Shelby checked the address again.

This was a nicer neighborhood than she thought. The houses weren't large but they were spaced out, large courtyard walls dividing them.

Trees and landscaping poked over the tops and plentiful streetlamps cast a pleasant glow on the manicured sidewalk that wove up the street.

She paused and listened. No far off gunshots, no wild dogs barking, or car sirens or ambulances. Only the soft silence of a well cared for neighborhood.

She thought back to her streamline trailer, then the upholstery shop where she had met Nacho. Maybe her family had gone into the wrong business.

The house was surrounded by an adobe style wall, its high walls and smooth surface would make it relatively impossible to climb unless you had a ladder. Just the top of the one story house was visible, and as she entered the gate, the modern Santa Fe style was clean and striking.

When he said there was a hot tub, she had pictured something in a shared apartment building. But she shouldered her bag and was thankful she had brought the swim suit. It would be nice to relax her aching muscles without a bunch of random children doing cannonballs in the background.

Insecurity crept up inside her as she walked through the perfect stone and cactus courtyard.

She tugged at the bottom of her dress, anxiously smoothing down the fabric around her knees. Mercedes had let her borrow it and the sweater. The long sleeves helped hide the grotesque green bruises that marked up the length of her arms. Every time she looked at them, it was another reminder of her narrow escape from the Sand Derby.

Inside the walls of the courtyard were lined with sage bushes, their pleasant smell hung like perfume in the night air.

Clean lines of the house were stamped with large windows which were covered from the outside with ultra modern metal slats tilted to block out hot afternoon sun.

Shelby swallowed hard as she crossed the tan stone walkway towards the oversized metal door. She vowed right then that she'd never invite him over to her trailer.

Holding a wine bottle in one hand and a brown to-go bag of zeppole in the other, Shelby knocked on the door with two light kicks. But when her shoe left a light dust mark she panicked. Carefully rubbing the side of her shoe against the door, attempting to dispel the dirt before he opened it.

Nacho opened the door with her foot pressed against it and she stumbled forward.

He looked at her confused. "Bueno."

Shelby attempted to straighten herself as she recovered. "Hey! Good to see you!"

He paused for a moment, examining her. "You okay?"

"Mm-hmm." She said, curling her lips inward. "I brought dessert." She held up the bag.

"Great. Come on in." He seemed a little nervous as he stepped to the side to let her by. He was wearing a red button down shirt with black detailed collar and his usual thin gold chain necklace. The tattoo on his forearm was barely visible from underneath the rolled up cuffs of his sleeves. He was handsomely dressed and Shelby was thankful she had taken the time and effort in her own appearance.

Shelby stepped into a small foyer, looking down, the floor was a polished concrete with literally no dust at all. She stopped a moment and wondered if she needed to take off her shoes.

Glancing at his feet she saw he was wearing little black house shoes.

He noticed her staring and gestured to the closet in the entry. "You don't have to, but you're welcome to leave your shoes in there. I have slippers if you like." He took the wine and paper bag from her and left her to change.

She tossed the shoes into the closet, and as they dropped even more dust upon clattering to the floor, she swore under her breath. Quickly pulling out a pair of slippers from several size options, she closed the door with a snap, eager to hide the mess.

Past the foyer, Nacho's living room had a jumbo picture of a black and white pop art car with "vroooom" scrawled across the top in bold red letters.

Underneath it was a red leather couch that looked more functional than comfortable, and a single black chair with a matching footstool. The coffee table was some sort of metal propeller with a wide circular piece of glass on top. Despite the enormous TV on the opposite wall, it was furniture that was for looks and not for entertaining company.

Now that she was standing inside, it wasn't a huge house, but that didn't detract from how high end and clean it was.

"In here." His voice came to the right of the living room, past a small dining space and into a large eat in kitchen.

Shelby tried not to deflate as she took it in.

The whole kitchen was easily double the size of her trailer. Modern and meant for someone who loved and appreciated cooking. A double wide fridge-freezer stood at the far end, and a wide cook top range was the center point with a large industrial vent.

In the center, a stainless steel island countertop was covered in ingredients, and Nacho had resumed chopping bell peppers.

"Wow. I thought we'd be ordering a pizza or something. You didn't have to go through all this effort." Shelby crossed into the kitchen and took a seat at a bar stool in front of the island.

"For you," he said plainly between chops, "I wanted to."

