Chapter 49

"Actually," she told him, "I was worried about you. I heard you leave the cottage, and then I heard you dive into the water."
"You did? I must be losing my skills."
"Everyone makes a sound when their body hits the water," she reminded him.
"Not everyone," he disagreed. "So, how come you're still here?"
"I was waiting to make sure you got back here safely and hadn't drowned or killed yourself in some other way."
He chuckled, a deep bass sound.
Peyton drew her brows together. "You think that's funny?"
He was still submerged to the middle of his chest, so she didn't even have an idea how deep the water was.
"No." He shook his head, drops of water flying from his hair. "As a matter of fact, I think it's very nice. But you really didn't have to worry. I've been in more dangerous waters than this. A lot more dangerous."
He had? What on earth did he do for a living, anyway?
"Are you a merman or something?" she teased.
"Or something." He grinned, his teeth white in the moonlight. "I'm a Navy SEAL. The two-legged kind," he added, just in case she was dumb enough to think he was actually an animal. "This is like swimming in the backyard pool for me. I've been in places you wouldn't even want to know about."
"Oh." Now she felt really stupid. Like everyone else these days, she knew a lot about the heroic SEALS and the dangerous missions they undertook. She also knew about their rigorous training program and the incredible skills they developed. "Uh, how come I didn't see you swimming back here? You just kind of popped up out of the water."
"I swam underwater."
She knew she was gaping. "Under - Are you kidding me? From way out there?"
He nodded. "In BUD/S - Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs - we learn to swim long distances underwater or just below the surface. I can roll and inhale, and you won't even see me."
She was stunned. "No kidding! And here I thought I knew so much about SEALs." She lifted a shoulder, let it drop. "I'm learning there are a lot of things I know nothing about."
She started to say maybe he could educate her while they were both staying here but, then, she gave herself a big mental pinch. They were splitting the space in this cottage. That was it. They weren't friends. They weren't anything. If she started to get friendly with him, who knew what disaster she'd get herself into again.
While she contemplated the situation, he rose from the water and left her totally speechless. The level of the water only came up to his thighs but it streamed from his ripped body in rivulets. The wet surface only enhanced the outline of his muscular body, his toned build without one ounce of visible extra poundage. He wore swim trunks that reminded her of Speedos, only a little longer. And these were black. Still, when he took a step toward her, there was enough light for her to see the outline of the thick ridge of his cock.
Heat poured through her body again, made her thighs quiver, her inner walls pulse, and her nipples suddenly harden to solid points. Great. Just great. Apparently, her On/Off switch wasn't working any better now than it had been for the past several months.
She scrambled to her feet and took a few steps back. "Sorry. I, uh, clearly made a mistake."
Dix climbed out of the water, so easy for him with one giant step then another. He shook himself again, spraying water in all directions. Peyton backpedaled even more, stumbling a little.
"Easy." He reached out a damp hand to her elbow to steady her.
His hand might have been cold from the water, but it felt as hot as a candle. Electricity surged through her, and the grasshoppers woke up and moved in triple time. Holy mother. She needed to get inside fast.
"Thank you anyway," he said. "For being concerned. But I'm fine. I appreciate you worrying about me, but really, there's no need. I'm fine. I promise not to drown myself in the lake, okay?"
"Okay." Well, didn't she just feel like ten kinds of a fool.
His eyes raked over her, and she swore a corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided grin. "Just a suggestion, but if you plan to come out here in the moonlight again you might want to wear something a little less, uh, flimsy than that T-shirt."
Peyton looked down and felt herself blush to the roots of her hair. She hadn't expected to share living quarters, so she hadn't given a lot of thought to her wardrobe. She was wearing her oldest sleep shirt. When she looked down, she realized how thin it was, how worn after all these years. Her nipples poked at the fabric and stood out like giant gumdrops, and her purple bikini panties might as well not have been covered at all.
"I, ah, I'm - "
She turned and raced toward the cottage, stubbing one toe along the way. She let out a string of swear words, bringing a rumbling laugh from Dix. As soon as she was inside, she ran into her room and slammed the door.
Shit, shit, shit!
Plopping down on her bed, she pulled up her foot and rubbed her big toe. This was never going to work. She could never last a month with this guy, just the two of them in the cottage that suddenly seemed a lot smaller. She might as well have been naked, standing out there. Of course, the same could be said of him. Those tiny swim trunks didn't hide that much. Had he noticed how hard she had to work to avert her eyes from his crotch.
"Crap!"
She fell back on the bed, wondering if it was too late to back out of this deal, get a refund, and find somewhere else.
No! No, no, no. She was not going to be chased out of here. This place had such great memories for her. He could leave. Oh, wait, that wasn't an option.
Shit, shit, shit!