Free Chance of a Lifetime (Anderson Brothers) by Marissa Clarke Page B

trembling. “There’s a small dock. We’ll leave our clothes there.” She followed a few more feet, and he paused. “Three steps and then a ten-by-ten or so wooden dock. Ready?”
    She nodded, trusting him fully, which gave her pause for a moment. She’d vowed she’d never trust him, yet here she was, about to get naked while trespassing. She made the three steps and he steadied her again.
    “You good?” he asked. “We should be quick about this. It would be hard to explain if we got caught.”
    There was a rustling, then the distinct sound of a zipper, then a splash followed by “Holy fuck it’s cold! Hurry up!”
    “Turn around,” she whispered.
    “Are you kidding me?”
    “I can’t see you, so you shouldn’t be allowed to see me. Fair is fair.”
    “It’s dark. I’m fucking freezing my balls off. Get naked and get in here, woman.”
    With quick movements, she kicked off her shoes, peeled off her shirt, and stripped out of her jeans, glad he’d insisted on leaving their coats in the car. Then, still wearing her panties and bra, she took several steps in the direction of his splashes. “Where’s the end?” A completely unexpected panic washed over her, causing her muscles to seize momentarily. Her voice trembled as memories of the night on the dock came back. “I don’t want to fall in the water.”
    “Oh, baby. I’m sorry. You won’t fall. I’m right here.” Vibrations traveled up her legs from where he patted the dock, guiding her to him. “Come to my voice and I’ll stop you before you get to the edge.” There was splashing and several thumps as he climbed out onto the dock. Then he wrapped her in his arms. “I’m right here. I won’t let you fall.”
    “I’m good,” she said, shivering as the water from his body ran down hers. “Is it deep enough to jump?”
    “Yes. And it has a muddy bottom.”
    “On three,” she said, “Just like we used to do off the side of the pool.”
    He took her hand and they stood shivering, side by side. “One, two, three!”
    “Cold” didn’t even come close to describing the water. It stung all over, and she gasped for air like she had all those years ago as familiar terror struck, causing her to flail and kick.
    “I’ve got you,” he said, wrapping her in his arms and pulling her against him. “You’re okay, I’m here.” Her panic subsided, and after a moment, she stopped fighting the water, still shivering. “Not alone. I’m right here with you this time. I’m standing on the bottom holding you and there are no barnacles to cut you.” She relaxed against him and he kissed her ear. “Okay?”
    She nodded, surprised how affected she was by those memories and how quickly he calmed her. He seemed more at ease, too. Maybe it was therapeutic for him, as well. They were facing down a demon together.
    “Now,” he said. “While I’m cold as hell and ready to end this, I have to point out that you are technically doing it wrong.”
    “What?” She snuggled closer to his body for warmth.
    He groaned as their skin made greater contact. “Not that. You’re doing that just right, but this.” He snapped her bra against her back. “You’re technically not skinny-dipping. You have on the equivalent of a swimsuit.” With one deft movement, he unhooked the clasp in the front, slid the strap off one shoulder and then the other. A tightening of his muscles was followed by a wet thwack, most certainly the result of her wet bra hitting the dock. She leaned her head back on his shoulder and he cupped her breasts with his warm hands. “Jesus, Gen,” he whispered in her ear, taking her earlobe between his teeth and her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. She gasped and he groaned, and suddenly, the freezing sting of the water didn’t matter anymore.

    T hey couldn’t stay in the pond much longer. It was uncomfortably cold, and Chance knew he was likely to take things way too far if he didn’t get the hell away from Gen’s curvy,