Free Wyatt (Lane Brothers #1) by Kristina Weaver

there, baby?” I hear through the door and my heart starts beating a mile a minute at the thought of him so close and me so…exposed.
    “Er, yeah, I just can’t find anything to fit. It’s indecent.”
                  If I walk out there in this I won’t have to say a word or do a damn thing. This suit is an invitation in and of itself.
    “Stop stalling and get out here.”
    I obey, cracking the door open to look out, and I start drooling like a dog. The man is a fine specimen in a pair of low-riding swim trunks that highlight everything he’s showing and more.
    “Wow,” I breathe, clapping a hand to my mouth and blushing when he chuckles and shoves the door open wider.
    “Holy fucking shit.”
    I guess he likes the suit then.
    My cheeks heat and I do that weird girl thing where I look down and dig my toe into the white marble beneath my feet.
    “It’s too small,” I mutter, bringing my arms up to cover myself and my hard nipples.
    “I disagree, you look freaking phenomenal. But if it’s uncomfortable, you can always take it off,” he purrs, waggling his eyebrows at me.
    That breaks the tension that’s been gripping me, and I giggle.
    “In your dreams.”
    “Night and day, baby. I dream about it night and day. Now stop seducing me and get that butt in the water.”
    This is a big deal as I dip my toe into the water and test the temperature for myself. I only shower at home, and then it’s timed to the second because I’ve had my fair share of water nightmares after Bolton’s bathtub.
    It seems okay, so I take the first step down into the water and pause, letting the sensations wash over my skin.
    “You doing okay, Ellie?”
    “Fine, just adjusting.”
    Lies. I’m trying not to freak out and run screaming from this place like a mad woman. More minutes pass and I move in up to my hips. Still okay, still okay , I keep chanting before taking that last step down that submerges me up to the very tops of my shoulders. To say I’m jittery is an understatement. I want to run, plain and simple.
    Until Wyatt steps in and comes up behind me, wrapping his strong arms around my torso from behind. At his touch, my skin tingles with awareness, but I notice that my muscles liquefy immediately and that panic disappears in the blink of an eye.
    Just like that, I’m not afraid and desperately fighting an internal battle. I’m safe, I know it, and from just one simple touch from him.
    “Good. Now take a deep breath and let’s enjoy this time, Ellie. We’ll have to go home soon enough and face the realities we can’t escape all too soon.”
    That sounds cryptic, but I shrug it off and move forward, letting the water wash it all away so I’m able to enjoy being young and free with a hot guy, who is definitely my college self’s dream hunk.
    We swim around for another half hour or so, splashing and laughing-me trying not to stare holes into his muscular physique-before he calls it quits and whips me out of the water.
    “You’re pruny.”
    “Geez, don’t try to compliment me so much, it’ll give me an ego.”
    “Sarcasm. So witty, Miss Carver.” He laughs, leading me to the loungers and the tall glasses of iced water I didn’t notice before.
    “Okay. Now we talk, yeah?” I say after draining my glass and throwing on the robe he’s provided.
    “Talk. Damn, baby, is this one of those instances where you lull me by being all soft and then wham me with the hard stuff?” he gripes, leaning up on his elbow as I take a seat and fold my legs beneath me.
    “Nope, I’ve decided something, and I want to talk about it before we go any further. I’ve been thinking, and, well, I like you, Wyatt Lane. I like you a lot.”
    “Music to my ears.”
    “Oh hush. Like I was saying, I like you, but I’m not exactly sure where things are going with us. No, don’t interrupt. Just listen. Firstly, you know a lot of stuff about me that I’m not comfortable with you knowing, whether you care about it or not,