"Anything I can do to help?" Shelby put her bag on the stool beside her and looked out across the grocery store worth of ingredients. "If you have bread that needs toasting. I'm your girl."

Nacho continued chopping but she heard a little laugh escape his lips.

She looked up to see the faintest smile briefly spread across his face.

"Only if you want to." He tossed the chopped vegetables into a hot skillet. They began sizzling happily as he moved onto the steak. "I am able to do it all if you just want to relax." He gestured to the wine bottle on the counter with his knife. "Do you want to open it?"

"That I can handle." Shelby hopped off the stool confidently.

Nacho paused trimming the steak and gestured with his chin behind him. "The opener is in the top drawer by the fridge."

Shelby opened the drawer and its contents were perfectly laid out, everything visible and in neatly placed rows. "Wow. I've literally never seen someone's house so clean." She admitted, but scolded herself for saying it out loud.

"Thank you." He said his voice was distant as he concentrated on carving the meat.

She reached in and pulled out the bottle opener. Picking up the wine she brought and paused. "It's a screw top." Shelby admitted sheepishly and cracked open the wine with a twist.

"That's more than fine. My favorite cab is a screw top." He said matter-of-factly. "Glasses are in the cabinet above." Nacho began adding spices to a small bowl.

A little embarrassed to be bringing screw top wine to a house so nice, she poured them both a glass, discretely took a full sip, then topped herself off.

He reached up in the cabinet and winced as he brought his arm back down. Sucking air in through clenched teeth.

"You okay? I can get stuff. It's literally all I think I can help with." She said, handing him the glass.

He tried to smile but it was more of a grimace. "That would be great." He pointed to a mixing bowl on a middle shelf. "That one please."

"So what happened?" Shelby retrieved it and set it down in front of him.

He put the steaks in it and poured the seasoning on top, spreading it all over with his hands. "I wasn't thinking. I tried lifting something I shouldn't."

Shelby poked his muscular bicep with a smirk, "you couldn't lift something? What was it, a public bus?"

"It was stupid." He shrugged and picked up the steaks, setting them on a skillet. They dropped into place with a pleasant sizzle and Nacho returned to the sink to wash his hands. "Hazards of the job."

"Who knew upholstery was a dangerous line of work?" She jested with a smile.

He let out a single hum through his nose and picked up the wine glass. "Cheers to dangerous work."

They clinked cups and after he took a sip, his eyebrows raised in pleasant surprise.

"I'd be a bad Italian if I couldn't pick out a decent wine. It's a fireable offense." Shelby took another sip.

"How is your recovery going?" He asked plainly as he turned back to the stove top.

Shelby leaned against the counter, resting the hand with the cup beside her. "Fine enough." The kitchen was quite warm and she started to question the sweater, despite its function to cover her bruises. She fanned herself with her other hand.

"I can adjust the temperature." He offered as he shook the pan, flipping the peppers into the air a few times as he did.

"No, that's okay." Shelby knew how expensive cooling was and didn't want to put him out further. "Just, I don't know, shield your eyes." She gingerly pulled off her sweater, exposing the greenish bruises up her arms and shoulders. "It's actually a lot better. It's not as bad as it looks."

"Qué va. It looks pretty bad." He said, nostrils flared. Then his voice became sympathetic. "You can sit down and rest if you like."

Shelby sighed and rubbed her arm awkwardly, "thanks. But I'm good."

"How do you like your steak?" He asked as he flipped the steaks then basted them with a spoon, scooping the juices from the pan back over the charred top.

"Chef's choice." Shelby shrugged. The last time she'd had steak it was Salsbury, and it was frozen. Whatever delicious smells alluded to what he was cooking, she'd be happy to eat it however it came. "Anything else I can help with?"

He looked across the kitchen thoughtfully. "You can fluff the rice? We're almost ready here. The plates are already on the table." He pulled the steaks off the skillet and set them aside to rest.

Shelby took the lid from the rice pot, its steam puffed out releasing a wonderful smell. She moved it around with a fork then turned to the rest of the kitchen. After moving the wine bottle and her glass to the table, she picked up the plates and walked them over to the stove. "I'll hold, you serve?"

He scooped up the roasted peppers, rice, and put them on each plate. Then picked up the steak, putting a juicy filet on each of their plates. "Thanks. I'll meet you over there."

"No, thank you. I can't believe you got meat this nice. It looks amazing." Shelby looked down at the beautiful food. It would have been so expensive coming from a restaurant, and her stomach growled as she walked it over to the table.

