Under The Surface

It had been the kind of trip that should've made alone time impossible -- a rented cabin packed with friends, shared rooms, too much beer, and too little sleep. Every time Autumn and Ryan had tried to slip away, someone noticed. Someone teased.

But not tonight.

Tonight, the group had finally scattered -- some passed out in hammocks, others still arguing over card games inside -- and for once, no one was paying attention to who was missing. The stars hung low above the dark trees, and the hot tub at the edge of the deck steamed like it was waiting for them. Autumn slipped in first, sinking beneath the water with a low sigh. Her black swimsuit clung to her damp skin, barely there under the surface. Ryan climbed in after her, settling beside her with that usual confident ease -- like the whole world bent around wherever he stood. His thigh brushed hers underwater. Slow. Deliberate.

"We're really alone?" she asked, raising a brow.

He looked at her, heat already simmering in his gaze. "We've got maybe ten minutes before someone notices we're gone."

"Then don't waste them."

That was all it took. Ryan grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his lap, water splashing around them as she straddled him. Their mouths crashed together in a kiss that was anything but gentle -- all heat and hunger and pent-up need. His hands roamed her body like he'd been starved for her, sliding up the back of her thighs, gripping her ass through the waterlogged fabric of her suit. Autumn moaned into his mouth as she ground against him, her fingers threading into his soaked hair, tugging hard enough to make him groan. He kissed her like he was trying to devour her -- tongue deep, lips bruising, hands absolutely everywhere.

"Fuck, I missed this," he growled against her mouth. "Missed having you like this. All over me."

She bit his lip, just hard enough. "Then stop talking and take it."

He growled low in his throat, one hand sliding beneath the back of her suit to palm her bare skin. "You have no idea what that mouth does to me."

"Pretty sure I do."

He kissed her again, dirtier this time -- tongue claiming hers, one hand gripping her hair while the other slid down to cup her between the legs through the thin fabric. She whimpered, grinding down harder against him.

"You've been wet all day, haven't you?" he murmured, lips dragging across her jaw. "Walking around in this little thing, knowing I was watching."

"Maybe," she breathed, hips rocking. "Maybe I wanted you to do something about it."

"Oh, baby," he smirked, "you're about to regret saying that."

He shifted beneath her, reaching behind and twisting the jet control dial all the way to high. The hot tub surged to life, water bubbling violently. Ryan's eyes burned as he looked at her.

"Turn around."

"What?"

He gave her a slow, wicked smile. "Trust me."

She hesitated for half a beat -- then moved. He helped guide her so she was straddling his lap, back to his chest, knees on either side of him. His hand gripped her hips and slowly slid her forward until the jet beneath them lined up perfectly. And then he held her there. The moment the pressure of the stream hit her -- exactly where she needed it -- she gasped, back arching, head falling against his shoulder.

"Oh my god--Ryan--"

"Yeah?" he murmured, voice dark with satisfaction. "Feel that?"

Her hands gripped the edge behind her as the vibration pulsed between her legs, relentless. Water churned around them, hot and wet and wild, but all she could focus on was the way it throbbed against her and the way Ryan's mouth was now dragging across her neck.

"You gonna come for me just like this?" he whispered, kissing the sensitive spot under her ear. "Sitting on a jet like a filthy little tease?"

She whimpered, trying to squirm, but his grip tightened.

"Uh-uh. You stay right there," he said, biting her earlobe. "You take it. You asked for this. You walked around in that suit all day like you didn't know exactly what you were doing."

"I--fuck--I didn't think--"

"You didn't think," he growled, one hand sliding up to palm her breast through the wet fabric, thumb rolling her nipple. "But your body knew. Look at you now. So fucking desperate."

She moaned, thighs trembling as the pressure built, every inch of her overstimulated -- the jet, his voice, his touch. Her head lolled back onto his shoulder.

"Say it," he murmured. "Say you're gonna come for me."

"I'm--oh god--Ryan, I'm--"

"Say it."

"I'm gonna come--fuck, Ryan, don't stop--"

"Good girl," he groaned into her neck, grinding his hips up under her as she shattered in his arms. Her whole body trembled as the orgasm crashed over her, helpless and hot and messy as hell. She didn't even realize she was moaning his name until his lips found hers again, swallowing every sound.

He held her through it, kissing her slow and filthy while the jets bubbled beneath them.

