Deep Diving (16 page)

‘Are you joining me?’ My hand is still clasped with his so I give it a tug.

Cooper slides in behind me, legs around mine, arms circling my waist. I lean against the solid wall of his chest, making his shoulder my pillow. He nips my earlobe. A sharp sting of pleasure.

‘I don’t think I can explain how good that was. I’ve never experienced anything that hot,’ he whispers against my ear. His hands slip and slide against me in a soothing manner, and I’m so sated that all I feel is relaxed.

‘Hmmm.’ I’d like to make a quip but my brain isn’t up to it. Something about all our sex being hot, but I can’t think how to word it. I’m not sure I can summon the energy to laugh, or even chuckle. You can’t quip without at least a smile.

‘Are you all done in, Sammy?’

I nod.

‘You relax in the bubbles. I’ll stop you drowning.’ I know he smiles from the lifting of his cheek and the tensing of his hands. My body softens as I lean against him. I’m probably heavy but I’m too tired to worry.

We lie in silence, an easy companionable quiet. I drift off, held firmly on the muscle-pillow of Cooper.

When his foot moves and the resulting swirl of water brings goosebumps to my flesh, we stir. I squirm against the cold. A yawn escapes. I’m propelled to move. ‘I have to get out, Coop, sorry but I’m cold.’ Turning my head, he looks as sated and relaxed as I feel.

He presses a kiss to my lips. ‘Dinner’ll be here soon.’ My raised eyebrows prompt his explanation. ‘I asked them to bring it in an hour.’

It seems my earlier concerns were rubbish. He wasn’t worried about the anal sex, just busy planning a bubbly seduction. I’m glad I didn’t go for the pushy conversation. Maybe I don’t suck at relationships, after all.

***

The morning light filters through the curtains, waking me. Last night we went from action to emotion. I’ve always been more comfortable with action, but with Cooper, it’s different. Waking with him wrapped around me is no hardship, and today it brings extra surges of happiness, contentment and longing.

I’ve shared all I am and all that I have inside with him, and he’s still here. The relationship problems I’ve had in the past don’t exist with him, or the things that bothered others, don’t bother him. He gives me hope. Hope that we could have a happy ever after with kids. But there’s football. And I’m 38. It’s all wrong.

Our timing sucks. If I wait for him to be ready, I’ll be too old. But could I have a child without him?

I breathe slowly as a tiny ripple of nausea passes over me. Yesterday was full-blown panic. Today, just nausea. Maybe I’m improving and the clock won’t tick out.

I stretch, slowly moving parts of my body away from his. It’s akin to prying metal from a strong magnet. He stirs.

‘Morning.’ His smile is a deep and wondrous welcome. An invitation to the day. A gift of warmth and light.

‘Hey. How did you sleep?’

‘Like I’d died and gone to heaven. You?’

‘Way too much.’ I laugh before shaking my head. ‘I feel stupid, Coop. I had you in the most divine bubble bath and I fell asleep on you. Then slept all night. I don’t know where my stamina went.’

He lifts himself up on one elbow, his gaze intense, serious. It threatens my equilibrium.

‘Sam, if you wanted anything to happen in those bubbles, you would’ve needed another bloke. The sex last night was so good I’ve not woken up raring to go for once. In case you hadn’t noticed.’

Heat suffuses across my cheeks. I hadn’t noticed. I hadn’t thought about more sex yet, either.

‘We don’t have a dive until this afternoon. If you’re tired, we could cancel.’

I squeeze his hand and shake my head. ‘No. I’m not
that
tired. More sated than tired. So what will we do today?’

The hours disappear as we snorkel, swim, hike hills, take photos, talk, laugh and dive. As the sun is setting and we’re walking back towards town, Cooper stops. I spin towards him, looking to see what’s up. I know what he’s thinking. We’re in sync.

With gazes still in contact, we step closer together, our hands meet, fingers entwine. His eyes darken. Lips soften and bend upwards. His body bends slightly towards mine. His lips hover so close I could kiss them if I stretched but his breath touches my parted lips and I hesitate.

‘I should shower before dinner.’ His voice is husky and rich. ‘And since you
need
to eat chowder…’ He grins as he throws my words back at me. Heat pools between my thighs. I wish I hadn’t been quite so adamant. My lips tingle, wanting to smile, wanting a kiss.

‘I’ll meet you there,’ he says.

