Chapter Eight

Dave held Livie close. “Hey, shh, honey. No problems here. Catch your breath and chill here. I gotcha.”

He petted and stroked her against the blind panic jolting her, murmuring more nonsense and fighting for composure as she sobbed her heart out, drenching his chest with her tears. He should have paid better attention to her soft confession earlier, I don’t…come easily, ever…, and to her hesitation when she’d been fumbling through that sweet hand job. He’d regretted stopping her just as she’d found her groove, but he’d wanted to refocus on her pleasure, gotten too full of himself, and ignored that her anxieties might have a cause in her past.

A memory from Livie’s all-too public end to her marriage slammed against his brain: R.J.’s petulant bellow, “Why I ever married a frigid bitch like you.” The renewed urge to beat the crap out of the asshole snarled. Livie sure as hell wasn’t a bitch or frigid. What the hell had that shit done to her?

When her breath settled and tears slowed, he relaxed his embrace, but kept her close.

A hiccupping sob broke from Livie. “I’m sorry, so sorry.”

“Why are you sorry? You were beautiful.”

“Cried all over you.”

His heart cracking with remorse and anger, he tipped her stricken face to his. “Listen to me. You have nothing to be sorry about. You came like a skyrocket, and it was beautiful. You’re beautiful.” He stroked his thumbs across her cheeks, wiping two fresh tears away. “Here’s the plan. You rest here while I get us some water and a couple cookies. Then I’m going to hold you, and you’re going to stop thinking you did anything wrong. Okay?”

She nodded.

He pinned on a smile over the cold anger with himself and R.J. “Good. It’s all good.” He eased his arms and leg loose from her, and she curled away onto her side. He stroked her hair. “Shut your eyes. Easy breaths. I’m here and everything’s good.”

Waiting as always for his leg to get with the program, he hiked himself to his feet. Livie’s shaken huddle to herself tore at his heart. He should have taken things slower. He should have paid more attention.

Focus.

He tucked a paper towel in her hand, her teary face again jerking at his heart. He dug two water bottles and the cookies from the cooler and set them beside her. After dunking and wringing out his T-shirt, he returned to her side and gathered her into his arms.

She pressed a shielding arm to her breasts, burying her face against his shoulder.

He raised a smile for her. “Hey, sweetheart, let me see your face. Let’s wipe those pretty eyes.”

After a hiccupping breath, she nodded. As he soothed the cool, wet T-shirt over her face and throat, she sighed with a shuddering release of tension. Setting aside the T-shirt, he touched a kiss to her forehead, wishing he had the words to fix this. He opened a water bottle and tucked it into her hand. “Drink up.”

As she sipped, he opened his bottle and took a long deep swallow, wishing for a beer.

He broke apart a cookie and held a small piece to her lips. “Take a bite.” He kept on feeding her bits and encouraging her to drink the water, until they’d demolished the bagful and she was calm.

Livie finished her water and shyly met his eyes. “Thanks. I’m sorry.”

“No more apologies. I’m cool here.” He risked the move and rolled back, carrying her over him as he stretched out. She laughed and relaxed. Good.

“I’m too heavy.”

“Right.” He snorted. “I’ve carried packs heavier than you. Just shift a little to the right there, though.”

With ease filling her sigh, Livie settled obligingly, perfectly against his cock.

He trailed his fingers along her spine. Now what? What did you do for a woman freaked out by her sexual response? Give up and return to the safety of the busy camp? Go swimming? Take a nap? Coax her back into lovemaking? Well, fall off a horse, get back on.

And you’ve taken this advice so well, right? Fall from the sky—

Shut the hell up, this isn’t about me.

He caressed her back, gently, keeping his touch soothing.

Her fingers drifted into rhythmic tracing of his shoulder and more tension eased from her body, as a pleasant tension eased into his. His cock took wearing her like a blanket patiently, a surprise, considering how much he wanted her.

She wriggled softly into a different position—

Much better. Oh, yeah.

“You’re never what I expect,” she murmured against his shoulder.

“How’s that?” He dragged his mind off his hard-on and onto her words. He let his hands drift over her lovely ass, caressing as casually and undemanding as possible. How she’d massaged his leg, soothing the teeth out of his pain—Somehow, he’d soothe her hurts.

