The morning sun hadn’t yet burned off the mist rising from the lake, and the water was still. A sheet of glass broken only by the soft hum of Ethan’s steps on the dock. He climbed aboard his pontoon, setting the cooler down with a thud near the bench seat and giving the steering console a casual tap like he always did, a silent good-morning ritual.
He liked mornings like this. Quiet, easy. No noise but birds and his own thoughts.
Which was why the call from his brother made his stomach twist the second the phone buzzed in his back pocket. He answered with a grin in his voice.
“Tell me you're about to walk around the corner with coffee and breakfast sandwiches.”
Ryan’s laugh crackled through the speaker. “You’d be so lucky.”
Ethan immediately frowned. “Uh-oh.”
“Yeah… so there’s a thing. At work. Emergency. Can’t miss it.”
Ethan leaned his hip against the console, looking out across the glittering water. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. Today?”
“I know. Believe me, I’m pissed too. But listen. Take Natalie anyway.”
There was a beat of silence.
“…You serious?”
“Why not? She’s already up, already packed. She was excited about this, man. Don’t make her sit around all day because of my crappy job.”
Ethan scratched his jaw, watching a fish jump in the distance. “You want me to spend the day on a boat with your girlfriend. Alone.”
“Dude. You’ve known her for years. You’re my brother. You’re not gonna try anything.”
Ethan gave a dry laugh. “No. Of course not.”
Try? No. Want? Different story.
“She likes you, man. She trusts you. She won’t feel weird. You won’t feel weird. It’s a boat ride.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, a boat ride where she’s probably in a bikini and I’m stuck pretending not to notice.”
Ryan chuckled. “You’ll be fine. Besides, it’s not like she’s your type.”
That made Ethan pause. No, Natalie wasn’t his type. She was every man’s type. Natalie was the kind of woman who made guys stare longer than they meant to. Long, toned legs, this effortless hourglass shape, dark hair, and eyes that pinned you in place when she actually looked at you. He’d been trying not to notice her ever since Ryan introduced her two years ago. The fact that she was sweet and funny and had that way of laughing at his dry sarcasm didn’t help.
“I’ll behave,” Ethan said finally, voice low.
“Good man. I owe you one.”
“Make it two.”
They hung up. Ethan slipped the phone into his pocket and exhaled, long and slow. A ripple of nerves curled in his gut, and he wasn’t sure if it was anticipation or guilt. Probably both. He walked to the cooler and double-checked the drinks. A few beers, some waters, a couple of Gatorades. He stared at the unopened bag of chips like it might offer advice.
You’ll be fine. She’s just Natalie. And you’re just... completely alone with her all day while she’s half-naked in the sun. Yeah, what could possibly go wrong?
He had just reached for the speaker to set the playlist when he heard footsteps on the dock, light, confident ones.
A voice called out, “Hope you didn’t leave without me.”
Ethan turned at the sound of her voice, and whatever air was in his lungs decided it could wait. Natalie walked toward the boat with that unhurried sway in her hips, her flip-flops tapping softly on the dock. The loose white cover-up she wore floated around her curves, but did nothing to hide them. The pink bikini underneath peeked through like it was trying to introduce itself, especially where it stretched over her full breasts and hugged her hips. Her skin glowed in the morning light, a rich, deep chocolate that always seemed to catch the sun just right. Long braids spilled over one shoulder, and her sunglasses covered her eyes, but he could still feel her gaze like warmth on his skin.
“Morning,” she said, stepping onto the pontoon with practiced ease. “I already know it’s just you and me. Ryan called me an hour ago.”
Ethan blinked. “Oh.”
She gave him a quick smile, not a hint of concern in her expression. “If you’re still okay going, I am. Beats sitting around his place watching reruns and waiting for him to come home tired and cranky.”
Ethan let out a soft breath and shrugged. “I mean, I’m already here. Cooler’s stocked. Would’ve been a shame to cancel.”
He hoped he sounded casual. Normal. He was not feeling normal. She moved to the front of the boat, shedding her flip-flops and dropping her bag near the seats. As she bent slightly to adjust a towel on the cushion, the hem of her cover-up lifted. Just enough to show a slice of the pink bikini bottom stretched over her perfectly shaped backside. Ethan turned away quickly, pretending to check the anchor rope.
Jesus. Get it together.