Then he whispered, "You've got about five minutes to recover before I take you inside and fuck you properly."

Autumn was still trembling, chest heaving against the slick press of her swimsuit. Ryan kissed her again-- slow, deep, like he was savoring the taste of her. She slumped back against his chest, boneless, the water still pulsing around them, though the jet beneath her had softened.

"Okay," she whispered, breathless. "Okay, I need a second."

He chuckled low in her ear. "You look wrecked."

"You wrecked me."

"Good."

Before she could respond, the sliding glass door from the cabin creaked open, and voices spilled out into the night.

"Hot tub still going?" Jamie's voice rang out, followed by footsteps and laughter. "Hell yes."

Autumn's eyes went wide. "No. No, no, no--"

"Relax," Ryan said, biting back a grin. "I've got you."

Three, then four more friends came stumbling out toward the deck -- beers in hand, someone carrying a portable speaker. Jamie, Leah, Matt, and Emma all kicked off their shoes and started climbing in like it was any other night. Autumn tried to move off Ryan's lap, but his arm wrapped firmly around her waist, locking her in place.

"Don't even think about it," he murmured against her ear, all low heat. "You're staying right here."

"You're evil."

He kissed her shoulder. "You love it."

"Hey, lovebirds," Jamie teased, settling across from them. "Nice of you two to save the good seats."

Autumn forced a lazy smile, her body still buzzing from everything that had just happened. Ryan's hand, wicked and sure, slid casually beneath the surface of the water -- then lower, beneath the waistband of her swimsuit again. Her breath hitched.

"Don't," she whispered, barely moving her lips.

"No one can see, baby," Ryan murmured smoothly, keeping his face neutral as he pressed a single finger against her, slow and deliberate. "Just me. Just you."

Autumn shifted slightly on his lap, biting her bottom lip hard to stay quiet. Around them, the group chatted easily, clueless. Leah passed around drinks. Matt was trying to fix the Bluetooth. Emma was complaining about mosquito bites. And Ryan was teasing the hell out of her under the water. He stroked her lightly, fingers gliding over still-sensitive skin, not giving her enough to finish -- just enough to keep her right on that maddening edge.

Her nails dug into his thigh beneath the surface. He caught her earlobe with his teeth.

"You're soaking for me again already," he whispered, voice so low only she could hear. "Can't believe how fucking perfect you are."

She barely breathed, barely blinked. She couldn't move. Couldn't speak.

"Gonna sit here and smile," he continued, pressing a lazy kiss behind her ear, "while I finger you in front of all our friends. While you pretend nothing's happening. While you try not to fall apart again."

Her thighs squeezed around his hand involuntarily, the bubbling of the jets covering any movement. His fingers moved slower, firmer, circling right where she needed it -- steady, devastating. She whimpered once, just softly -- and covered it with a cough.

"You okay?" Jamie asked from across the tub.

"She's good," Ryan answered easily, pulling her a little closer into his lap. "Water's just really hot."

Autumn could've killed him. Instead, she just gripped the edge of the hot tub with both hands, her body tense, thighs trembling, trying not to cry out as Ryan's fingers pushed her closer and closer to the edge -- right there, in the middle of everyone. Autumn was shaking in his lap, trying to look normal, trying to breathe, while Ryan's fingers moved with sinful precision beneath the water. No one had a clue. Their friends laughed and talked just feet away, distracted and blissfully unaware. But beneath the bubbling surface, she was completely at his mercy.

"You're so wet for me again," Ryan whispered, his voice a sinful rasp right against her ear. "I can feel you dripping all over my hand."

Her nails dug into the edge of the tub.

"I should stop," he murmured. "Should be good. Should let you come when we're alone. In a bed. But fuck, Autumn..."

His other hand slid to her hip, gripping her tightly, as he shifted just enough to press his growing arousal against her ass. She felt it -- hard, hot, restrained -- and she gasped before she could stop herself.

"Feel that?" he breathed, grinding against her once. "You've got me so fucking hard I can't even think straight."

She bit her bottom lip so hard it hurt, pretending to adjust her hair as her body fought to stay still.

"Do you even know what you're doing to me? Sitting here like this. Dripping. Pulsing. Fucking soaking my fingers while our friends talk about potato salad."

She made a helpless little sound in her throat, and Ryan growled softly against her neck.

