Without another word they gathered their things from their bedrooms and met on the second floor where one of the bathrooms contained a clawfoot tub. Dan ran the bath while Sarah scolded herself silently for being such a reckless idiot. There was no way this would turn out well.
They were silent as the water ran. When Dan turned off the tap, he stripped and climbed in slowly, giving her ample time to look at his muscular body. He leaned back against one rounded end and stretched out his legs. “I won’t move,” he told her. “You climb in, sit where you want, do what you want. If you touch me that’s not my fault. I won’t touch you.”
That sounded like a challenge if she’d ever heard one. Sarah’s throat went dry as she stripped off her sweater, then gripped the hemline of her shirt, preparing to take it off, too. After years in the military, she didn’t have a modest bone in her body; there wasn’t time for that kind of thing. But with Dan staring at her, she found it hard to breathe.
She pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it away. Stripped off her soaking jeans and socks.
“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Dan said.
Heat pulsed through Sarah even though she was nearly naked. She reached back to unclasp her bra and tossed it aside, too. A sharp intake of breath from Dan told her he appreciated the view. She fought the urge to cross her arms and cover herself, took a deep breath of her own and shimmied out of her panties.
Dan’s expression softened as he took her in, and she didn’t feel like he was ogling her in a disrespectful way. Instead she felt as if he was appreciative of the gift she was giving him. Suddenly feeling vulnerable, she hesitated.
“Come on in,” he said. His low, rich voice warmed her all over again, as did the water as she slipped into it and arranged herself at the far end, leaning back against the high, curved side of the tub opposite Dan.
She kept waiting for him to reach out and tug her close, but he didn’t. He sat back and gazed at her. Her feet were positioned by his crotch and she was all too aware of his body responding to hers. When she shifted, her legs grazed his.
“You look beautiful.”
Sarah knew she was blushing. She couldn’t help it. “Thanks.”
A minute passed as they stared at each other. Sarah couldn’t believe the restraint Dan was showing. After all, she was right here. Naked.
And wet.
Another minute passed. Sarah shifted, growing uncomfortable under his steady gaze. She wanted him to touch her, she realized.
She decided to do an experiment. “How are you enjoying your stay so far?” She gave a little bounce that lifted her breasts out of the water and set them bobbing.
Dan’s gaze zeroed in on them. “Great. I love it here on the ranch.”
She reached for the shower gel, squirted some in her hand and lathered it up over her arms, shoulders and chest. She ran her hands in circles around her breasts and tweaked her nipples until they stood at attention. “Have you ever been to Montana before?”
“What? Oh… no. This is my first time.” Dan couldn’t seem to look away. She splashed away the soap, sliding her hands over her breasts again to remove any last traces of bubbles.
“How long will it take you to set up your new business?”
Dan’s gaze followed her hands as she poured another dollop of shower gel into them, lathered up again and got to her knees. The maneuver was slightly awkward in the close confines of the tub, but she managed it. She slid her soapy hands over her torso and down her thighs.
“A few months. Maybe more.”
“And you’re looking for a partner?” She slid her hands up her thighs and between her legs. Dan’s gaze tracked her every move.
“Yeah, I’m looking for a partner.”
Sarah glanced at him. Noticed that he was ready for a partner right now. The thought of him taking her here in the tub made her tingle all over.
But he still didn’t move.
Sarah splashed herself again. Got more shower gel.
“You’re running out of places to wash.” His ironic tone told her he knew exactly what she was doing and he wasn’t fooled. She realized she’d set up the bet in such a way that he wouldn’t move—wouldn’t touch her the way she longed to be touched.
Unless…
With a secret grin, Sarah turned around on her knees and braced herself with one hand against the edge of the tub. She scrubbed the other soapy hand over her exposed bottom.
A groan from Dan told her he wasn’t immune to this. “Sarah… hell.”
She looked over her shoulder, expecting Dan to finally move to join her. Expecting to feel him behind her—maybe even pressing into her. She wanted him inside her so badly.
But he still hadn’t moved.
Except for his hand.
He was watching her and stroking himself, his expression telling her he wasn’t far off from finishing. “You are… amazing,” he said. “Go on.”