He glanced at her again, couldn’t help it, and caught the smooth curve of her back as she settled onto the bench seat, her legs stretched out in front of her, crossed at the ankle. She leaned back on her arms, sunglasses tilted up toward the sun.
How would she look without that cover-up…? The thought slipped in, sharp and unwelcome. He looked away again, jaw tight. No. Don't go there. She's Ryan’s. You’re just giving her a ride on the lake, not auditioning a fantasy.
Still, the image hung in the back of his mind like a stubborn shadow. Her naked on the deck, sun on her breasts, maybe laughing at something he said, letting him...
“Everything good up there?” she asked, her voice light, teasing. He realized he’d been staring down at the throttle for too long.
“Yeah,” he cleared his throat, forcing a grin. “Just making sure we’re not about to stall out before we even leave the dock.”
She laughed, smooth and warm, just like he remembered. It curled around him and made the boat feel smaller somehow. As he pulled away from the dock, guiding the pontoon into open water, he risked another glance at her. She looked peaceful and at ease. Legs long and golden in the light, the curve of her hip outlined through the thin fabric of her cover-up, the swell of her chest rising with every breath. She didn’t seem to notice the way his eyes lingered. Or if she did, she didn’t mind. He shifted in his seat slightly, uncomfortable in more ways than one.
This is going to be a long day.
--------------
Near noon, Natalie turned her face up to the sun and let out a relaxed sigh. “Think we can swim here?”
Ethan glanced around the open stretch of lake, then nodded. “Yeah, this spot’s good. No boats nearby. I’ll drop anchor.”
“Sweet.” She stood and grabbed the hem of her cover-up, shimmying it over her hips and up over her head. Ethan turned toward the anchor controls and immediately regretted it.
Her bikini was almost criminally thin. The light pink fabric hugged her breasts closely. He could see the subtle shadow of her nipples pressing against the fabric. The triangle of her bottoms dipped low on her hips and fit snug between her thighs, clearly outlining the cleft of her vagina. It wasn't vulgar, exactly. However, it was revealing enough to make his throat go dry.
Shit…
He forced his gaze to the water and crouched to drop the anchor, trying to think of anything that wasn’t the way her breasts jiggled lightly when she moved, or how the sunlight caught the curve of her ass.
“I’m jumping in!” she announced, voice bubbling with excitement. He heard her feet thump against the deck before a splash echoed out. Natalie surfaced a few seconds later with a delighted squeal, shaking her braids free of water. “Come on, Ethan! It feels amazing!”
He hesitated. Part of him wanted to stay right where he was, in control. The other part. The part where his swim trunks were starting to get tight against him, wanted to dive in and be closer to her. She was smiling at him with zero self-consciousness, her wet body floating in the sun.
“You coming or what?” she called.
Not wanting to seem uptight or like a coward, he peeled off his shirt. Then he dove in. The water was cold at first, shocking the heat out of his limbs, but refreshing.
Natalie swam toward him, grinning. “Told you it felt good.”
He nodded, treading water beside her, trying very hard not to look directly at her chest now that the bikini was soaked. The thin fabric clung to her breasts, outlining them even more clearly than before, her nipples now dark and unmistakably visible. The cold water had made them firm, pointed, and Ethan had to glance away before his thoughts betrayed him.
They swam a bit, splashing each other and laughing. She dunked him once, and when he came up coughing, she just floated on her back nearby, arms wide and carefree.
Eventually, they made their way back to the boat. Natalie climbed up first, the water cascading off her in rivulets. Her bikini bottom stuck to her like a second skin, the material riding up slightly between her cheeks. He looked up and watched her ass as she climbed. Ethan followed, trying to think of anything other than how much he was enjoying this. She plopped down cross-legged and grabbed a bottle of water, droplets still sliding down her skin.
“I’m starving,” she said, reaching for a sandwich.
“Yeah, same,” he mumbled, handing her one, careful to keep his eyes locked on the cooler.
They ate in the shade of the canopy, chatting about nothing important. She mentioned a show she and Ryan had watched together. It was all just pleasant small talk. With a woman he would love to fuck but can't. Ethan nodded along, listening, but struggling to focus. Every time she leaned forward to take a bite or sip water, her breasts shifted under that soaked bikini top. He tried not to stare. He really did. But he was losing that fight.