“Every time I think I’ve figured you out, you do something unexpected.” She pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “I’m just going with it.” She lifted on hands planted on either side of him to meet his eyes, her bare breasts riding against his chest.

“Okay.” He considered himself basically what you see is what you get, but if going with it meant going with what her lovely naked body was doing over his, he was good with her plan. And he was optimistic the plan involved staying naked and touching, because she was flushing and nibbling at her lip.

Livie slid off and stretched out along his right side, propped on her elbow.

Damn, how she’d glance him over and shyly blush was cute. She had grit, but she was still anxious. Pushing herself was no good. He wanted her to enjoy every minute as much as he did, and not because he’d driven her to come.

He folded his arms behind his head, fighting for casual relaxation. “The breeze died. It’s getting kinda hot.”

Livie smiled and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “The shade’s helping.”

“You ever skinny-dip?”

She laughed, but her eyes flew wide. “Never!”

“Want to give it a try?” He waited, counting on her curiosity and courage. He enjoyed watching thoughts flickering across her face as her blush deepened.

She nibbled on her lip for a moment. “Okay.”

Dave sat up and tugged the nearby towel to within her reach.

“Now?”

“As good a time as any.” He kissed her lightly and pushed to his feet. He stretched lazily and settled on a brisk limp across the hot sand into the water. Anger flashed at his ruined gait and his fucked-up leg.

Oh, get over it. You can feel her, and hold her, and no prosthesis can replace that, no matter how mechanically perfect for skiing or running.

He waded in waist deep, dunked under, and splashed up to face her, scrubbing the water from his face. Livie sat where he’d left her, the clutched towel ineffectually covering her breasts.

“Come on in, the water’s great.”

Livie cautiously rose, clutching the towel. One uncertain step forward, and then she dashed over the hot sand, tossed the towel aside at the water’s edge with nervous laughter, and dove into his arms.

Dave sank down, carrying her into the water. Sexy, warm, laughing woman against his wet skin—Perfect.

****

Cool water hit Olivia’s hot skin, and she yelped with laughter. She was skinny-dipping! Had walked—dashed nude into the water. Made-out, outdoors. Her head spun from the firsts today as she floated in Dave’s comfortable embrace.

He winked, his hungry eyes and gentle smile sending her pattering heart into a sprint.

No way to hide but shut her eyes. With an anxious swallow, she deliberately pulled herself closer. Chest to chest. Belly to belly. His hardening shaft caught against her cleft. Her blush rose to steaming, but she couldn’t resist the welcoming arch of her body, her hands tightening on his shoulders, and she sought his mouth. Their bodies brushed in the easy lapping current, the cool, bare skin-to-skin contact tantalizing.

“Ah, Livie,” he murmured against her lips, mouth opening into an urgent kiss, his arousal sliding deliciously, riskily against her center.

Dave was something else. Sweet, sexy, and just that little bit dangerously rough-edged. She’d bawled all over him, yet instead of disgust, he’d given patience and comfort. He teased her, he encouraged her, entranced her, and made her ravenous to discover what else she could learn. With Dave, she might be able to dare anything.

She needed to speak, assure him she knew what she wanted. She opened her eyes and met his gaze. She’d done the right thing for so long, and everything went so wrong. Tangled emotions knotted and throbbed. This should be wrong, but…She’d made mistakes in her life, but whatever came of this, being here with Dave was right and true.

“I want to be here with you. I want you. Show me.”

“Yes.”

Mouths locked and tongues sought. Oh, he’d been holding back earlier. He dragged her close, wrapped her legs lightly around his hips, his hands clasping her rear, her breasts crushed to his chest, and his slow, talented hands and mouth and the slide and press of her cleft to his erection sweetly driving her crazy.

With a husky murmur, he pushed to stand.

Abruptly, they splashed underwater and surfaced spluttering.

“Shit!” Anger and pain twisted his face.

Olivia reached out her hand. “What?” Was he hurt?

Dave roughly shoved to his feet, fuming and dripping, fists to his hips in his uneven stance. “Sorry. Forgot I can’t carry you.”

Livie took the step to bring them face to face. “You okay?” She cupped his cheek, stroking the dripping water away.

Angry heat flared and faded in his golden eyes. He gave a closed-mouth inhale and sharp, dejected shrug. But pain or pique?