"I could take you right now," he whispered, hand sliding lower, fingers teasing her entrance again. "No one would know. They'd sit there and drink their beers while I fucked you under the water."

"Ryan..." she breathed, half a plea, half a dare.

"Tell me to stop," he said.

She didn't. He was still for a second. The tension between them cracked like lightning. Then she felt it -- the careful movement of his fingers pushing her swimsuit aside beneath the water, slow and practiced. And then the quiet shift of his hips as he pulled the waistband of his swim shorts down just far enough. She didn't dare move. Her body was tight with anticipation. And then he slid into her.

Her lips parted around a silent gasp, the stretch deep and perfect. He groaned quietly, biting down on the back of her shoulder to muffle the sound as her heat wrapped around him.

"Fuck," he hissed, voice hoarse, hand gripping her hip to steady them both. "You feel so fucking good. Always so tight for me."

Autumn trembled, the intrusion breathtaking and overwhelming, his cock buried inside her while the surface of the water bubbled and masked every motion. Everyone else was still talking, still laughing. And she was full of him.

His hand snuck around her waist again, fingertips brushing her clit under the water in slow, maddening strokes while he stayed buried deep, unmoving.

"You're gonna stay just like this," he whispered, voice dark and wrecked. "Sitting on my cock while they talk about board games."

She clenched around him unintentionally, and he groaned again, barely audible.

"You do that again, baby, and I swear--" he kissed her neck hard, biting down. "I'll finish right here. I won't be able to stop."

She turned her head just enough to glance at him, her lips brushing his jaw.

"Then don't."

Ryan didn't move at first. He just stayed buried inside her, the heat of her wrapped tight around him, the water swirling around their bodies in a haze of steam and bubbles. The sounds of conversation floated around them -- laughter, splashes, the faint thrum of music from the cabin speakers. The others were all right there, crowded into the hot tub without a clue. Autumn sat still in his lap, facing forward, her back to his chest, heart racing. Her thighs bracketed his hips, barely spread wide enough to straddle him, her core stretched full and aching with every subtle throb of him still inside her. His hands gripped her hips beneath the water -- steady, commanding, like he was holding her still just as much for his own sanity as hers.

She exhaled through her nose, trying to keep her breathing steady.

Ryan bent his head, mouth grazing her temple. "No one knows," he murmured, voice like gravel soaked in honey. "You're stuffed full of my cock and they have no fucking clue."

She almost moaned. Almost. Instead, she swallowed it down, closing her eyes for just a second. He felt too good -- thick and hot inside her, not moving, just there, the pressure of him impossible to ignore. Then his right hand slipped around her front. Fingertips brushed down her stomach, under the surface, moving slow, slow, slow -- until they found her clit again. His thumb rubbed light, deliberate circles, teasing the bundle of nerves until her legs started to tremble.

Her mouth fell open just enough to suck in a sharp breath.

"Don't react," he whispered in her ear, kissing the spot behind it. "You give us away and we'll have to stop. You want that?"

"No," she whispered, her voice so soft he probably felt it more than heard it.

His other hand kept her hips locked in place while he started to move -- barely a shift. Just the slow rock of his hips upward, drawing halfway out and sliding back in with an agonizing press of friction that made her entire body tighten around him.

"Oh god," she breathed, eyes wide now, hands gripping the edge of the hot tub. She looked ahead at nothing, focused on staying still.

Ryan's lips dragged down her neck, grazing her pulse with his teeth as he whispered, "You're so fucking tight right now. You always take me so deep, baby. Feel how hard I am for you?"

She nodded, biting the inside of her cheek.

His thumb sped up just slightly, rubbing wet, perfect circles over her clit while he rocked inside her again -- slow, deep, precise. Her muscles clenched around him involuntarily.

"Just like that," he murmured. "Nice and slow. You're gonna come for me like this, stuffed full, right here in front of all of them."

She whimpered, barely audible, disguising it with a cough. No one looked over. Across the tub, Leah was still chatting with Emma about some awkward beach hookup from the year before. Jamie was scrolling on her phone. Matt was drinking a beer and tuning out. No one noticed that Autumn was shaking in Ryan's lap. That she was flush with heat, with pleasure, with the heavy pulse of orgasm building inside her again.

Ryan kept working her slowly, torturously, dragging her closer with every stroke of his cock, every pass of his fingers. He was barely moving -- just enough. Deep enough. Controlled. And the tension between them was electric.