Some kitchen sounds continued as she sat at the table waiting. She took the black cloth napkin and draped it across her lap.

Then music began to sound from the speakers discreetly hidden in the walls.

Nacho rounded the corner holding a small bowl of green sauce. "Don't judge me. But no matter the steak, I can't seem to eat it without chimichurri."

"No judgment here." She held up her palms. "You're talking to the ketchup queen."

His eyebrows raised and he thumbed back to the kitchen. "I can go get some if you like."

She laughed and pulled at the cloth napkin on her lap. "No thanks. I'm excited to try it your way."

They enjoyed the meal together. Talking about nothing in particular, and enjoying each other's company.

The steak cut like butter, and everything tasted divine. It mixed happily with the wine in her stomach and she wanted to wrap up in a blanket and do nothing the rest of the evening.

"That was legitimately the best meal I've had in weeks." Shelby leaned back in her chair, placing the napkin to the side of her plate. "Thank you so much."

"I'm glad you liked it." He said plainly, no hit of smugness, and he stood to pick up the empty plates.

Shelby rose as well, picking up the wine glasses and empty bottle, and followed him back to the kitchen.

Shelby put the cups in the sink and stepped back.

He paused, his face remained stoic as he gingerly pulled them back out, setting them on the counter. He immediately started washing the dishes and placed the scrubbed plates in the dishwasher.

He scrubbed the knives and placed them on a drying mat to the side.

Shelby offered, "I can dry?"

"Sure." Nacho leaned his hips back away from the sink. "Towels are in there."

She opened a cabinet under the sink and pulled out a microfiber cloth.

"Just a sec." He leaned down and pulled out a different towel, handing it to her, then took the micro fiber cloth and began cleaning the wine glasses with it.

"Sorry." Shelby bit her lip. Never growing up with these fancy things, it never occurred to her that different things would be cleaned so particularly. Her kitchen had one dish towel that she used to dry everything.

Nacho's face wasn't upset or annoyed, he almost seemed a little anxious. "You're fine. I wasn't clear."

Shelby took a step back, still wanting to be helpful but not under foot. "Maybe I can put away food?"

Nacho looked at her, his eyes softened. "That would be great."

Perking up, Shelby began to gather the scraps of food from the cutting board, throwing away pepper stems, garlic husks, and putting the bundles of cilantro and other herbs back into the fridge.

The fridge was just as immaculate and organized as the rest of the house, and it was easy to find where the rest of the herbs and other fresh ingredients went.

Soon the kitchen was completely cleaned and no sign of the meal was present except the pleasant lingering smell.

"It might be a little while till I can eat dessert." Nacho gestured to the paper bag.

"Me too." Shelby eyed it, and the thought of stuffing her face any more before putting on a swim suit was less than appealing. "Thanks again for dinner."

"My pleasure." He said simply, leaning against the counter. He shifted, subtly taking his weight off one of his legs as he stood.

She noticed and rubbed her bruised arm. "It looks like we could both use a little relaxation." She shrugged, "you mentioned a hot tub?"

He rubbed the back of his neck and closed his eyes. "That's not a bad idea. You can change in there, I'll meet you outside." He pointed to a room beyond the kitchen.

"Sounds good." Shelby picked up her bag and went to through the door.

Foam mats covered the concrete floor and a full home gym took up the entire room, barbells and stacks of weights were organized and in perfect condition. A small desk sat in the corner by the window, empty except a laptop. Hanging on the opposite wall of the weights, a large mirror with hooks for jump rope and towels, and a conglomerate of other gym things she didn't recognize.

Deciding not to change in front of the large mirror, she opened the next door into an adjoining bathroom. Quickly changing into her bathing suit she realized she hadn't brought a towel. She looked in the cabinets and they were all empty.

She folded her arms, protecting her bare stomach from the cool air of the apartment. She walked past the equipment and into the kitchen again. She stopped right in front of the back door and turned back around.

Remembering a few rows of beers in the fridge, she pulled two out and opened them. Then she looked in the freezer, she saw an ice pack and pulled it out too.

She slid the glass door open to the back portion of the courtyard and he was already in the hot tub, head leaning back.

At first she thought he might be asleep.

"Ignacio?" She called out.

He gave a grunt of acknowledgement.

She held up the beers, "it looked like you could use another drink." She walked across the stone pavers towards the back corner of the courtyard.

They were cold underfoot, but the promise of the warm water helped her move faster in the crisp evening air.