“Fine. Just dowsed the old pride again.” Bitterness twisted his smile. “Just got to deal.”

Those chaotic emotions surged one step nearer to something she wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

This time he let her twine their fingers together. She kissed him and, with a gentle tug, led him from the water. Hot sand sent them scrambling and laughing to reach the towel and sparse shade. Dave hugged her close, cheek to cheek, and they simply held one another in the quiet afternoon heat as the air licked the water from her skin and drips from her hair rolled along her back and legs in tickling slides.

Being with Dave was easy from there. His kisses and hers. The touches and caresses, the swaying press of body to body. Stroking the strong details of his back, every muscle defined. If she’d had his body to touch years ago in school, physiology classes would have been a joy. Kissing Dave brought mouth to mouth and life’s breath a whole new meaning.

They sank together onto the blanket inside the sun shelter, his mouth on her breasts, his talented hands driving her senseless, and all she could do was hold on and say, “Yes, oh, yes.”

Still, he took his time. Touch and trace, caress, slide, a sensual overload. Her hands and mouth on him, drinking him in. The taste of salt and cling of sweat. His hands playing her, bringing her body to song, her body drenched and swollen and so ready, trembling to be filled by more than his fingers.

“I want you.” Breathing hard, he waited, his eyes hot amber.

Olivia nodded, keeping the embrace of their eyes. “I need you.” She’d never said truer words. Time to let go of old fears and expectations.

Dave stretched over to his bag and retrieved the condom. He met her eyes as he covered himself, as if seeking her certainty, giving her one last moment for no. The only no she had was for the old bad memories that had no place in her new future. She loved this new feeling scorching her worries into ash, all wild and rushed and ravenous. She raised her hand to his head, stroked her fingers through his hair, and drew him close for a kiss.

He settled between her legs, braced on his elbows, his weight heavy on her and his own tension tangible. He cupped her face, stroking his thumbs over her cheeks. The blunt head of his erection pressed urgently at her center. His bright eyes searched her, tender and determined, asking once more. “Livie, sweetheart…”

“Yes.” Trembling for him in a battle between nervousness and urgency, she tugged him to her, opening to the press of his body.

Seizing her mouth in a possessive kiss, he surged into her body.

Her breath seized on a pained cry. Burn and strain erased bliss. Everything had been so lovely, and she’d hoped, believed because of Dave’s kindness, his attention, being with him would be different…but no, her body still hated this part of lovemaking. He was too large. She’d deliberately forgotten the invasiveness.

However, unlike R.J., Dave immediately paused. “Livie?” His voice was ragged with concern.

Choking on the stinging tears, she flattened her biting fingers over his tense biceps and met his troubled eyes.

He touched his lips to hers. “Breathe with me, sweetheart. It’ll be okay.” Remaining deep within her, he gently shifted his weight. “Trust me.” He kissed her, sweet and soft, drawing her into the gentle rhythm of his breathing. “There you are. So hot, so wet, sweetheart, so perfect. Just breathe.”

Breath by breath, her body unlocked and accepted his intrusion. Breathing together eased to gentle undulations, the burn faded and the rock and press became slide and fill. A restless need seized her. She shifted her hips, wanting more—and he filled her effortlessly, striking an incredible point of pleasure.

She gasped. “There, there, oh, there.”

“Oh, yeah.” He laughed softly. “So good, how’s that for you, sweetheart?”

“Better, much better.” As if his entry had never brought more than a distant tenderness.

His thoughtful eyes fixed deep on hers, he rose higher on his hands, flexing his hips slow and easy. “Good, it’s very good, and going to get better.” His tone held more of a vow than simple male arrogance.

This was working. So much to take in: the utter difference of his body’s merging with hers, the newly-delicious sense of fullness, regrets of the past, hope for the future, every sensual input, Dave’s patient adjustments to his position, increasing his withdrawals and thrusts, depth and speed, calculating what was working for her, for him. Oh, yes, so good. She sighed blissfully, her body rising and meeting his in rhythm. Yes.

Dave’s smile bloomed like a weighty cloud had lifted.