-------------------
Natalie leaned back with a sigh, stretching her arms above her head as the warm sun dried the last droplets clinging to her skin. "I'm going to sunbathe for a bit," she said, standing and brushing the crumbs of her sandwich from her stomach. Her voice was light, casual, but her eyes lingered on Ethan’s for a beat longer than necessary.
Ethan gave a small nod and reached for the fishing rod he'd brought aboard. "I’ll cast a line, see if anything’s biting."
Natalie turned away, walking toward the front of the pontoon. She stopped near one of the long lounge cushions. She glanced back over her shoulder. "No tan lines today," she said, and without hesitation, reached back to untie her bikini top.
It came off with a soft snap. She let it drop beside her, then eased her bottoms down over her hips and stepped out of them completely. She was naked now. Gloriously, deliberately naked. Her skin shimmered in the sun, droplets still trailing along her thighs. She lay down slowly, on her back, stretching out full length. One leg was bent slightly at the knee. Her thighs parted just enough to give him a clear view of her vagina. Ethan gripped the rod in his hands, jaw tight, heart pounding in his chest.
He tried to focus on the lake, the ripples, the light breeze drifting across the water. But his gaze kept sliding back to her. Every inch of her was exposed. Her breasts rose and fell with each breath, full and soft. Her stomach was smooth and firm, hips wide, legs long and bare. He stared at her pussy. She wasn’t pretending to be modest. She wanted him to look.
Ethan swallowed hard. His trunks were already tightening. He shifted on his feet, pretending to adjust the reel, but his eyes stayed locked on her body.
He imagined her with her legs wrapped around him, pulling him in. He could almost feel her heat, her weight, the tension in her thighs. The mental image hit him like a wave. Her lips at his neck, her breath in his ear, her body beneath his, writhing with need. The feel of her tongue licking his cock.
The fishing pole jerked suddenly in his hands.
"Shit," he muttered, scrambling to regain control of the rod. He blinked. Shook his head.
The fish had taken the bait while he’d been hypnotized by the very thing he shouldn’t want. He started to reel it in, but his hands were shaking. Not from the fish. From the ache building in him, sharp and undeniable. Behind him, Natalie shifted slightly, her voice soft and amused. “Hope you catch something good.” Ethan didn’t answer. He wasn’t sure he could trust his voice. The line broke.
"Damn, felt big too." He said, setting down the pole.
Natalie stood and stretched lazily, then took a few steps toward Ethan. The sunlight glinted off her bare skin, every curve glowing warmly. Before he could react, she wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug, pressing her naked body flush against his. Ethan’s breath hitched. The smooth warmth of her skin was electric, the softness of her breasts resting lightly against his chest making his pulse thunder in his ears. His hands twitched at his sides, caught between wanting to touch and afraid to betray himself.
She’s really here. Naked. Right against me. And she’s doing this.
Her scent was a faint trace of sunscreen mixed with her natural musk. It was intoxicating, a heady combination of comfort and raw desire. She pulled back just enough to meet his eyes, her voice dropping to a low, playful whisper.
“Is that boner for me?”
Ethan flushed but didn’t deny it. “Yeah. It is.”
She smiled, slow and knowing, stepping closer again, her hips brushing his as she spoke. “Do you want me?” The question hung between them, heavy and expectant.
“Yes,” he admitted, voice low and rough.
Without hesitation, she slid her hand inside the waistband of his swim trunks, fingers closing around the hard length she’d been teasing moments ago. Her touch was warm and confident, sending a fresh jolt of heat straight through him.
"But what about Ryan?" He asked.
"He won't mind."
Ethan’s eyes fluttered shut as she began to stroke him gently, the tension inside him unraveling with every move. Natalie’s hand was warm and certain as she slipped his trunks to the floor, her touch sending a shiver down Ethan’s spine. Without a word, she took his hand and led him toward the cushioned bench at the front of the pontoon. Each step felt electric, every moment charged with anticipation.
Ethan’s mind raced. This is really happening. Natalie Ryan's girlfriend. Right here, right now. Naked. Wanting me.
The thought made his pulse quicken and his breath catch. Part of him wanted to freeze time, to savor this impossible moment forever. Another part wanted to close the distance, to feel everything she had to offer. As she guided him to sit, Ethan felt the heat of the sun on his skin, but it was nothing compared to the warmth radiating from her body as she straddled him. Her weight settled over his thighs, and he was acutely aware of the soft curves pressing close, the smoothness of her bare skin like a living flame against him.