"You're doing so good," he breathed. "So fucking good. You feel like heaven. You're gonna fall apart for me again, aren't you?"

"Ryan--" she barely said, lips not moving, fingers gripping the edge so tightly her knuckles were white. "I'm close."

"Then give it to me," he said, biting her earlobe gently. "Right here. I want to feel you come while I'm still inside you. You can do that for me, can't you?"

She didn't answer. She couldn't. Because she was already there. Her orgasm rolled through her in slow, crashing waves -- deep and silent. Her body clenched around him hard, fluttering as she came in his lap, face blank but chest heaving with breath she couldn't control. She fought to stay still, to keep her voice locked behind her teeth, to keep her expression neutral -- but her body betrayed her, trembling softly against his. Ryan's groan was low, guttural, dragged from the base of his throat and buried in her skin.

"Fuck. Autumn--" he rasped. "You're perfect. You're so perfect, I can't--"

He was already there too. He pushed in deep -- impossibly deep -- and stilled. She felt it: the warm pulse of him spilling inside her, the sharp intake of his breath, the quiet snarl of restraint in his throat as he held her tight and came. He stayed locked to her for a long moment after, his lips resting against the base of her neck, breath hot against her skin, his hands never loosening. The water churned around them. The world kept spinning. And no one noticed a thing.

After a beat, Autumn turned her head toward him, just enough to whisper, "You're lucky I love you."

Ryan's grin was slow and wrecked. "I know," he said, nipping her jaw. "And I'm still not done with you."

The water lapped gently at the sides of the tub. The conversation around them rolled on -- someone had passed around another round of drinks, a new story was starting, and the music inside had shifted to something slower.

But Autumn barely heard any of it. She was still sitting in Ryan's lap, his arms wrapped loosely around her waist, her body slack against his chest -- every inch of her still trembling in the aftermath. And he was still inside her. He hadn't pulled out. Hadn't even tried. His cock remained buried deep, the thick, impossible fullness of him still pressing exactly where she was most sensitive. He hadn't moved since he came, but she could feel the pulse of him there, the occasional twitch that made her breath catch. Neither of them spoke.

He just kept his mouth close to her ear, breathing steady and low, his thumbs stroking slow circles against her hips as if to soothe her... or himself. She shifted slightly in his lap. He was still hardening. She could feel it -- the unmistakable stretch beginning again as his cock thickened inside her, slow and relentless, his body responding to hers like it never got enough. Her stomach tightened as her inner walls clenched around him instinctively.

His breath hitched, low and sharp against her ear.

"Careful," he muttered, voice hoarse. "Do that again and I'll lose it."

"You already lost it," she whispered back, barely moving her lips. "You're still inside me."

"I refuse to pull out," he said, like it was a promise. "You feel too good. I want to stay like this forever."

Her pulse fluttered. She tried to sit still, to look casual, but her body betrayed her -- slick and still sensitive, her muscles tightening in response to every twitch of him. He was swelling steadily now, growing harder inside her, the pressure building with every passing second.

She bit her lip and shifted again, this time not even thinking. Ryan's grip on her hips tightened. He rocked up into her once -- barely a movement, just a slow, shallow slide -- but it was enough to make her eyes flutter shut.

"Don't," she whispered, desperate. "They're still here."

"Exactly," he murmured, a smirk in his voice. "And you're still dripping on my cock like you want me to take you again."

"Ryan--"

"I could, you know," he whispered. "Slide in just a little deeper. Rock into you until you're squirming on my lap, trying to stay quiet while they all watch. You'd love that."

"Stop talking."

He chuckled under his breath, but he didn't move again. He just stayed there, throbbing against her walls, harder by the second, every inch of him twitching with restraint. She swallowed. Tried to breathe. Another few minutes passed. Matt stood up and stretched, mumbling something about grabbing another beer. Emma yawned and slid over to rest her head on Leah's shoulder. The conversations were fading -- quieter, sleepier. The group had started to unravel. But not them. Autumn could feel every heartbeat of him, every subtle push of pressure growing inside her. She was still clenching around him without meaning to, her body reacting instinctively -- her core slick, oversensitive, aching for more.

Finally, Ryan leaned in and muttered low, "I can't sit here like this anymore."

"Me either," she whispered, voice tight with need.

He nipped her earlobe. "Say the word."

She didn't hesitate.

"We're heading to bed."