A lattice roof covering made from warm wood hung over the space. Soft green vines climbed up the wooden posts and stretched over it.

She walked up the short steps and set the two bottles of beer on the lip of the tub. Carefully climbing over the edge, Shelby deliberately tried not to spill the beers as she stepped over the edge into the water.

He slowly opened his eyes. Interrupted from being deep in thought, he stared ahead at nothing in particular for a moment before he pulled his head up.

She took in his shoulder, it was bright red and deep purple. A bandage covered a spot just at the top. It didn't look like he'd lifted anything too heavy, it looked as though he'd been shot.

"Here." She averted her gaze and held out the ice pack and the beer. "Both are for your shoulder."

A corner of his mouth curled up. "Thank you." He said softly and gingerly placed the cold pack over the bandage.

"It's no problem." Not knowing what else to say she picked up her beer and sipped it.

Music from the speakers inside must play out here too, and it could be heard over the bubbles in the water.

Shelby made sure she had a suitable place to sit before she sunk fully into the hot water. Sitting somewhat next to him, but not so close that they would touch.

"It looks like the dunes were pretty rough on you." He picked up the beer and took a deep sip.

Shelby shifted, now knowing he had looked at her, but didn't necessarily mind. She was pretty bruised, and the acute twinge of her body had been like a high siren in the background, never gone. Just ignored for brief intervals.

Seeming to sense her discomfort he took another sip. "How does the car look?"

"Not great." She sighed and continued, "but, I learned a lot. I need to drop some weight if I'm going to go fast enough to contend for a podium spot." Shelby looked at the water. Watching the bubbles pop happily on the surface as little foamy clouds lazed on the surface. She imagined herself crashing again. The next leg of the Dune Derby was practically over water.

Next time she wouldn't be able to recover, she'd sink straight to the bottom.

Blinking hard, Shelby shook herself from the nightmare. The twinge in her neck prickled at her and she rubbed it absentmindedly.

"How did you get those?" She pointed to a fresh scar on the outside of his bicep.

"I need to get some better friends." He said, his voice distant.

"I'd just like some friends." She jested, sipping her beer.

He looked at her puzzled.

She shrugged and continued. "I have the folks at the shop, but they're also my employees. I don't really want friends that I have to pay. And I think it might be a stretch to assume my sisters are even friendly with me."

He let out a single laugh and took another sip of beer. "Then I guess I don't have friends either… I had one. But when I got… promoted. We stopped being friends."

She wasn't sure what position he held in the upholstery shop but didn't ask. If he wanted to share. He would.

Nacho took a slow deep breath in. "I'm sorry I keep-"

"Bailing?" She lifted her eyebrows.

He gave a dejected sigh. "There are some things that are... very important."

Shelby thought for a moment and softened her posture. She knew she wasn't immune to her whole life being turned upside down and obliterated from one phone call. "No, I get it. I have responsibilities too."

"I promise to try and be less shitty." He jested. A mischievous glint in his eye actually caught her by surprise.

"I wouldn't go that far." She pondered for a moment, rubbing her neck in thought, and looked back at him with a smirk. "You'll just have to find ways to make it up to me."

"Is that so?" He gestured with a finger for her to come there and pointed down directly in front of him.

She waded over, keeping her body mostly submerged as she did, and sat on the front part of the wide seat.

He gently put his hand on her neck and began rubbing little circles with his thumbs.

"I have to admit." She sighed out and leaned into his touch. "This is laying good groundwork."

He hummed in acknowledgement and pressed a little harder, moving down from her neck to her shoulders.

"The steak also counts. So after this you only have seven more payments."

His voice was light. "Is that so?" He continued rubbing her shoulders. His hands felt strong, easing out the tension in her muscles with smooth rubbing circles.

The warm water swirled around them and she felt herself relax under his touch.

Every so often he would stop and sweep the little hairs at the base of her neck to the side, careful not to pull them as he worked his way up and down her shoulder blades.

She felt him shift behind her.

A soft warm feeling of his breath on her skin before his lips gently touched her shoulder. He whispered. "Besarte es como ver las estrellas."

Wishing he had done that ages ago, she half turned her head and gave him a little smile of assurance. "What does that mean?"

He lightly pressed his lips to her skin again. "To kiss you is like seeing stars." More confident this time he pressed his lips along her shoulder, making his way up towards her neck.