I’m trapped in the intensity of his gaze, the curl of his body towards mine, the deep timbre of his voice, and the thought of him showering. I should be used to him, used to this feeling, but it still rocks me. Still drowns me. Still has my heart thumping, stomach knotting, and moisture pooling south.

His free hand curls around my cheek, turning my face and tilting it upwards. He holds my cheek cupped in his palm, then he takes my bottom lip between his.

It’s when he sucks on my lip, nestling it between his own, rubbing and exploring with the tip of his tongue, that’s when I fall into him. When I moan. When I writhe against his body. That’s when I know I am a woman in lust.

I’m just terrified it’s the more fatal version, called love.

Before I make a complete spectacle, he releases my lip, sweeps across it with the flat of his tongue and winks.

‘See you in 40 minutes at the chowder place?’ The lift of his voice and eyebrow tells me he’s checking it with me and so I nod, hopelessly incapable of anything more strenuous.

He jogs away and I watch. Lord almighty. His butt gets better each time I look at it. Tighter, more deliciously plump, swinging that rhythm of sex. And his legs. Yum. Thighs straining, hamstrings tight, calves bunched, tapered ankles. A T-shirt covers the muscles of his back but as his arms pump, his shoulders swing, biceps curl, forearms vein up, hands clench.

I can’t believe I’ve been able to spend every moment with this hunk. I can’t believe I’ve wanted to spend every moment with him.

I shake myself, physically and mentally. I have a dinner to prepare for.

After a shower, I apply lavish amounts of jojoba oil, the perfect moisturiser, all over. I walk through a mist of perfume. I swipe on mascara that I forgot I’d brought, and a touch of coral lipstick. I dig out white lace underwear and slip into a sky blue and yellow sundress. A shell necklace, strappy sandals and I’m set, with five minutes to spare.

When I get across the road, Cooper is three steps away and my breath stops at the same moment his feet do. Tan chinos, white shirt, hair wet but spiked up, wide grin. He’s stunning.

A wolf-whistle splits the air.

But it’s not my whistle.

‘You look amazing, Sam.’ The words come as he steps towards me and sweeps me into a hug.

But my hand on his chest stops him.

‘Did you just wolf-whistle?’

That stomach-flipping, knee-shaking grin does its thing. Damn, I’m hopeless. I should be immune to it.

‘Indeed I did.’

A frown burrows into my forehead. ‘
You
made a crass, rude wolf-whistle?’

He laughs. ‘I learned from this sexy smart chick that sometimes it’s more effective than words.’ He grins and when I return the gesture, he sweeps in for a kiss. A quick one, thankfully. A mere brush of lips.

‘I’m starving,’ he says as he pulls away.

Hands wrapped together, bodies close, both laughing, we enter the restaurant. The waitress does a double-take upon seeing Cooper. The same waitress as before. Inwardly I roll my eyes.
Here we go again
.

She takes us to a table secreted in the corner of the restaurant where only a little candlelight and shadows disturb the privacy. We order two bowls of chowder right away; we don’t need the menu.

‘Enjoy your night,’ she says politely to both of us.

Cooper rearranges the seating so he’s closer, right beside me. He pours my water and hands me bread, keeping his thigh tightly pressed to mine. He eats with one hand so he can curl his fingers around my hand on the table. Inside I’m melting at the sweetness, secretly gloating at the public display of affection. I sip my water to hide my grin before Cooper can comment on it.

The waitress arrives with two steaming bowls of chowder. Carefully, she lays mine on the table before me, then with the same proficiency, places Cooper’s down. After wishing us a good meal, and shooting the briefest dirty glance at me, she leaves. I guess a jealous look is better than my dinner landing in my lap. Inwardly I’m joyously grinning for me, and feeling the teeniest, tiniest bit of sympathy for the waitress. Cooper is everything she could possibly imagine.

Cooper leans over and presses a kiss to my mouth. A hard, passionate kiss that promises much but lasts only seconds. Grinning at each other, we dig into the chowder. Smooth broth. Sweet vegetables. Succulent seafood. A hint of salt with the thickness. Delicious.

And all the while a warm thigh rests against mine. A solid arm brushes mine. A smile is bestowed when I murmur my appreciation for the food, for Cooper allowing me to eat. A kiss is given when I break for bread. The evening is magical.

I’m eating the most divine chowder in the world, with the most divine man as my companion. I look up and we’re alone. No waitress watching us eat. I smirk. The waitress knows now she has no chance with him.

My spoon rattles against the edge of the bowl when it drops suddenly from lifeless fingers.