She said it loud enough for everyone to hear, forcing her voice to sound casual. She shifted slightly, pulling the straps of her suit up like she was just getting out of the tub. Ryan's hands slid from her waist, disappearing under the water to fix himself -- but not entirely. He was still half-hard, eyes dark and hungry.

Jamie raised an eyebrow. "Together?"

Ryan just smirked and kissed Autumn's shoulder in full view. "Yeah. She gets cold easily."

Autumn rolled her eyes, cheeks flushed, and stood carefully -- still feeling the aftershocks of everything they'd just done, and the tension of everything still to come. Her legs wobbled slightly. Ryan stood too, slower, his gaze never leaving her. He didn't even try to hide the way he looked at her -- like he was going to devour her the second the door shut behind them. And she knew he would.

*******

The cabin door clicked shut behind them. Autumn hadn't even turned around before Ryan was on her -- his hands on her hips, his mouth at her neck, breath hot and wild against her skin like he'd been holding it in for too long.

"You've been clenching around me for thirty goddamn minutes," he growled, voice low, wrecked. "You have any idea what that did to me?"

She barely had time to respond before he spun her around and pinned her to the wall -- not rough, but firm, like he couldn't keep his hands off her for another second. His mouth found hers, all tongue and heat and desperation. She moaned into it, arms flying around his neck, fingers diving into his damp hair as their bodies pressed together.

"You didn't have to stay inside me the whole time," she panted against his mouth.

"You think I could let go of that pussy after you came on me like that?" His hand slid down the front of her swimsuit, two fingers slipping between her folds without preamble. "Still soaked for me. Still open for me."

Her head hit the wall with a soft thud, her thighs parting instinctively. He didn't stop kissing her. Didn't stop moving. One hand held her hip in place while the other stroked over her clit, slow and purposeful, teasing her back to the edge already.

"Fuck," she whimpered. "Ryan--"

He dragged his mouth to her ear. "You gonna make it to the bedroom, or do I bend you over the kitchen table?"

She gasped.

He grinned. "That's what I thought."

But even as he said it, he was backing her down the hall -- step by step, kissing her the whole way, hands exploring every inch he could touch. Her legs barely worked. The floor creaked beneath them, the house silent now except for their breathing, her whimper, his growl.

By the time they hit the doorframe, Ryan had pushed the strap of her swimsuit down and his mouth was on her breast -- tongue circling her nipple, sucking just hard enough to make her knees buckle. She clawed at the doorknob, half-blind, the wood cool against her back as he pressed her into it. Then they stumbled through the open door, mouths crashing together again like they were starved. They barely made it to the bed. She turned her back to him, hips swaying as she walked across the room, giving him a look over her shoulder that made him snarl.

"Tease," he muttered, yanking his swim shorts the rest of the way off.

She slipped her suit down her hips, let it pool on the floor, and knelt on the edge of the bed -- looking back at him with those wide, taunting eyes. He was on her in seconds. Hands on her waist, he dragged her to the center of the bed, spread her thighs, and pushed into her with one deep, rough thrust. She cried out, not even bothering to stay quiet this time. The others were too far away now, and she didn't care. Not when he was back inside her, stretching her open again, slow and thick and perfect.

"Finally," he breathed. "Fucking finally."

She buried her face in the pillow as he set a rhythm -- harder now, faster, all the restraint gone. His hands were everywhere. Her hips, her waist, her shoulders. He bent over her back, his chest slick against her skin, his mouth at her ear.

"You love this, don't you?" he whispered. "Sneaking around. Letting me use you right there in front of them. You were dripping on me the whole time."

"Ryan," she moaned, shoving back against him.

He grabbed her wrist and pinned it to the bed, his other hand reaching around to rub her clit again.

"You gonna come again for me, baby?" he asked, breath heavy. "Gonna squeeze my cock and let me fill you up a second time?"

She was already so close. Her body tensed, legs shaking, every nerve on fire. The way he was talking, the pressure, the heat -- it was too much. She was unraveling again, falling apart beneath him.

"Fuck--Ryan--I'm coming--"

He groaned and drove into her hard as she pulsed around him, soaking him all over again, the aftershocks crashing through her as she shook beneath him. He wasn't far behind -- three more thrusts and he was right there with her, burying himself deep and spilling inside her with a growl torn straight from his chest. He didn't move for a long moment. Just stayed there, wrapped around her, breathing hard, his forehead pressed to her shoulder.

