Caleb grunted as she dug her fingers into his rock-hard biceps. Her head lolling to the side of the pillow, she blinked to clear her vision and watch as the sharp features of his face hardened. His teeth sank into his lower lip, and his hair smacked against his forehead. He met her gaze then. Smiling lazily, she waited hardly a moment more until he closed his eyes tight, his body stiffening as he came.
“Please don’t let me sink and drown,” he mumbled, out of breath, before he lowered himself on top of her.
She laughed as he blanketed her, his strong body relaxed as he weighed her down. His arms slunk down into the water as though he’d passed out and he whooshed out a long moan. After a minute of harsh breathing, he wrapped her in a hug and she traced feather-light figure eights on his broad shoulders and back.
He was the first to recover from their sex coma. Turning his head, he pressed close enough to kiss her cheek. All he could muster the energy to reach, she guessed.
Explosions of brightness highlighted the star-less sky. Booms echoed as neighbors announced the turn of December into January.
“Happy New Year’s…neighbor,” he whispered.
Chapter Six
Neighbor.
Technically she did live next door. But it was still too casual a label, especially after their skinny-dip-turned-hot-sex in his spa.
Hope spawned as he returned to coherent thoughts. Though he was relieved that Ava hadn’t tensed at his words, he wanted some hint from her. Does she want to be more? There was no missing her independent nature. She hadn’t claimed any longing for a boyfriend or even a lover. All she’d indicated was that she was single and locked out. Had it not been for her absent key, he doubted she would have come back over for any other reason.
She hadn’t come seeking him, or an aquatic fuck.
But Caleb hadn’t noticed any hesitation in her kisses. No reluctance in her hands grabbing and caressing him.
So, now what?
As much as she was an unexpected surprise, he was determined to stick to her being his new start. A friendship would not be difficult to build. Their intimacy was already off the charts. Now, a relationship… He had no clue what she’d want. If she’d seek a new start with him or if she’d toss him a see-ya-around farewell. But he did know he wasn’t done with her yet.
Just beginning, in fact.
“Neighbor with benefits?” she asked.
Leaning up, he stared at her. Kiss-swollen lips quirked into a small smile and her blue eyes twinkled with sass.
“How about … we—” He jerked away from her and the freezing, wet poke on his shoulder. “Jesus!”
Polly’s face stood at eye level, her dark eyes blinking, her tongue hanging over the side of her mouth—and the really cold nose that had just startled him. So wrapped in Ava’s presence, he had forgotten they actually weren’t alone out there.
“Hey, puppy,” he said and relaxed.
“How about we…” Ava prompted.
He pulled out of her so they could sit up more. With his arm midair, he gestured for her to snuggle next to him. Tucked to his side, she laid her hand on his chest and swirled small circles between his nipples.
“How about we head inside, grab a shower, and figure out when we can have a second try-out?”
Ava looked up at him. “What kind of a try-out?”
“One that includes clothing—”
“Ah, shucks.” She gave an exaggerated pout and looked away.
He smiled and rested his chin on the top of her chestnut waves. “And going somewhere to eat a meal. Where we can get to know each other. That sort of thing.”
“A date?”
“Would you like that?”
“No.”
How could I have read her wrong?
“Not if it puts you out of your comfort zone.” She pulled back to face him. After she brushed a wayward hair from his forehead, she said, “You were a recluse in that house for three months. And as much as I would be over the moon to go out with you, I’d hate to thrust you into the public you’re trying to avoid.”
He appreciated her consideration. “How about I thrust—”
She smacked his chest, groaning through a grin. “Is this going to be our thing? Horribly cheesy dirty talk?”
“Sure. As long as it’s our thing. You and me. I don’t want to rush you into something after your engagement.”
“Or after your divorce,” she interjected with a raised brow.
“Right. But I really like the thought of beginning a ‘you and me’, in whatever terms we can agree on, with you.”
She lowered to brush her lips across his softly. “A beginning. That’s an excellent start for the new year.”
The End
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New Year's Next Door (Romance on the Go Book 0) Page 5
