10. Astrid
Ihave really started to enjoy running with Sean, not that I’ve told him that. Or will. Believe me, the man doesn’t need a bigger ego. But I will admit, I have been improving these last few weeks. Most mornings we run together. Well, most mornings we walk together. I am still trying to run, though. And I’ve gotten a lot faster, much to his delight.
Last week I set my best mile time so far. I won’t admit to what it was, it’s still a bit embarrassing to me. I’m several minutes slower than Sean, and he’s nearly twice as fast. But I suppose it is not really fair to compare myself to a professional athlete.
“You want to race?” he asks, cocky, as we round the corner to the house.
Normally, I wouldn’t consider this. He’s clearly got an unfair advantage with his long legs. But we are close to home, maybe only a few hundred yards away now. And that’s close enough that I stand a chance.
I might be small, but I am powerful.
“Race?” I ask, feigning breathlessness. I did run way more today than I have before. Nearly three miles. He probably thinks I’m tired.
“Loser has to buy lunch,” he says, adding to the stakes.
I roll my eyes. Sean hasn’t let me pay for any food since I’ve moved in, so I’m certain that he won’t let me pay today, either. This is some sort of trick to get me to start incorporating sprinting into our workouts.
But I’ll play along. I’d like to wipe the smugness from his handsome face.
“Fine.” I wait until he slows down to jog beside me before I say, “First one to the driveway wins.” And I take off. I feel that strength as I urge my body forward, pumping my arms, desperate to beat him.
But even with my head start, he catches me within seconds and passes me with ease.
Fuck. I thought I might have had a chance. My lungs burn and my mouth tastes metallic as my sprint slows to the end of the concrete driveway.
Dammit. I put my hands above my head and try to walk out the fatigue.
He wins. Of course, he wins. And he wins by a lot considering I’m pretty sure that he held back until the last minute.
Asshole.
I’m drenched from sprinting. It’s so hot today. I lift my shirt to wipe some of the sweat from my face. Too hot for September, so I’m glad that Sean didn’t close the pool for the season. I jog around the house to the backyard, easing into a walk with my hands on my hips.
“Good job,” he calls back to me. He opens the metal gate that separates the pool from the rest of the yard, throwing it open as he strips off his shirt and tosses it to the ground.
I watch as he kicks off his shoes and socks and jumps into the pool, splashing water everywhere.
His head bobs above the water, his hands slicking back his dark hair as he wades to the shallow end.
I try my best to keep my gaze off his body, but it’s hard. I mean, the control over my eyes is hard, not that Sean is— well, I mean his body is muscular but I’m not thinking about it.
I swallow. I’m definitely not thinking about it. I can’t. He’s not some random guy I’ve met at a bar. He’s my boss.
“Get in.” His large hand pushes through the water until it reaches me.
I laugh when a little bit gets my legs. The water does feel good after that workout. A little swim isn’t a terrible idea. I think it’s good for muscles recovery too.
That’s the reason, I tell myself as I take off my shirt, struggling with my shoes and socks as the fabric sticks to my skin.
The only reason.
We’re both adults. We can swim together. I can do this without making it weird.
I take a couple steps backwards so I can have a running start and make the biggest splash possible. I know I succeeded when I come up for air and Sean looks at me, annoyed.
He splashes me in retaliation, and I splash him back. The water feels good until it becomes a splash war and pelting nonstop at my face. Sean and his big, stupid, long arms are definitely winning. Determined to beat him at his own game, I move closer. But he seizes the opportunity by stopping me, grabbing me by the wrists and pulling me into his body to prevent me from escaping.
I squeal as he pins my back against his front, his arms constricting me, keeping me tucked against him tight as he starts to tickle me.
“Oh, no,” I laugh. “Sean, stop. I hate being tickled.” I can’t stop giggling, which makes him do it more.
I wiggle against his hold, desperate to escape the tickling, but enjoying the way he feels against me. I can’t help but notice how good it feels to be in his arms, against his chest. His body envelopes mine, and a deep laugh erupts from him after his fingers find my weak spot along my waist. I arch against his hold, trying without success to distance my waist from him.
And he hardens against me.
Oh.I have to fight my body’s impulsive desire to arch my back in response.
Sean’s arms immediately relax around me, I think he must realize that I can feel him against me.
I mean, it would be impossible not to notice…
But he doesn’t let me go, and his hands don’t stop moving against my skin, although to call this new, gentle stroke of his fingers tickling would be inaccurate.