"... Worth every second of waiting," he finally muttered.

She laughed breathlessly into the sheets. "Let's go on group trips more often."

The room was quiet now. The sheets were twisted, pillows everywhere, Autumn still sprawled on her stomach, body boneless and flushed, a lazy smile tugging at her lips. Ryan pressed a final kiss to the small of her back and groaned as he rolled off her, flopping onto his back with a satisfied sigh.

"... You're leaking," he murmured after a beat.

She cracked one eye open, face half in the pillow. "So are you."

He laughed, deep and warm. "C'mon, let's shower."

She grumbled in protest, but when he stood and offered his hand, she let him pull her to her feet. Her legs wobbled a little and he caught her with a smirk, steadying her.

"Can't walk straight, huh?"

"Shut up," she muttered, clinging to him.

He kissed her temple. "I love you like this."

The bathroom light was soft and low, casting a golden glow across the tiles. The room filled with steam as the water ran hot. Ryan stepped in first, holding his hand out again -- and the second she joined him, he pulled her straight under the spray, wrapping his arms around her slick, naked body. She melted into him.

The heat of the water poured over their shoulders, the sound drowning everything else out. Ryan ducked his head, pressing a kiss to her collarbone, then her throat, then lower. Slow. Reverent. Autumn sighed, sliding her fingers into his wet hair.

"I still can't believe we did that," she whispered, chest pressed to his.

He gave a low, sinful laugh. "You mean fucked in front of our friends without getting caught?"

Her eyes rolled, but her cheeks flushed. "You're unbelievable."

"Unbelievably hard again, yeah," he murmured, pressing against her so she could feel exactly that -- thick and rising, his cock rubbing slowly between her thighs under the warm spray.

Her lips parted on a breathless moan.

"We shouldn't..."

"I know."

Neither of them moved. His hands skimmed down her back, cupped her ass, pulled her closer. She gasped as her back hit the wall, the tile cool against her skin, water beating against her shoulder while he kissed her like he meant to drink her in. He didn't rush. This wasn't the hot tub. This wasn't frantic or wild. This was slow.

He kissed her deeply -- tongue sliding against hers, one hand cradling her jaw, the other stroking down her side. When his fingers slipped between her legs again, it was with maddening patience, tracing lazy circles that made her arch into him, her body already aching for more.

"Ryan..." she breathed, hips rolling toward his hand.

He kept kissing her, one soft kiss after another, each one deeper than the last. "Tell me if you want me to stop."

"Don't you dare stop."

That was all it took. He lifted her easily, gripping the back of her thigh and guiding her leg around his waist. With a slow, fluid roll of his hips, he slid back inside her -- deep and full and so goddamn gentle. They both groaned. She clung to him, arms looped around his neck as he began to move -- not hard, not fast. Just long, aching strokes, his body pressed flush to hers, the slick slide of skin-on-skin sending goosebumps down her arms.

"I love this," he whispered, lips brushing her ear. "Feeling every inch of you. So slow. So deep."

She couldn't even respond. Her forehead rested against his, eyes fluttering closed, mouth falling open in a soft gasp every time he rocked into her. Her leg tightened around his waist, pulling him impossibly closer.

"You feel it too, don't you?" he asked, breathless. "How perfect this is? How tight you are for me?"

"God--Ryan..."

His hands cradled her, holding her steady, his movements unhurried. The warm water cascaded down her back, and the only sounds were their quiet moans, soft gasps, skin meeting skin in a rhythm that felt like it could go on forever. Her muscles fluttered around him again, the build-up slow but intense, a wave gathering strength with every thrust.

"I'm close," she whispered, mouth at his shoulder.

"I've got you, baby," he murmured. "Come on. Let go for me."

With one more deep grind, he rolled his hips just right, and her whole body tensed around him -- a soft cry escaping her lips as she came again, slower this time, but no less consuming. He followed with a groan, his arms tightening around her as he buried himself deep and spilled into her again -- this time with a whisper of her name, like it was sacred. They stayed like that for a while. Pressed together. Breathing in sync. Letting the water wash away everything except the weight of each other.

Finally, Ryan tilted her chin and kissed her. Slow. Loving.

"Now that's how you end a night," he said softly.

She smiled, brushing her nose against his. "You're gonna kill me one of these trips."

"Then I'll make sure I go with you."