Delight sparked in her, and she recognized the rising sweet heat. Afraid to focus on it or she would lose it, she focused on Dave: his burning whisky-brown eyes, the sweat trickling along his temples, his sharp smile, his body’s caging strength, the beautiful flex of powerful shoulders, arms, and chest, and the play of his hips and ribs under her hands.

The sweet heat flashed, and her body seized in flames around his.

“There you go, sweetheart. Yes!” With his shout, he drove hard once more before he came, his groan as he pulsed within her sheer pleasure.

He sagged into utter relaxation. “You okay?” he mumbled against her shoulder, crushing her to him and stroking his fingers through her hair.

Amazed, exhausted, and pleasantly trapped under his sweaty, heavy body, she dizzily gasped for breath to answer. “Incredible. Wonderful. Thank you. How are you?”

“Fine, when my head stops spinning. Mind if we skip that hike I promised you?” His voice was blurred and deeply contented.

“I’m too melted to even think of hiking.”

He flexed, still thick within her, and her body clenched his, sending new ripples of pleasure. “Oh, yeah, better than fine. Awesome.”

He rolled them to his right side, with a devouring kiss, adding a few last strokes. The new position spurred one more startling rippling aftershock. “Dave!”

Dave chuckled, and then, rather than pulling away or falling asleep as she expected, he snuggled her close, stroking her back.

Olivia shut her eyes, savoring the intimate connection and her body’s throbbing and tingling. When at last he withdrew, losing him filling her felt unexpectedly strange after the awkward, difficult beginning.

****

Dave woke from their nap feeling really good—and complicated. That good feeling raised the challenge of when and how they could do this again and better. As for the complicated mess in his head…no, dwelling on what that involved was too serious. Besides, the long shadows across the sand said it was time to head back. He leaned over and kissed Livie awake.

They tidied and dressed, and Livie snapped a few photos as they packed up. Dave started the boat and swung around for the return to camp, glancing at Livie. She relaxed in the spotter’s seat, half-turned to him, her tired eyes distant, but a smile curved her lips. What was she thinking after this rollercoaster of a day?

All too soon, he was guiding the boat into the shallows of Spider Camp.

“Hey there, have a good day?” Nate grabbed the mooring line.

“Excellent.”

“Lovely.” Livie flushed, turning to him with a shy, conspiratorial smile, before slipping over the side to join Kay on the beach.

Dave dropped their bags and cooler on the bow and hitched himself overboard, wincing. Oh, yeah, the leg and back were unhappy about the new moves today, but he grinned. Damn, he’d been in heaven for a while, more than worth the aches. Livie had taken him there and restored a piece of his life.

He slung the bag over his shoulder. Now, how to handle this thing with Livie around the others? He’d broken his rules again. But…

What if he’d brought Livie here, as the others had brought friends and lovers over the years? How would he handle that scenario?

Yeah, he’d follow Nate’s example and stay in a separate camp. He always teased Nate about his old sailboat, but damn, Nate had the last laugh. A floating bedroom would come in real handy—Not that he’d ever mention that epiphany to Nate.

Livie’s giggles drew his glance. Damn, seeing her smile gave him a warm twist of happiness. Rosy and windblown from the long sunny day on the water, she looked well kissed, well loved.

He wanted her again. Now. He groaned.

A tap on his shoulder dragged him into the present. “Huh?”

“I said, how’d the fishing go?”

“We had fun catching bluegills and tossing them back. Had a picnic, went swimming. Real nice day.” Pleasured Livie on a beach, pushed her to an orgasm that made her cry, swam naked with her, and lost himself in her lovely body so much he’d forgotten his handicap and worries. Nice day? Hell, yeah.

Nate nodded, eyes narrowed. “Okay.”

Dave realized his face was set fierce. He fixed his smile. “I could use a beer. How about you?”

JoAnn, baby Daisy, and Patti sprawled napping on cots in the shade and, judging by the legs sticking out under a towel, Scott was out cold in his beach chair.

As Nate and he headed to the coolers, Ryan and Sam swarmed around him waving their fishing poles, bouncing and tugging at his T-shirt and shorts. “Uncle Dave, Uncle Dave. You’re back! We’ve been playing with Uncle Nate. Come fish with us! We want you to help us catch big fish.”

