My free hand glides from the nape of her neck to the small of her back, over the bright tattoo between her slender shoulders as the water splashes loudly around us, waves rippling over the side of the pool. Our moans and sighs are bouncing off the glass around us, echoing in the sexiest song I’ve ever heard.

I feel her body tighten, her grip on the pool intensifies, her fingertips white with exertion. Her pussy pulses around me, those tight muscles ripple and milk me, until my eyes roll back in my head.

“Ah, fuck, Lo, I’m not gonna last if you keep doing that.”

She laughs and squeezes me harder, the little vixen. I grip her hair in my hand and pull back, exposing her neck to my mouth as I lean over her body and pound harder, sending the water around us into a frenzy.

“You want me to come inside you?” I growl.

“God, yes,” she moans as I sink my teeth into her shoulder. The base of my back tingles, and I feel my balls tighten and lift, and just as she cries out and grips my dick like a fucking vise, I explode inside her, jerking my hips uncontrollably.

Fucking hell, I just took her in the pool like a fucking animal.

And damn if I don’t want to do it again.

I slide out of her and turn her into my arms. Her lips seek out my own and I happily oblige her silent request, kissing and nibbling her beautiful, plump lips.

“Come on, beautiful.” I climb out of the pool with her steady in my arms. “Let’s get in the shower.”

“Okay.” She curls up against me, her face buried in my neck. “I think that was the best morning workout of my life.”

“Definitely not a bad way to start the day.” I chuckle and kiss her forehead softly. She curls up in my arms and rests her head on my shoulder as I carry her upstairs. “Can I stay with you this weekend?”

“I have to work.” She frowns and looks up at me with worried eyes. “But I want you to stay.”

“I can run home and grab some work of my own, pack an overnight bag, and bring back some breakfast if you like.”

Her smile is wide and brighter than the sun in Tahiti. “I’d love that.”

“Okay, shower first.”

“Good idea.”

The sound of Lauren’s fingers clicking on her keyboard is surprisingly soothing. I’m sitting in her chaise lounge with my own laptop on my lap, and a pile of paperwork beside me on an end table.

We’ve been working for the better part of the day, taking breaks to eat and stretch before jumping back in. Her work ethic staggers me.

I’ve watched her smoothly move from her Word document to her e-mail, answer a phone call, answer a question on social media, and then dive back into her project.

I have no idea how she doesn’t lose her concentration.

She also talks to herself, and her characters, while she writes, which I find absolutely hilarious.

“No, damn you, I don’t want you to say that until the next chapter,” she murmurs, then groans in frustration.

Completely adorable.

“I’m going to go outside and make a phone call, baby.”

She mumbles and waves me off, not paying attention to me as I chuckle and leave the room, then step out onto her front porch and call my friend Brad Hull, one of Cunningham Falls’ police detectives.

“Hull,” he answers immediately.

“Hey, it’s Ty.”

“What’s up?”

“I need a favor.” I take a deep breath, gazing out over the trees bordering Lo’s property. “I want to know everything there is to know about Lo’s ex-husband, Jack.”

“Did something happen?” Brad asks, his voice hard.

“He was an asshole at the charity gala, and Lo has said that he’s threatened her. I talked her into filing an order of protection, but I don’t trust the fucker. Just because there’s a piece of paper that says he can’t come near her doesn’t mean he still won’t.”

“So, the rumors are true.” Brad’s voice softens, taunting me. “You’ve got a thing for Lauren Cunningham.”

“We’re seeing each other.”

“I’m glad you talked her into filing the protection order, and that she has you looking out for her. I don’t have to run his background check. I already did that when she first separated from him.”

“What’s on it?” I prepare to hear the worst.

“Not a fucking thing,” he replies with frustration.

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope. Never been arrested, no abuse or harassment suits. He’s squeaky-clean.”

“Not anymore.” I lean on the porch railing, scowling.

“He’s not going to be happy when words gets out around town that she filed that order and embarrassed him. Not to mention, he works with kids, so it could threaten his job.”

“Good,” I reply immediately. “We’ll keep our eyes open.”

“Thanks for the heads-up.”

I end the call and scrub my hand over my face. Fuck. It didn’t occur to me that the order could jeopardize Jack’s job at the school, but Brad’s right. Not that it matters. She needed to file, for her own protection.

We’ll deal with any aftermath together.

I return to Lo’s office and grin when I see she’s still sitting exactly as she was when I left. I turn my attention back to my own work, responding to e-mail and drafting letters to clients.

Suddenly my phone vibrates with an incoming text.