Chapter Eight

The morning sun filtered through the thin gauze curtains. Asa stretched her legs under the soft cotton sheets and rubbed her eyes.

“Scruffy, I’m sleeping with the enemy. Or in his house at least.”

During the night, sleep had come in between fits of passion. Every few minutes an erotic scene of Simeon and all the lusty things she wanted them to do. The penetrating warmth of his hand lingered on her flesh. She woke up more exhausted than when she went to bed.

Asa flipped on her side, the comfort of the king sized mattress was hard to resist. The dog jumped to attention at the foot of the bed and stared at the door. He started to bark so Asa sat up, resting on her elbows. She heard footsteps in the hall.

Simeon knocked on the door. “Asa, are you awake? Can I come in?”

She tightened the sheet over her breasts. Before responding she ran her fingers through her hair, fluffing the curls. “Yes, come in.”

He opened the door and strode across the room carrying a tray of orange juice and croissants. His unbuttoned shirt exposed his rippled chest. Asa refrained from the urge to lick her lips. She focused her attention on his taut bronze stomach.

“You’re still in bed, didn’t you sleep well?”

“I slept like a baby.” She looked away. Liar, liar pants on fire.

He placed the tray on the nightstand and then sat on the chaise. “Good. I brought you a little something.”

Asa pulled upright in the bed, clutching the sheet against her chest. “Thank you. This is the very first time anyone has ever brought me breakfast in bed.”

“Well, it’s not exactly breakfast.”

“It’s still special. Thank you.” She tried to tamp down the stir of excitement mounting in her stomach by sipping the juice, happy to have something in her hands.

“After my swim, I’ll cook you a real breakfast.”

“I should cook for you for letting me stay here last night.”

“You don’t owe me, Asa.”

“I know, I know. But I feel like I should do something for you.”

His smile widened. “Join me for a swim and we’ll call it even.”

Asa remained quiet for several moments. He hadn’t shaved yet, so the hint of stubble on his jaw gave him a rugged outdoorsy appearance. He looked more desirable this morning than he did last night. He was exactly what she wanted, what she dreamed about when she pictured her perfect man. Asa shook her head, dislodging those thoughts. “If that’s all I have to do you’re easy to please,” she finally replied.

“Not really.” He flashed his infamous half smile, his dark eyes twinkled.

“O...kay. I’m not going to take that bait.”

“I’m not trying to trick you. I pride myself on always being honest. So if you don’t know it by now, let me make it very clear. I want you.”

His penetrating stare accentuated his words. A solid mass of lust lodged in her chest, making it hard to breathe. She opened her mouth, then closed it. The words she always wanted to hear poured over her like warm sunshine, heating up the hunger for him that she had all but given up on.

The sheet slid off her breasts and settled around her waist.

“I...but...I—”

“Think about it, Asa.” He stood up, exposing another raw shot of his sculptured physique. “Can I take the dog with me? He’s growing on me.”

“Sure.” The word was barely audible.

She watched his tight backside until he disappeared behind the door. Tapping her fingernails against the glass helped settle her racing thoughts. Simeon dropped his casual comment and strolled out the room, leaving her unable to reply with a sensible sentence. Even from ten feet away he made her heart rate accelerate, her palms clammy, and her thoughts jumbled.

Asa climbed out of bed still trembling from his declaration. Now what. She wrapped the sheet around her naked body before sauntering to the French doors. She pushed them open and stepped out on the balcony. The morning warmth promised a hot day ahead. She peered down at the huge pool, the glare from the water was blinding.

Simeon stood on the diving board, his arms stretched above his head. Scruffy sat on the side looking up at him. Simeon swung his arms in circular motions then took two graceful jumps and dived into the water. Asa watched as his lean body pierced the water with hardly a splash. He made it half way to the other side by just flapping his feet.

He’d taken several laps before she ran inside and pulled her skimpiest bikini from her bag.