Dave caught Ryan’s pole before he put an eye out and extracted his descending shorts from Sam’s grip. He sighed and patted Sam on the head. “Okay, say we do this. I’ll get a beer and my chair and meet you by the rock. Hands off the hooks until I get there. Deal?”

“Deal!” The boys ran laughing to the water’s edge, dropped their poles, and raced back.

Nate solemnly patted Dave’s shoulder. “Man, you’re a glutton for punishment, and yes, I’ll gladly hand them off. But, warning, you’re going to need a minimum two beers.”

Ryan and Sam folded and dragged Dave’s chair over. They tussled over who got to carry the worm container. Ryan won and raced to Dave’s chair, Sam hot on his heels, and set the worms on the seat. “Hurry, Uncle Dave!”

Nate grinned. “Good luck. I’ll bring your beer.”

Sam and Ryan grabbed his hands. “All ready. Hurry up!”

“Thanks.” He let the tiny dynamos drag him to his chair.

As Dave demonstrated hooking the worm, the wide-eyed twins bounced on their toes. “Oh, gross! Cool! Worm guts! Worm guts!”

Ryan neatly double hooked his worm, while Sam squinted and bit his lip with a surgeon’s serious concentration as he aligned worm and hook.

“You’re doing good, Sam. What’s the matter?”

“I’m looking for his belly button.”

After a quick lesson on worm anatomy, Sam’s worm was securely hooked. Dave positioned each boy a safe distance apart.

“Ready? One, two, three, go.”

Worms, weights, and bobbers soared and plunked into the water. The boys did their end zone boogies and bounced expectantly on their toes, peering into the shifting clear water. Their bobbers rocked in the gentle current.

“Are they eating it? Did I get one? Hey, if worms don’t have belly buttons how do they get born? How long do I have to wait? Can I check now? How come you went fishing with Miss Olivia and not us? When can I go on your boat? Is Miss Olivia your girlfriend? What do worms eat?” The boys pelted a slew of other questions faster than Dave could answer.

“Whoa, time out! Silent game. Both of you, butts on the ground, holding your poles, and the one who stays quiet until I count to one hundred gets to check his line first.”

Sam locked on a perfect imitation of Patti’s you’re-so-in-trouble stare. “Mama said butt’s a bad word.”

Keeping a straight face without choking on his laughter was tough. “Okay, sorry, your mama’s right. On your bottoms. Both of you on your bottoms.”

The boys plopped to the sand, breaths held, cheeks popping like chipmunks.

Dave chuckled. “Breathing’s allowed. Just no talking, starting now.”

Silence descended. Dave took a long slug of beer, enjoying the boys’ competitive spirit.

Over in the canopy’s shade, Livie, Nate, Kay, and Patti chatted with drinks in hand.

What a day. He couldn’t wait to be with Livie again, and he’d made a huge mistake there, somewhere.

He studied Kay, all cozy with Nate. Be nice if he could talk to Kay about the mess in his head. Might also help if he knew what he wanted to ask. If Nate had always been like a brother, Kay was the sister he’d never had. Friends long before she’d met Nate, Kay and he’d gotten tight over the years, but since she’d married Nate, he felt a door had closed on part of their friendship. A small door, but closed all the same.

Ten years ago, when Lloyd and JoAnn had hooked up and he’d first met Kay, he’d seriously considered breaking his rules. Cute, sexy, and smart, Kay hit all his right buttons, but she’d never hinted she might encourage that rule breaking, and she’d become too good a friend to risk losing her. The heavy crap in both their pasts probably would have doomed a romantic relationship, but instead bonded them as deep friends.

Then she met Nate, the two fell crazy in love overnight, and then took forever to figure out the obvious. There’d been times Dave had been tempted to make an intervention and get Nate to see the light and stop the traveling, but he’d kept his mouth shut, aside from their pissing match last summer.

Kay’s calm commonsense always made talking stuff out easy, and she kept private stuff private. She’d never breathed a word about him showing up uninvited on her doorstep in Tucson the morning after the blowout breakup with Tess, so drunk off his ass the plane flight and taxi delivering him there remained a blank, or what he’d blabbed during that alcohol-fueled fog. He’d learned in truth a friend listens to your troubles, but a really good friend listens while holding your head over the toilet and keeps your secrets. He’d never gotten near that wasted again.

