Free Across the Ocean by Heather Sosbee Page B

;)
    salemsme: Emilia DID tell me about your “magic fingers”, and how well they could please a lady. Too bad I live so far away and will probably never get the chance to experience them.
    marxist: A guy can dream, can’t he? Do you have any idea of the things I want to do to you?
    salemsme: You’re always welcome to explicitly explain exactly what you are imagining.
    marxist: I was just thinking of what I would do to you in the hot pools….
     
    ******
     
    Present Time
     
    My eyes slowly open. They’re heavy from being so comfortable and toasty. I’m not sure how long we’ve been in here. I risk taking a peek at Ari while Lára is having an animated discussion with Gunnar, Helgi, and Baldvin. A lightning bolt of shock runs down my insides when our eyes suddenly lock. I can’t look away.
    I can hear the swoosh of blood flowing through my ears and my heartbeat picks up speed. Moments of eye contact between the two of us have been so few and far between that I am unprepared for my own physical reaction.
    I can feel the pinch of my nipples as they harden and I watch as Ari’s eyes drag like a caress down my neck and chest to rest on my nipples. Goose bumps break out over my skin, even though I’m almost completely immersed in hot water, with my breasts floating above the surface like buoys. His eyes seem to heat up, and he meets my eyes again with such intensity.
    A foot is brushing against mine under the water, and I look over to see Gunnar looking at me with a little smirk on his face. I ’m guessing he can see my nipples too. Eat your heart out Gunnar, and enjoy the show . I don’t even care .
    I think I ’m starting to turn into jelly. The heat of the water has seeped into my bones. My skin is burning up all over, and I can feel some sweat forming on the back of my neck.
    “Phew, it ’s getting really toasty. How do you all keep from turning into soup?” Sitting up, I fan my face and neck with my hand. My skin is turning pink, and I might be getting too hot.
    “We ’re used to it, since we’re Icelandic men,” jokes Gunnar while wagging his eyebrows at me. Gosh, he’s charming. Take off those damn sunglasses!
    “Yeah, Vikings can handle the heat,” Baldvin adds.
    “I’m going to jump in the shower. I’m turning into a prune. What about you guys?”
    Lára suddenly stands up and water sloshes down her body as she steps out of the pool. She walks carefully (it’s slippery!) over to the door that I didn’t realize housed a shower.
    The guys all shrug and nod in agreement. Gunnar, Helgi and Baldvin climb out of the hot pools and head into the men ’s dressing room. Realizing that it’s just Ari and I left, I waste no time in checking him out thoroughly, now that I have a chance. I’m not disappointed.
    Wearing a pair of navy blue swim trunks that end a smidge above his knees, he ’s just perfectly Ari. His eyes are eating me up at the same time, now that we have a few seconds to enjoy each other without anyone watching. The pleasure I feel at knowing he is also looking at and wanting me is heady.
    I sit up and shift to rest with my weight on my knees and shins underneath me so the water only going to right above my hips. If anyone suddenly comes out, I want to look like I’m preparing to stand up. Water is cascading down my body in ripples, and Ari’s eyes are following the drops hungrily, as if he wishes it was his tongue making the journey down my stomach and between my thighs.
    The door to the dressing rooms and shower are behind me; Ari is inching closer, but we are not touching . I think we both know the risks of that, and I’m unsure on whether or not he is going to cross that line. There’s no real way for me to know what is going through his mind right now, but fuck, I wish I could. I want to know all the dirty, nasty things he wants to do to me.
    I have far too much respect and admiration for Ari to put him in a position to betray Lára. Of course, the mean bitch in me wishes he