His Desire, Her Surrender by Malia Mallory

Will it be cold?"
    "No. It's heated." Marcus rose and offered her his hand. He led her downstairs and out to the pool area. A muted glow emanated from lights inside the pool, casting everything in shadows. Her feet slapped on the cool flagstone.
    Tabitha slipped into the pool. Warm water enveloped her. "Oh wow, this is wonderful. It's great for lounging, but isn't it too warm for exercise?"
    "There's a lap pool on the other side of the pool house. During the day, the heat isn't on usually. I flipped the switch earlier, thinking we might want to use the pool."
    "Ah." Tabitha floated on her back a moment and then swam to the deep end. She treaded water, creating ripples across the surface. Her eyes watched Marcus and her heart squeezed as she tucked away the image of him highlighted by the moon.
    Marcus dove beneath the surface and Tabitha lost sight of him. She turned, trying to catch a glimpse, when something grabbed her foot, pulling her under.
    She bobbed back to the surface, laughing. "Marcus! I'll have you know that I'm a very good swimmer, despite what happened in Hawaii."
    Marcus swam in behind her, encircling her with his arms. "But if you hadn't had some trouble with that rip current, we might not have met."
    Tabitha rested her head back against his shoulder. "True, a rip current is trouble for the best of swimmers. However, we would have met anyway, somehow. I had my eye on you."
    Marcus laughed. "What? You did?"
    "Of course. Do you think you can just walk around looking so handsome and no one will notice?"
    Marcus dunked her under the water.
    Tabitha came up, sputtering and laughing. She plunged her arm into the water and splashed him.
    Marcus pulled her close and kissed her neck. "I'll admit I saw you, too. At the restaurant."
    "You did?" Tabitha wondered what he'd thought. Had he been attracted? "I saw you at least twice. At the restaurant with your sister and also standup paddleboarding the day before. I must confess I …."
    Marcus cupped her face. "What?"
    Tabitha flashed a smile, at once playful and bashful. "I might have utilized you in a little fantasy of sorts."
    Marcus nipped her lip. "What do you mean?"
    Tabitha ducked her head, embarrassment getting the best of her. "Well, I had a little excess energy to … release, and I used you."
    Placing his fingers under her chin, Marcus tilted her head back up. "You used me how?"
    Tabitha smiled. "Well, I thought of you… when I … you know."
    Marcus leaned in, his tongue licking the corner of her mouth. "No. I don't know. Tell me." His tone indicated that he clearly did know, he just wanted to hear her say it.
    Tabitha's hands tightened on Marcus's shoulders. "Masturbated. When I masturbated."
    Marcus recoiled in mock outrage. "You used me? You used me as a sex object before you even met me?"
    Tabitha laughed at Marcus's faux indignation. "Yes."
    Marcus's hands slid from Tabitha's waist around to her rear. "Huh. Should I be flattered or offended?"
    Tabitha squirmed in his grasp, wanting to be closer. "Flattered, since it was me. Maybe that's why I reacted so strongly to you physically. I'd already been there with you. In my mind."
    Marcus slipped a finger between her legs. "Women do that?"
    Tabitha sniffed. "Of course they do."
    Marcus edged his finger closer to her swelling core. "I've always suspected."
    "Perhaps you should forget I said anything. I feel like I've betrayed a secret."
    Marcus's finger dipped further between her intimate lips. "Is that so? I don't think I can forget. In fact, thinking about it makes me hot."
    Tabitha welcomed him between her legs, spreading to give him access. "What about you?"
    Marcus's fingertip delved into her. "What about me?"
    Tabitha gasped at his intimate touch. "Do you … fantasize about me?"
    His finger explored the entry to her most private recess. "Are you asking me if I masturbate?"
    Tabitha clenched, trying to draw him further inside. "Don't you?"
    He shook his head in a way that neither confirmed nor denied her