Kay caught him watching, blew him a kiss, and mouthed, “Thank you.”

The bobbers swayed and drifted. Peace reigned.

Dave figured he’d start counting soon.

****

Olivia shook her head. Dave had those two bundles of energy sitting as good as gold and quiet. He lounged, beer in hand, chilled and content.

“It’s real good to see Dave so relaxed.” Nate smiled. “You too.”

Memories flooded Olivia, and she blushed. Her new be-bold motto shivered under a gust of second thoughts, and she took a stalling sip of her vodka and tonic. The happy, sensual memories and lovely, decadent fatigue of her body prevailed. How tender and caring Dave had been. How good he’d made her feel. She refused to regret a single moment of their time together. “We had a great day.”

“I’m glad,” Kay said.

“You’ve known Dave for a while,” she blurted.

Kay nodded. “I’ve known him since JoAnn and Lloyd got together.”

“Lloyd and I’ve been friends with Dave since sixth grade.” Nate grinned. “We met in detention.”

“Detention?” Not what she’d expected.

“Yep. First and only time for Lloyd and me. We got blamed for messing with our teacher’s desk, which we hadn’t, just two naive goofballs in the wrong place, wrong time. We walk in, shaking in our sneakers, and there’s this tough kid scowling at us. A regular in detention, Dave had made himself a rep since the first day of school. I said hi, not knowing what else to do. Dave shook his head, like what are you lame dorks doing here? We lucked out, the music teacher was covering detention, and he was as strict as a marshmallow. Dave filled us in on the detention rules, we got to talking, and it turned out Dave was funny and cool. He walked home, too, and lived two blocks away. Lloyd got Dave laughing and cracking jokes, and I invited him over for a snack. You should have seen his face when Lloyd and I took out our homework without Mom telling us. Mom then handed Dave a slab of apple pie and asked so sweetly if he’d like to do his homework while he ate, too? One bite and he was done for. Mom had his number.” Nate grinned.

“We were fast friends from that day on and, since his parents…ah, worked a lot, he practically lived at our house.” Nate glanced at Kay, as if he’d almost said something else. “A couple weeks later, the principal caught the real pranksters, and our names were cleared. I later heard a rumor that maybe Dave helped things along.” He sipped at his beer. “The rest, as they say, is history.”

Dave chatted with the twins, who sat soaking in every word as he pointed at three peculiar ducks paddling near the boats.

Sam’s bobber jerked under water. He shrieked and yanked his pole. “Get it! Get it!”

The ducks burst skyward in a flurry of alarmed squawks. Ryan joined the bouncing and shrieking, and Daisy added her startled wails.

Dave lunged from the chair and grabbed Sam’s pole, working to keep little fingers on the reel handle. His beer can rolled foaming across the sand. He tried kneeling but folded to the wet sand.

Nate grabbed his camera.

Dave pushed to his feet and finally got Sam following directions, guiding him through reeling in his catch.

Nate was snapping shots, intensely focused in his pro photographer persona. Scott and Patti hovered, adding encouragement and keeping Ryan in check. Olivia and Kay sat back and enjoyed the comedic chaos. JoAnn settled Daisy in her arms and rejoined them.

Sam lifted the rod and raised a large scrappy bluegill clear of the water. He turned to Dave, wide eyed and beaming. “I got a fish! Daddy, Mama, I got a big fish!” He spun to his parents, and the glossy dripping fish flying at the end of his line just missed slapping Dave in the face.

Olivia clapped her hands over her mouth, laughing.

Kay’s laughter rang out. “Oh, this is great!”

Dave caught the line, blocking the flailing fish’s second pass. He ruffled Sam’s sandy brown hair. “Looks like a keeper, but we have to measure him first.”

“Right! Fish rule number four!” Sam high-fived him.

Nate stepped up. “First, let’s get a picture.” He swiftly arranged Sam with the pole and the thrashing fish at Dave’s side. Sam hugged Dave close, face beaming, wide smile missing one tooth.

Nate grinned. “Get ready to smile and say…We…love…worm guts!”

Sam giggled as Nate snapped off several shots.

After handing off the pole and fish to Scott, Sam threw his arms around Dave. “I love you, Uncle Dave.”

As Dave hugged Sam back, Olivia’s heart melted and cracked all the more.