“It’s perfect weather for a swim, don’t you think?”
“No,” she replied immediately. “Absolutely not.”
“Oh, c’mon. Where’s your sense of adventure?” He was already standing up, unzipping his coat as though they weren’t on the cusp of winter.In the north of the UK. On an overcast day. Granted, it wasn’t as cold as Harper had prepared for with her autumnal layers, but still…
But still, you’re a coward, that little judgemental voice in the back of her mind chimed.
It was right. It could have been summer, and she still wouldn’t have felt particularly ready to strip off and wade into the water. She usually only planned things she could predict the outcome for, like buying a succulent, knowing the worst thing that could happen was it might (would) die, or applying for a job while already expecting the rejection.
If she went into the loch, she could drown, or catch a disease, or have to walk back to the car damp and uncomfortable.
“I like to prioritise my health over adventure,” she murmured, folding her arms.
“Well, I fancy a nice, cool swim…” He peeled off his jumper and T-shirt without warning, and Harper’s entire world pivoted too quickly for her to hold on.
He was glorious. Toned and broad, with a pouch of softness around his stomach. Tattoos swirled up his arms and across his chest, some of them interweaving patterns and others gorgeous artwork: a wolf on the thickest part of his bicep, an eerie copse of trees beneath his collarbone, a compass on his sternum.
He was beautiful, and that was only more reasonnotto join him. She wasn’t brave enough to be so bare. So exposed. Not in front of him.
He kicked off his boots and tugged off his socks, leaving them neatly by the foot of the bench before heading out to the shore.She watched feathered, inky wings flap across his shoulder blades as he moved and let out a quiet groan. Did she really want to hold back from this, from him? Would she regret it?
The wind blew open her notebook, and she seized this serendipitous moment to flip through to herGuide to Inspiration.
7. Wild swimming?????????? (probably not)
Maybe it was time she started keeping promises to herself.
Fraser waded into the loch in his black briefs, his gruff laughter bounding over the surface like a skipping stone. “Fuck, that feels good!”
Harper gulped, the sight of his jeans abandoned on the shore a tantalising temptation. His strong, muscular frame tensed against the small waves lapping his waist.
She couldn’t resist him.
“Fuck’s sake,” she muttered as she toed off her boots, then triple-checked there was no one watching as she made her way down to the water. She took a deep, trembling breath – and then shucked off her clothes slowly, waiting for instinct to kick in and knock some sense into her.
It might have, only Fraser’s mouth fell open a fraction as he watched her undress, and he dipped his chin below the surface of the water with shadows in his eyes. Goosebumps left her skin sensitive and coarse, her nipples firm and aching against her bra. She closed her eyes, trying not to wonder if he liked her body, or liked her in spite of it.She hated to think of herself like that, but she knew that people – albeit weak people she tried to avoid at all costs – often preferred women who didn’t take up too much space. Women whose skin was smooth and whose stomachs were flat.
“Is it casual enough for me to tell you that you’re fucking beautiful?”
Fraser’s words took her aback. She fluttered her lids open, finding his gaze dark and lustful. Beads of water dripped from his beard, and he licked his lips in a way that made her toes curl into the gritty sand.
Desire warmed her freezing skin, driving her forwards. “I’ll never say no to a compliment.”
“Well then, you’ll like plenty of what I have to say.”
Harper’s legs trembled as she stepped out of her trousers leaving them beside his. She wasn’t brave enough to take off her underwear, but was certainly thankful she’d chosen her more expensive pair, a matching mint-green set with a rose lace trim, just in case they accidentally fell into another unplanned state of undress.
Just when she feltsort ofsexy enough, though, she dipped her toe in the water – and screamed. It was freezing. “Are youkidding?”
“Oh, come on. It’s not that bad. Easier if you just get in.”
“Not thatbad?” she repeated incredulously, teeth chattering. “I was right. You do want me dead.”
He splashed her, causing her to squeal again. “Stop!”
“Come on, sunshine. Get in here. You’ve teased me enough, don’t you think?”
She narrowed her eyes, half-tempted tokeepteasing him from the comfort of her current body temperature. But he beckoned her towards him, daring her, and she refused to admit defeat.