Maybe it’s just an accidental response?
I still, waiting to see what he does next, half expecting him to push me away and apologize, embarrassed. But he doesn’t. So I don’t swim away either, and my struggling now becomes intentional. I rub against him, hesitant at first, growing more confident with every second. I want to make sure that he can feel every curve as I stay close.
When he realizes I’m not running away, the embrace that pins my arms to my sides tightens.
I can feel his lips against my neck. Hesitant, as if asking silent permission. I shiver as he draws me closer still and I grind against him harder.
What am I doing?The small part of me thinking reasonably pushes back. I can’t do this, not with him.
“Fuck, Astrid.” He spins me around so fast I’m slightly shocked, and then I feel his lips press into mine, catching my mouth between his. His tongue dominates me, slowly, as if savoring every stroke.
All resistance is gone after hearing my name on his lips.
I wrap my thighs around his waist, thankful to be in the water as I grind against him more. I can feel my core tighten immediately. Damn. This is faster than I expected, but I’m going off pure instinct. I thrust against him as he keeps me pinned in place, as if he’s content to kiss me forever. One hand snakes around to hold the back of my head while the other presses into my back.
I can feel how his fingers spread across the entirety of my back. He’s huge. And I mean, everything about him is huge.
I roll my hips against him.
His strangled moan is swallowed by my kiss.
I want to reach down and grab him. I want to feel every part of him. I need to feel every part of him. My fingers tangled in his hair and his tongue down my throat isn’t close enough anymore. I need...
I faintly register a car pulling up in the driveway, but it’s white noise. Nothing so important to distract me from Sean; his lips, his hands, the deep, masculine groan he releases into my mouth...
The abrupt sound of the engine shutting off is what finally pulls us apart, slamming us back to reality. Shit. Who is here? I hear the click of heels on the pavement coming closer, and we push off each other, swimming apart, just in time for someone to walk down the concrete pathway from the driveway to the back of the house.
“Victoria,” Sean says, smoothly. It’s like what just happened barely affected him.
I don’t think I could complete a sentence if my life depended upon it right now. My cheeks burn. I splash some water on my face and swim on my back, trying to appear natural and move away from any of the scrutiny.
Victoria. I repeat the name in my head, trying to place why it sounds so familiar.
“I thought you were bringing Violet back tomorrow tonight?” he asks.
Shit.
Victoria is Violet’s mom.
I wish I could disappear. I can’t even imagine what this looks like to her. If I could hold my breath under water for a significant amount of time, I would be gone.
I glance over at the woman. Oh. It is so much worse than I could’ve imagined.
Victoria is beautiful. I guess that should have been assumed. Sean is beautiful, and they were married. Violet is beautiful, and they made her. Still, it doesn’t lessen the knot in my chest as I look between them. They look like they belong together. She’s taller, with long brown hair and beautiful dark eyes with full lashes hidden behind her glasses. I can’t remember what she does for a living, but she looks smart. Smart and beautiful and completely intimidating.
And I’m the nanny he hired to help take care of his daughter and I’m making out with him in the pool.
Fuck.I inch my way backwards in the water, desperate to put distance between us. The timing couldn’t be worse. Seconds ago, I was wrapped around Sean, sweaty and exhausted from our early morning run.
Now he gets a good comparison between us. And I don’t think that we could be any more opposite.
“We’re at my parents’ house and Violet said she wanted her teddy bear.” Her tone drips with disapproval. “I texted you to tell you I was coming.”
Even from this distance, I can feel it coming off her in waves. I try to observe from the other edge of the pool, hoping that maybe she’ll lose interest in me, or I can lose interest in her. But it is hard to look busy and distracted while in the water.
But Sean doesn’t react to whatever tension is between them. Between us. “Sorry, I don’t keep my phone on me when running. The bear is in her bedroom. Go ahead.” He doesn’t move. Cleary showing that he’s not going to help her.
Victoria’s dark gaze snaps to me. I can feel the judgment burning me raw. Whatever verdict she comes to, she does so quickly, and it makes her lips curve into a cruel smirk.
“Don’t worry, I’ll help myself. You seem… busy.” She flips her long dark hair behind her.
The way she says it tells me all that I need to know: She thinks that I am well beneath her. And the way in which she walks away, without a second glance, tells everyone that she isn’t concerned by my existence either.