Slippery When Wet || Tyren AU

Chapter 7

Note: I went on vacation and it was tough getting back into writing when I returned, hence the delay. Hopefully should be back on track now, thank you for your patience!

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"Have I ever told you... how much..." Ty pants from exertion, "I appreciate... your generosity?" With that, he places the pool skimmer down on the patio, grabs his half-filled glass of rosewater, and begins chugging down the remainder of its contents.

Thus far, Lauren has been able to play it cool after last night's close call at the bar. She feels like she's been acting pretty normal and so has he, carrying on their typical level of banter while the pool cleaner works. The only minor difference today is Ty taking breaks more frequently, as the heat and humidity both hit record highs.

"Never hurts to hear again," she quips playfully from her reclined position on the lounge chair.

He finishes his drink to the very last drop and places the empty glass on the end table. Lauren dog-ears the page she's on in her book and sets it down with the intention to refill Ty's beverage, but the sweat-soaked man grabs the pitcher and serves himself before she has the chance. Instead, she just props up a bit on her elbows and carries on their conversation.

"Oh and speaking of generosity, thank you for setting up that spa bath yesterday. It was exquisite," she adds, daintily pinching her thumb and forefinger together for emphasis.

"That good, huh?" he manages between sips.

"Probably the most luxurious hour of my life to date," she declares with a dreamy grin. "Felt like I was floating in an ethereal sea of liquid roses."

Ty shakes his head in amusement. "You felt all that and only spent an hour in there?"

An explanation flows from her mouth with ease. "Well, my best friend needed a drink after a bad day, so off to the bar we went," she shares with a shrug, feeling light and open while chatting with the older man.

It's only when she catches sight of his thoughtfully pursed lips that she realizes she let her guard down too far and inadvertently divulged her last evening's whereabouts, something she had resolved not to do. Her brain scrambles to divert the conversation, settling for the one topic that has always stood the test of time.

"How 'bout this nasty weather today? I hope those storm clouds come this way and break the heat," she comments, gesturing with a tilt of her chin to the ominous gray presence in the distance. Her redirection works as planned when Ty follows her line of sight, and Lauren's shoulders sag with relief. Way too close. He turns back to her with a nod and a neutral expression on his face, so she keeps the diversion going. "It was so hot on our walk earlier I thought Dash was gonna turn into an actual hot dog," she jokes, causing the corners of his mouth to upturn while he drinks. "How the hell have you managed to clean pools all day?"

Ty places his mostly full glass back on the table and smirks down at her. "How have I managed?" he repeats, eyebrow cocked.

Lauren gulps, kicking herself for giving him an opening as the suggestive tone of his voice sets a fire in her lower belly.

"Well the first thing I do," he leads, grasping at the hem of his shirt, "is this." He proceeds to peel off his signature yellow polo, eyes never leaving Lauren's as he lets the saturated garment plop into a wet heap on the ground.

And holy shit, Lauren can't help herself. She rakes her heated gaze over the newly revealed skin, silky smooth over bulky muscle. She can already imagine clutching at his protruding pecs, biting on the thick band of muscle trailing down from his neck, swiping her tongue along every groove of his six-pack abs til she reaches his prominent v-line, and oh fuck she is in so much trouble.