Butterflies in Honey (Growing Pains #3)(14)

Finally, Sean called for her to get her lazy ass up. She complied, but slowly. Stuff hurt.

Sean paused next to her. “You okay?”

“No. I am not a fan of this cursed beach. Not only is it way too much work for a little enjoyment, but it is too damn cold!”

“Does that mean you’re done surfing out here?”

“Oh no. This beach isn’t going to beat me. But I’m going to hate every minute of it.”

“Atta girl. Wanna do our routine?”

Krista got a jolt of pleasure that quickly died as her body screamed. “No way. I want to go back to the hotel and get in the Jacuzzi.”

“Hmmm.” Sean sounded like that idea was a big ice cream sundae. Krista’s body jolted again, but he didn’t say anything more.

At his house, he hosed Krista off and then himself. Krista started to take off her wetsuit but got frustrated almost immediately. It was wet, tight, clingy, and she was freezing. She put her arms out and said, “Help.”

Sean had his wetsuit half way off already. He saw her position and smiled. “Yes ma’am. Give me a minute.”

He disappeared into his garage and came out in his shorts. His body was slick and cut. A thousand memories went through Krista’s head of the times she felt him and laid her body on him. The pain shocked through her. She closed her eyes against it, trying to block out the sight of him.

As the back of the suit was opened, Sean hesitated. “Krista, I don’t think I can do this. I’ll get Cassie.”

“Wait, what? Why? What happened?”

“I don’t know if your bathing suit survived intact.”

“Oh. Can you just get me started and I’ll do damage control?”

“I…” Krista heard a sigh somewhere behind her. “Okay.”

The zipper was brought down the rest of the way. She felt his fingers skim her bare skin, relishing the feeling.

“Let’s go into the…house so you don’t flash the whole neighborhood,” Sean said quietly.

Krista’s feet were burning they were so cold. She wanted to be warm immediately. Surfing at that damn beach was for ninjas only!

They made it into the surf room, which was sandy and had drops of water from Sean’s change a minute ago. Once again, Sean started to take off the suit, little by little, trying not to touch her skin—trying to keep everything civilized and under control.

He circled her, his face wary, probably wishing the room was slightly bigger, and stood face-to-face with her. He pulled down the top slowly, getting both arms out, inching it down to her waist. In a daze, Krista saw his eyes feast on her bare chest, hunger flashing. A hand came up, slowly, not under his control, reaching for a breast. Krista’s ni**les, already constricted, tingled in anticipation, her body refusing to move to stop him.

Suddenly he jerked, blinked, and ripped his hand back down. “Damage control, Krista. Put your top on. Or a top on.” His voice was hoarse.

With a desire for which she couldn’t remember its equal, she wanted the feel of him, skin on skin; wrapped up in his body. She closed her eyes. A large part of her didn’t want to do that to Chet. It was sleazy and not fair—something she abhorred in others. Jim had cheated on her constantly, and she remembered the pain of that. She did not want to do that to another. But another part, one that worried her excessively, was more concerned about not scaring Sean away. That part realized he was trying to do the right thing, and policing himself when it should be her policing him.

That part of her terrified her—because of the woman she might nearly slip into being, and for how ardently she wanted Sean, after all this time, from a place in her heart and soul that she’d never accessed with Chet, or anyone else.

A doomsday cloud hanging over her head, Krista fished in her wetsuit for her bikini top and hastily tied it on. Everything covered up, she said, “Kay.”

Sean glanced back down, and kept going. Until it turned out her bottoms went down with the ship.

“Nope,” Sean said tightly. He stood up and walked out of the room.

Krista stood blinking and cold as he walked away. She should be embarrassed. Normal people would be humiliated. Instead, she was sad. The Sean she used to know wouldn’t have run away. He would have made a funny quip, sneaked a peak, and let her fix it. Then he would have finished up.

Krista fished out her bottoms and started to wrestle the pants down. Cassie came in, saw her, and started laughing. “Scared away the womanizer with some woman flesh, huh?”

“It’s not like he hasn’t seen it before.”

“Yeah. He’s a bit squeamish in his old age. Don’t let that put you off. Here—“ Cassie bent down and helped her get the bottoms off. “The trick is patience. Yanking and pulling just gets you aggravated. So anyway, where do you want to go shopping?”

Krista’s teeth were chattering. “Cassie, I love you, but I am freezing. Out of the way.”

Krista pushed past a laughing Cassie and ran for her sweatshirt. Sean glanced up as she came into the living room, and then headed for the kitchen.

“I made breakfast,” Cassie declared, coming in behind her. “Cheerios or Corn Flakes?”

“I’m going to get going. Cassie, where can I meet you?”

“Oh. Are you sure? Don’t worry about Sean—he just has a million work things going on all the time. He’s no fun anymore.”