As she tightened around him, he pressed his mouth to hers again, and gave himself to her.
After, a long time after, they simply stood holding each other.
“This is good, Jordan. This is really good.”
“Yeah.”
“Even though the waters getting cold. I feel all lazy and sleepy. I wish we could slide into bed instead of getting dressed and going over to Flynns.”
“If youre too tired to go—”
“Thats not it. I just want to lie around in bed with you.”
He drew her back. “I cant argue with that either.
“But were going to get dressed and go over to Flynns because lying around in bed would be wrong.” She kissed him lightly. “Jesus, the water is getting cold.”
He reached behind her and switched it off. “We can go over, then leave early and come back and lie around in bed.”
“Good plan.” She stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel. “So, whats this mysterious mission you went on today?” She wrapped her hair in the towel, grabbed a second one.
He held out a hand, thinking it was for him, but she started drying her legs with it. He shook his head, got yet another towel for himself.
“Well talk about it later.”
“Whats wrong with now?”
“Because were in the bathroom, naked. Its just not the right place for it.”
“Thats silly. Weve had naked conversations before. In fact, weve had some very interesting naked conversations. Where did you go, and why did you need Brad and Flynn along? Because I know they went with you. I have ways of getting that sort of information.”
She grabbed a bottle of body cream and poured some into her hand.
“Ill tell you later. Youll appreciate the fact that we get into this in a more appropriate setting.”
“See, now youre making me crazy.” She slathered on cream. “Which forces me to grill you. You were gone for hours. Where did you go? What did you do?”
“We went to atitty bar and drank cheap booze while women with fascinating man-made breasts slid around on long, shiny poles.”
“You think thatll irritate me and Ill leave you alone, but youre wrong.” She took the towel off her head and finger-combed her hair. “Personally, I dont have a problem with guys going to strip clubs and making jackasses of themselves. So you might as well tell me the truth.”
“Fine. Here and now, then.” He picked up his pants, dug the jewelers box out of the pocket. He held it out to her, flipped up the lid with his thumb.
“Oh, my Jesus Christ,” she said and sat down heavily on the lid of the toilet.
“Yeah, thats romance. You like it or what?”
She had to swallow. “Depends.”
“On what?” He scowled, turned the box around to study the ring. It looked great, he decided, but there was never any certainty with women. “I figured youd like this better than the standard diamond. But if youd rather go that route, I can exchange it.”
She shivered, but she didnt feel cold. Not in the least. “Then that would be an engagement ring youve got there.”
“What the hell do you think it is? Would you stand up? This is just a little too bizarre.”
“Sorry.” She got to her feet. “I wasnt sure what it meant.”
“It means marry me, Dana.” He had to push his dripping hair back. “It means I love you, and I want to spend my life with you. I want to make children with you, and grow old with you.”