“I want you too,” she whispered.

§ § §

Simeon caught a glimpse of Asa before going in the water. The sheet did little to hide her creamy thighs. His penis jerked against his swim trunks as he broke the plane of water. Maybe the swim would take his mind off of the impossible. She wanted her house. He needed to complete the project. As long as they remained at opposite ends of the spectrum it was useless to pretend they could have anything. He stroked hard against the water until his arms ached.

Minutes later, Asa glided onto patio in a tiny bikini. Her silky skin gleamed in the sunlight. Any relief the water had provided evaporated when she dived in the water and swam toward him. A goddess would be the only way to describe her. He bit his lip to keep from grabbing her as she neared him. Her round butt bobbed on top of the water. Her awkward form did nothing to diminish his excruciating desire for her. His morning swims helped free his thoughts to concentrate on the day’s matters. No such luck graced him this morning.

“I’m glad you decided to come in,” he said when she lifted her head out of the water.

“You made the water look irresistible. Besides I could use the exercise.”

“I’m just about finished, but I’ll race you back.”

She looked back as if measuring the distance. “Okay. Go.” She pushed off.

He eyed her slim legs and butt for a moment before shoving away from the wall and shooting past her. He finished a full length ahead of her.

“I almost beat you.” She used her hand to swipe water from her face.

“I’ll let you win next time.”

“I hope you mean that.” She turned over and floated on her back.

Simeon climbed the stairs out of the water. The soreness in his arms and legs made it impossible to swim another lap. He grabbed a towel and dried his hair. “I’ll start breakfast so we can meet with the electrician.”

“I’ll be right in after a few more laps.”

Simeon nodded. Coffee might get his brain chugging, because the only thing that seemed important right now was getting Asa into his bed. That tiny piece of material she called a bathing suit didn’t help matters. Instead of imagining what lay hidden under her clothes, this morning every curve and contour of her beautiful body was revealed.

By the time she came in the kitchen, breakfast was on the table and the throbbing in his loins had subsided to a slow burn.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m starved. After all I ate last night, I shouldn’t eat for a week.” Asa sat at the counter.

“A woman with an appetite. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of those before.” He placed toast in front of her.

“Shut up and pass the bacon.” She swatted his hand. “I have lots of stuff to do today, so we better get going. My realtor is nice enough to allow me to use his offices.” She stuffed bacon into her mouth. “But I can’t keep doing that.” She talked with her mouth full.

“Slow down, we’ve got a little time.” He sipped his coffee. “You can use offices in my suite for as long as you like. We can give you Internet access, a phone, and my assistant can help you.”

Her eyes widened. “Are you serious? That would be fantastic. I can only use my realtor offices for a few hours a day. Are you sure?”

“I am.”

She leaned. “Why are you being nice?. I don’t get it.” over and pecked his cheek.

Before she could pull away he placed his hand behind her neck, found her mouth and kissed her. Her salty tongue tasted wonderful, sinful. Her pulse drummed against his thumb, heightening his sensation.

He released her and peered into her light brown eyes. “I couldn’t resist another moment. I hope my behavior or my comment earlier today didn’t make you nervous.”

She put her fork down. “No, not at all. Surprised, maybe, but not nervous. You’re full of surprises.”

“How so?”

“You’re different. Nothing like I remembered. In high school I don’t think I ever saw you smile. Now it seems as if you’ve found your playful side again. I don’t know this side of you.”

“There wasn’t a whole lot to smile about in high school. Those were rough years for me.” He sipped his coffee. Admitting his family’s dysfunction wasn’t easy. Most days he was able to ignore that period of his life.

“Rough in what way?” she asked.

He put down the coffee cup and searched her face. Was she mocking him? The whole town knew his father would rather drink his paycheck than buy food for his family. They even had a nickname for him, ‘boozer the loser’. “It’s getting late. We better get going.” No need to dig up those memories now.