Cabin by the Lake

THERESA

I discover that a thirty-minute drive in another direction takes me to a much bigger town. After a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant, I’m beat. The hot tub took all my energy.

We get to the cabin, and I head directly up to the bathroom to change into my pajamas. The time has come to address sleeping arrangements.

“Mitch, can you come up here please?” I call from the bathroom.

“I’m already here,” I hear him say from behind the door.

I step out just as he takes off the last of his clothes. I freeze in my tracks and can only stare at his gorgeous body. He smiles, then pulls back the sheets and crawls into bed.

“Close your mouth. You’re drooling.” He smirks at me.

“I-I.” My god, I can’t even talk. In my flustered state, I decide to go back to the couch and move toward the stairs.

He stops me before I get there. “Come, sleep with me. This bed is big enough for both of us. No reason for you to be hurting all summer.”

I turn back and ask, “Can you at least put some boxers on?”

“Nope.” He pulls the covers back on my side, asking me with his eyes if I want to get in. “I like to sleep naked.” He wags his eyebrows at me and smiles.

I think about my options and whether I can trust him.

He reads my mind. “I promise, no funny business. Just sleep.”

I scan his face for trickery, then look at the bed. It is a king-sized bed, so I can easily stay away from him, and that couch is incredibly uncomfortable for sleeping. I concede and crawl into it.

He flips the light switch beside the bed, and I feel my panties get damp as I think about his naked body so close to mine.

This is going to be a long summer, are my last thoughts before I fall asleep.

***

The naked nights together also become routine over the next two weeks. While I’m more comfortable with his nakedness, I have yet to join him in it. And not for a lack of his trying or my wanting to.

I wake up with my head on his chest and his arm around me. I jerk away so fast that I wake him.

“You did it, not me,” he says, rolling away from me.

“Oh, sorry.” I move back over to my side of the bed.

“Don’t be. I don’t mind.”

His breathing grows steady and rhythmic, but I cannot fall back asleep, so I get up and take a shower. I decide on a cold shower.

Being that close to him, and touching his naked body this time, is causing an ache between my legs that deepens every day.

I slip two fingers in to try and ease it, but it doesn’t provide the release I seek. Which makes me more frustrated, so I finish washing and get out.

Quietly, I get my clothes and go downstairs to dress, noticing that it’s nearly eleven. I haven’t slept this late in a long time.

I make myself a sandwich and begin eating when he finally comes down, hair still wet from his shower.

“Morning,” he greets me and pulls out a travel mug from the cupboard.

“Afternoon,” I say, motioning to the clock on the stove. “Plans for today?”

He fills his mug with coffee and walks to the door. “Meeting some friends.”

My heart pangs at his brusqueness and abrupt exit. “Have fun,” I say as the door closes.

I decide to get away and go to the lake for the day. I want to relax and work on my tan, not that I really need to. I’m already golden from my six weeks here.

The sun is casting long shadows when I decide to head back and make something for supper. After a quick rinse in the shower, I start the grill and throw on a steak and a potato wrapped in tinfoil.

After eating, I find a bottle of red wine in the pantry, open it, strip off my clothes, and settle in the hot tub. It’s after nine and Mitch still isn’t back, so I turn up the music and pour the last of the bottle into my glass.

“What are you doing?” he says from behind me.

I jump and spill some of my wine into the tub. I whip my head toward him and hide my glass. “Nothing. Enjoying the night.”

He walks to the edge of the tub and picks up the empty bottle. “I see.” He raises his eyebrows.

I look down at the water. “I’ll give you the money to get another one,” I say. But when I look back up at him, his look isn’t scolding. It’s playful.

He smiles at me. “I’m not worried about that. Just didn’t realize you’re a wine drinker.”

I relax in the water and take a sip. “Just started. Needed something to pass the time.”

He gives me a curt nod. “I’m going to watch a movie.” He turns on his heels and walks to the couch.

As I dry off and slip into my cotton shirt and matching shorts, I become aware of how tipsy I am. I leave the glass on the patio, then walk as steadily as possible to the couch. I sit next to him and prepare my mouth to speak without slurring.

“What are we watching?” I say perfectly. Nailed it, I think and smile to myself.

“The People Under the Stairs.” He picks up the remote, and the movie begins.

“Ooo, you’re a scary-movie person.” I chuckle, then hiccup. I immediately clasp my hands over my mouth and look at him.

He laughs. “You’re drunk.”

I smile sheepishly and settle back on the couch. “Maybe. A little.”

I fall asleep in the middle of the movie, and I wake to him carrying me upstairs.

“God, you smell good,” he whispers and kisses me lightly on my head.

My stomach flutters. He must think I’m still asleep, and I want to know what more he’ll say and do if I am, so I pretend to be.

He lays me down, and I roll onto my side, my back facing him. His body heat reaches me as he lies behind me. He traces his fingers lightly down my side, resting his hand on my hip. He squeezes.

“You’re so fucking sexy. I’d love to spend hours worshipping this body.” His breath on my neck sends shivers over my body.

I wiggle my hips like I’m stirring from his words, and he grips my waist and pulls me to him. His erection presses against my back and it makes my butterflies go wild. A zap of electricity travels to the spot between my legs.

His breath hits my neck again when he says, “I bet you taste as good as you smell.” His hand goes to my stomach. “I want to find out.” His fingertips go under the waistband of my shorts. “I’ve been hard since I saw you. I want to fuck you so bad.”

But he doesn’t move his hands lower, and I hear his breathing become steady. He’s fallen asleep.

Damn. I curse my luck but am ultimately happy he didn’t take advantage of the situation further.

I close my eyes and try to ignore the wetness between my legs and the frustration that has grown to a near breaking point. His arm around my waist keeps my head from spinning, and I fall asleep snuggled up to him, praying that soon we can break this tension.