The cold condensation from his ice pack dripped onto her back and the dueling sensation sent electric sparks down her spine.

She involuntarily let out a yummy sound as his mouth and hands moved across her bare skin.

His hands moved down from her neck to her low back as his lips gently pressed between her shoulders. The light stubble from his chin swept across her skin and she leaned into the sensation.

She placed her hands on his knees and traveled them slowly up his athletic thighs.

Then his grip released from the massage and his fingers moved back up. He traced his finger across her back along the line of her bikini. Putting his finger between her skin and the thin strap, slowly running the length of the fabric with his finger.

She felt a little tug on the fabric around her ribs and it came loose. Finally, she thought.

Then she felt a similar sensation at the tie around her neck. But then nothing.

He had his fingers poised, but he had paused. Waiting again.

She took a breath in, for the first time in what felt like minutes. Once again remarking how everything he did was stoic and controlled. But he was gentle and thoughtful too. Never once taking things past a point where they couldn't go back. It was obvious he wanted her, and under the stars, wrapped up in his warmth and strength, she wanted him too.

She reached up and pulled the knot the rest of the way free.

The bikini top floated away and Shelby would have been happy never to see it again.

Maybe it was the incredible dinner, or the beautiful unattainable place she found herself in now, or maybe it was simply desire made real, but she craved his touch on her body.

His light touch traveled across her ribs and cupped her chest softly.

She tilted her head back in response.

He leaned forward, his chest pressed up against her back as they eagerly moved together.

She felt his hot, opening lips press against her own, and enjoyed the heat of him spread across her face. The stubble around his mouth rubbed and almost tickled as he pressed into hers.

Ignacio's pliable lips were soft and sweet, and the longer their skin connected, it felt like warm molasses was spreading through her body and sticking in every vein.

She took a deep breath and moved her arm up to touch his face, allowing his hand to travel freely over her.

His mouth slid from hers, traveling in tender movements down her chin, back to her neck.

Moving her hand back towards his hair in response to his head tilting down. She pushed her fingers through his soft hair and pressed his head a little more firmly into each kiss.

Receiving the message, one of his hands squeezed her breast a little firmer, matching his kiss, transforming into a little bite on her neck. His rough hand explored every curve and peak.

She breathed in sharply and leaned into the sensation. Her other hand squeezed his thigh and she felt his muscles tense under her touch.

With his other hand, he moved it down. Dipping it under the surface of the water.

Shelby felt her breath catch as Ignacio's hand traveled down her ribs across her navel towards where she really wanted him to explore next.

He placed his hand on her inner thigh and squeezed.

She moved her hips forward and the warm water of the jets ran over her toes and up her calves.

His hand moved in and up and rested just below her abdomen.

She pressed against him and the strength of his body against hers was thrilling. A honeyed heat moved through her and pooled somewhere low in her belly.

His hand stopped just at the line of her bathing suit and he pulled away, waiting again. "Is this what you want?" His voice was barely audible.

She nodded, and tilted her head back to kiss him and his grip around her tightened.

But to her surprise, he still hesitated.

So she removed her hand from his thigh and moved it across her lap. Placing her hand gently over his own, guiding him further south.

Receiving her approval loud and clear his hand slid between her legs and he touched his tongue to hers at the precise moment he touched that aching part of her.

She gasped as energy surged up and through her body. He drew tighter to her and she felt his arousal, hard and enticing, pressed up against her low back.

Lifting her hips to welcome the touch, he slowly circled his finger around her apex. Fire exploded inside her and the sensation sent currents down her legs.

She stole a full breath for the first time in what felt like minutes, but it was cut off by him pushing the tip of his finger inside her.

Her eyes fluttered open and she could see his face was deep in concentration, dark and calculating.

He withdrew his hand, varying his touch or pressure slightly and repeated. Watching her while he did. He was studying her reaction, the way she moved into it, the way she gripped the back of his head tighter and shuddered a breath. Nacho was studying and learning what pleased her the most.

Warm water bubbled around them, only adding to the fire within her. His fingers continued their exploration, his objective to wring pleasure out of her in every way possible.

The latest touch she pressed backwards against him with a rock of her hips. Her silent longing was finally given and he slid his fingers all the way in. Fire. Heat expanded inside her. He captured her moan with his next kiss and the sensation of his calloused fingers drove her wild.

He watched her, gaze burning as he repeated the motion.

She felt his arousal at the base of her spine and moved into it, he let out a low moan and his grip around her ribs tightened.