His hands rested hesitantly at her waist, caught between the urge to pull her closer and the fear of moving too fast. Her lips found his in a kiss that was both tender and electric, soft but filled with promise. The taste of her mouth, the steady beat of her heart beneath him, the gentle rise and fall of her breath mingling with his own.
As she moved slowly downward, Ethan felt a delicious, stretching warmth envelop him. The first intimate contact was tender and profound, an exquisite pressure that sent waves of electricity through his body. It was as if time slowed, each heartbeat pounding louder in his ears. The sensation was deeply grounding, connecting him to her in a way that transcended words. He became acutely aware of every subtle movement, every soft sigh she breathed, and she ground her pussy along the length of his cock. A rush of warmth and desire flooded through him, mingling with a gentle tenderness that made the moment feel both powerful and horny.
As she began to move, sliding slowly with a rhythm all her own, Ethan’s thoughts blurred into pure sensation. Every inch of contact sparked a fire that spread through him, intense and thrilling. He felt the slow, deliberate motion of her, the quiet moans she stifled against his lips, the way her body seemed to melt perfectly into his. Time seemed to stretch and fold around them. The world beyond the boat, the lake, the sun, even his own conflicted thoughts, faded away until all that mattered was the heat, the connection, and the undeniable pull between two bodies finally coming together.
Ethan felt the subtle shift, a quickening in Natalie’s breath, softening, becoming more fragile, more urgent. Her lips parted slightly, releasing a delicate moan that trembled like a whispered secret against his skin. The sound stirred something deep inside him, a raw mix of desire and protectiveness that tightened his chest and sent a shiver down his spine.
Beneath him, her body began to tremble. Not wildly, but in slow, deliberate waves. His hands felt the gentle shudder ripple through her muscles, the way her fingers curled and gripped his shoulders as if anchoring herself to the moment, to him. Her heartbeat pressed urgently against his own, a frantic drumbeat that echoed the racing of his own pulse.
He watched, breath caught, as her eyes fluttered closed, lips parting to release soft gasps and broken whispers, sounds that felt like they belonged to this sacred space between them. Each breath, each sigh was a thread weaving them closer, binding their separate worlds into one. The warmth of her orgasm blossomed slowly. Washing through her in waves that seemed to ripple beyond her body, flooding through his own veins like wildfire. The easy camaraderie they’d shared before was gone now, replaced by a charged intimacy. Ethan’s thoughts buzzed. He didn’t pull away. Instead, he held her a little closer, savoring the quiet aftermath.
Ethan’s hands slid firmly around Natalie’s waist, and he gently set the pace. The strength in his grip was steady and sure, a silent promise of his presence and intention. He was attuned to every whispered invitation to keep going. He felt the coil inside him tightening, a pressure building. But instead of rushing, he focused on the moment. On the exquisite rhythm they’d found together. On the way her muscles fluttered in waves. Her orgasm stretched out, lingering like a warm flame that refused to fade. Ethan wanted to ride that wave with her, to hold on until the very end, to let their bodies speak the words neither of them could say aloud.
His breath caught as he realized how close he was, the tightness spreading, a delicious ache that urged him forward. But more than that, he wanted to finish with her. With a steady hand and a steady hold, Ethan matched his movements to the rhythm of her release, savoring every shiver, every gasp, every tremble beneath him. The world contracted to this perfect point of unity. Two bodies, two hearts, moving as one.
With a sudden surge, Ethan gave in to the wave building inside him, releasing with a depth and intensity that caught him off guard. The pleasure rolled through him, powerful and consuming, unlike anything he’d expected. Every nerve seemed alight, every breath a fire in his chest. He tightened his hold on Natalie’s waist as their bodies moved together one last time, riding the crescendo side by side. When it finally ebbed, they collapsed softly onto the cushioned bench, tangled limbs warm and slick with sweat.
Their breaths came hard and uneven, chests rising and falling in sync. Ethan rested his forehead against hers, savoring the quiet closeness, the steady beat of her heart beneath his palm. Natalie smiled, lips brushing gently over his in a soft, lingering kiss. Then, almost mischievously, she giggled.
Ethan pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, a curious smile tugging at his lips. “What’s so funny?”
She smiled wider, eyes sparkling with something secret and knowing. “I’m just glad Ryan wanted me to have sex with you,” she said softly.