be right back."
I feel like such an ass.I'm a big klutz and I'm making myself look like a fucking high maintenance toddler.Nonetheless, she brings a damp cloth out, and she helps me clean my fingers and face."God, if this isn't fucking embarrassing, I don't know what is."
"These are the budget marshmallows.I made a huge mess of myself the last time I used them, too."She explains, looking all too comfortable cleaning me up.It's like she was a nurse in a previous life or something.She's not rattled or grossed out at all."I should have warned you.That's all they had when I went to the store, and I didn't know that anyone else would be eating them."
"You mean you don't like to share?"
She smiles, and her eyes are glowing.I like the look.And I hate to admit it, but I sort of like it that she's wiping me off.It's endearing, nurturing.Not like I'd ever look for a mother figure or anything like that, but no girl, other than my mother, has ever been quite so kind to me like this before."I don't mind sharing.I just don't normally have guests that would put the marshmallows as part of the dessert menu."
Great.So, she thinks of me like a little kid.Sexy."The other guys you've brought around seem to have more of a likeness for chips and beer?"
"You are really reaching here, sir."She says, almost chiding.
"What do you mean?"
She searches my eyes.My face and hands are all cleaned up."Do you want to know what other types of guys I've brought here?"
"It's none of my business."
"You're right.It's not."
I'm not sure if I've offended her, but I feel like I have."Sorry.I didn't mean to piss you off."
"You didn't."She's still searching my eyes.For the first time in my life, I care about what a girl thinks of me.
I scoff."How have I not?I had a near miss in your pool, tossed a chicken ball across your deck, and now I've made a total ass out of myself, and made another mess.You must think I'm a fucking idiot."
"I don't."She says simply.
"How is that even possible?"
I watch her swallow.Her eyes are still on mine."You haven't once tried to get into my pants tonight.You were a gentleman and gave my food a chance, and you've had every opportunity put the moves on me, and you haven't."She pauses for emphasis."And you had a hard-on when you saw me earlier, but instead of acting on it, you jumped in my pool so hard you nearly busted your head open.That's class, Stone.And that's why you didn't make an ass out of yourself in my eyes at all.You didn't treat me like a piece of meat, even though, deep down, you probably know that you would likely have no problem getting me in the sack again."
My face turns serious."You're not easy."The way I say it I'm being argumentative, like she's putting herself down and I'm having none of it.
"I may very well be."