Shelby let out a gasp as his power almost pressed out all the air from her lungs.

She gasped and coughed once.

"I'm sorry." He pulled away, releasing his grip.

Shelby took in a deep breath, her heart racing. "You've been holding back." She gave him a mischievous smile and turned around to face him.

His eyes burned into hers, a wicked smile crossed his face.

She needed to feel more of him.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as she positioned herself on top of him. Her legs straddling his waist, she slid her hips forward. She could feel his impressive length against her inner thigh and she pulled in for another low drudging kiss.

Sitting on his lap she was finally taller than him and her neck was a little grateful for the change in angle.

His hands dug in with eager fingers down her hips and across her backside. His grip only loosened enough to allow the rocking of her hips forward, moving back and forth against him.

She leaned back. Her head above his now, she tilted her chin down. Studying his face as she steadily rocked against him again. A conqueror's smile as she watched him unfold.

His fingers found their way inside her again and it was all she could do not to cry out in ecstasy.

Mutual hunger was fighting its way forward between them.

She rolled her hips with each of his deep strokes.

Then she reached down and closed a hand around his arousal.

His normally stoic expression gave way as his body responded under hers, letting out a sound deep in his throat as she moved her hand against his hardness.

Eagerly, Nacho tilted up his chin to meet his mouth with hers again. His hands anchored her in place as she rocked forward with his hand again, His touch, his body, was hungry for hers.

Something primal and desperate built between them as he squeezed her against him.

His face was close to hers, eyes flaring from desire as she took his bottom lip in her teeth.

Her hand remained around his impressive length, caressing his silky smooth skin.

The steam from the water rose up, as if their passion was making the water boil. They were lost in the waves of pleasure building and cresting inside them.

His eyes had glazed from lust, Ignacio moaned, the sound deep and rumbling, and made her desire him even more.

She had never seen him look out of control before and it only added to her satisfaction. Each stroke unraveled him. She wanted him undone.

Mutual heat was rising between them, quickly building to a crescendo that needed release.

Ignacio kept kissing her, pumping those fingers while rocking against his grip on her. This uninhibited force within him was as exhilarating and intoxicating as his touch.

A loud metallic clang sounded beside them and it made Shelby jump.

The generator beside the hot tub grumbled and choked out a high whine before clanking to a halt. The last of the bubbles popped at the surface and the bubbles went still.

Although the water was still warm as they sat there catching their breath, in the cold desert night it would turn unpleasant fairly quickly.

He leaned back with a sigh, a little chuckle came from him which surprised her. "It seems like we can't catch a break."

"We?" Shelby caught her breath and grinned back at him, placing her palms on the lip of the hot tub for support as she steadied herself. "It's not my phone that keeps ringing. Or my hottub that broke."

He bit his lip and ran a thumb gently across her bicep in thought. "You're right." He didn't say anything else but his mind seemed miles away.

"Do you want me to leave?" Shelby pulled herself off him and sank up to her collar bones below the surface, hiding her bare skin from the chilly night breeze.

She went quiet and thought about all the productive things she could and should be doing. How much she still needed to do, and the little time left she had.

"Do you want to leave?" He asked back, his gaze was piercing as he studied her.

"No." She admitted with a shrug, absentmindedly popping the left over bubbles that meandered at the surface.

"I don't want you to leave either." He hopped out and walked over to a bench where a rolled towel sat. He unfurled it as he walked over, and held it open for her.

She took a quick breath in bracing for the cold and stood out of the water. She swung her legs over the edge and Ignacio wrapped her quickly in the towel.

Rubbing his palms over the towel to dry her, and as she stepped towards him.

She then pulled the corners of the towel around him too, wrapping them up together. "It got pretty cold."

The bare skin of his chest felt nice against hers. Warm and inviting. She enjoyed the feeling of his muscles flexing as he continued rubbing the towel over her shoulders.

He didn't answer, and instead he seemed deep in thought as he made sure the wet spots on her arms and back were dry. She followed his gaze as he was staring intently at the gate to the back yard, then to his own door. As if expecting someone to burst through at any second.

"Well if I don't want to go, and you don't want me to. At the least, we should go inside and get warm, put on some dry clothes." She offered, looking up at him.

His grip on her froze and he looked down at her. "If that's what you want."

"Well, all but the last part." She looked at him with a playful smirk.

He tilted his head down, a smile crossed his face briefly. "Alright, let's go inside."