Cash let out a bark of laughter before he bent over and lifted her over his shoulder. Once again, she was facing his back and upside down.
“Must you carry me like this?” she demanded. “I can walk.”
“Your knees were a bit wobbly a second ago, so I thought I should help out.”
“You can help out in other ways,” she mumbled as she smacked his ass. “Where are we going? If you’re trying to give me a tour of your house, you’re doing a terrible job.”
“We’re going outside.”
“What?” she shrieked, smacking at him now. “Put me down. I will not go outside completely naked for the entire neighborhood to see.”
“Red, I promise I’m not about to share you with anyone, least of all the neighbors.”
He stepped out the back door and eased her down onto her feet. Before she could lay into him about being completely exposed, not to mention still aroused, she gasped as she took in the sight.
“Oh my word,” she whispered as her eyes tried to see all the beauty at once. “Cash, this is amazing.”
The high wooden fence for privacy surrounded a deck of multiple layers, but in the center was a sunken hot tub. Steam rolled off it and looked so inviting. There were small, white pebbles highlighting the path from the porch to the deck. She’d admire the landscaping and such later, maybe in the daylight. Right now, she wanted in that hot tub and she wanted Cash to join her.
Without waiting for further invitation, Jade crossed the narrow space to the steps of the deck. She dipped a toe into the water, and tingles spread all over her.
Throwing a glance over her shoulder, Jade smiled and slowly eased down and let the warmth envelope her. “Care to join me?”
“One second.”
He dashed back into the house, and Jade didn’t know what the holdup was now. She sank down onto one of the smooth seats beneath the water. After eyeing the key pad, she clicked the button for jets and groaned as the pulses hit her back. If she lived here, she’d never get out of this hot tub.
She closed her eyes and tipped her head back. Nothing relaxed her like a hot tub. She hadn’t been in one for so long. Maybe she’d have to start making it a point to visit Cash more often.
The water splashed and waves rippled higher around her chest. She opened her eyes just in time to see Cash’s very fine form disappear beneath the bubbles from the jets.
“What did you do?” she asked.
He smacked a foil packet on the edge of the hot tub and Jade pushed up out of her seat. Using her hands to guide her beneath the water, she ran into his thick thighs. The coarse hair on his legs tickled her palms, but she continued to ease up his body.
“You don’t seem so grouchy now,” he stated as he eased back against his seat. “I suppose we could’ve had a quickie in the entryway, but I figured someone like you would prefer this.”
Someone like her. There was always that reminder that they were opposites. Well, he was the one always reminding her. Jade never felt that way, but he wouldn’t believe her, and now wasn’t the time to get into that argument.
Besides, they were having sex. They weren’t looking to make lifelong commitments here. Their personal opinions really didn’t matter . . . it was all physical.
“Would you rather have had me in your office or here in your hot tub?” She lifted her leg to straddle his lap.
“You won’t let me answer ‘both,’ I’d definitely say here.”
Jade smiled and looped her arms around his neck. “Smart man. I’m a sucker for a hot tub. In fact, I’m already making plans to come back tomorrow night.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes.” She brought her chest even with his mouth, then leaned over to get the condom. “You might have to stand to get this on, you know.”
“Or we could go without.” He covered her breasts with both hands. “Your call, but I’ve never been without, and I get routine physicals.”
Without protection? Wasn’t that how Melanie got pregnant? Well, obviously that was exactly how that worked, but Jade was on birth control and she was clean, too.
“I’m protected,” she told him. “Are you sure?”
He gripped her hips and eased her down until they were joined. Jade cried out, but Cash cupped the back of her head and pulled her lips to his. The privacy fence was only good for the view and she was making too much noise.