‘Sam?’

I jump as if guilty of something. And I am. I’m guilty of extra juicy thoughts taking me into the magical land of love, not lust.

‘Sorry, just a runaway thought shocked me.’ I laugh to cover my surprise at saying too much.

‘What runaway thought?’

I shake my head but Cooper nudges me. He’s laughing, joking with me. He probably thinks my mind is still in the bedroom; he has no idea I’ve wandered much, much further. I give a bit of a chuckle.

‘Look at us.’ I wave my hand at our closeness, the thigh contact, our bodies. ‘When did we become a couple?’ My question’s asked with a laugh but I can hear the quiet hysteria that lies beneath. Are we a couple or am I delusional?

Cooper raises a brow but returns to his eating, still attached to me. ‘Sometime between our last trip here and now.’ He captures my look and grins. ‘I think I might have asked for more than just a dive buddy. So it’s all my fault.’ His grin and chuckle send shivers along my spine. I remember. I’m a fuck buddy. Back to Lustland. It’s not a difficult place to be.

I splutter as I shake my head, not in negative denial, but in an oh-I-can’t-believe-you-said-that way. Then I watch him eat. I need the distraction to go back to Lustland. His lips part, the spoon slips in, he tastes, sucks, his lips close around the shiny metal. He opens his mouth and removes the spoon. His tongue flicks out to clean a drop of thick milky sauce. His eyes half-close as he chews then swallows. A tensing of his jaw, the dip of his Adam’s apple. Another sweep across his lips with his tongue. Shudders run across my shoulder blades, causing me to squirm.

‘Do I have something on my face?’ His fingers touch his cheek, his lips.

I shake my head. ‘Just thinking about dessert.’ I grin suggestively.

‘Thank God for that,’ he mutters as he goes back to eating. I snort as I hold in a big laugh and turn my attention back to the chowder.

When I’ve scraped my bowl clean, Cooper’s looking at me. ‘Sure you got it all?’ he asks. I smack his shoulder lightly so I don’t hurt my hand but he still gets the message that he’s a smart arse.

He leans close to me. I’m expecting a kiss but his lips move to my ear. ‘What did you have in mind for dessert?’

My lips twitch as I run through the responses I could give.

‘It’s me you want, isn’t it?’ His voice is soft but I know he’s laughing, teasing me. I nod. He flicks his tongue against the edge of my earlobe and I hold back a groan.

The waitress makes a throat-clearing noise as she comes to the table. ‘I hope you enjoyed your meal,’ she says as she clears the bowls. ‘Can I get you anything else?’

‘Just the bill, thanks.’ I’m so together I shock myself. My voice sounds normal even with Cooper’s mouth burrowing against my ear. I swat at his thigh playfully but he just tucks my fingers between his legs, murmuring in my ear about where he’d like my hand.

Laughing, I pull away from him and grab my purse to pay the bill.

‘Where are you running to, Sam?’

‘I’m paying, so I can get you somewhere private before we’re arrested.’ My answer’s a hissed whisper but the muffled cough behind me indicates that at least the waitress heard, if not the rest of the restaurant.

I bite my lips together as I pay for our meal. It shouldn’t be this funny. I should be more mature. Overtly passionate displays of affection are not something I like to see while I eat. I can’t understand why I’ve found it so much fun as a participant when it’s off-putting as a spectator.

A chuckle ripples up from inside.
Get a load of yourself. You’re a fool
. As a spectator it’s no damn fun — all watching, wishing, and no joining in. As a participant… I look over at Cooper… Lord, as a participant it’s the best fun you can have.

Biting down my laughter, I nudge my chin towards the door. When I see Cooper stand up to walk out, I walk quickly outside, the laughter bursting from me as soon as I’m out the door.

‘What’s so funny?’

‘Us. Look at us. We’re like teenagers who can’t keep their hands off one another.’ I’m still laughing, choking the words out between snorts.

‘And that’s bad?’

I laugh again, tripping over my feet as I walk away from the restaurant and head towards the beach. I don’t even ask if that’s where we’re going. ‘It’s just that I hate public displays of affection and here I am doing it. I don’t know what’s happened to me.’

‘Me.’ And he’s gloating. One word says so very much and heats me to the core.

How we make it to the beach I’ll never know. When you’re wrapped around each other snogging, there is no way you should be able to negotiate walking too. Since we’ve been together all day every day, walking or running or swimming, I guess that’s got our bodies in tune and our strides have matched to some degree.