Leo returns home as a veteran with serious baggage, but the woman he left behind, Jessica, is battling demons of her own. Together, maybe they can beat them.
*****
Leo Villeneuve...
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His eyes said it all, so I grinned and turned to hug him, pressing my face into the hollow of his neck. Then I bit him lightly, and he growled in response.
"It's pretty warm," he said. "Want to swim?"
I opened my mouth to say no, because that was my default answer when it came to displaying my body around others. But why did I need to be so insecure around him? He hadn't hesitated to tell me how much he loved my curves. Why not allow myself a bit of fun?
I shrugged. I'd worn my tankini over a jean skirt, and swim bottoms that were more like little shorts underneath.
"Sure. The water will feel good." It might even actually cool me down from all the heat Leo was throwing my way.
"You're going in fully clothed?" Leo asked, running his hand down my back and onto my butt, squeezing lightly.
"No, this is my swim top. And I've got swim shorts on underneath my skirt. I'm a Florida girl, remember?"
He released me from his embrace, and I noticed his eyes lingering on my chest. This navy blue tankini top tucked and squeezed just so, making my breasts look impressively large. I grinned.
"Turn around." I made a little rotating motion with my index finger. "I don't want you seeing me undress."
"But you're in full view of everyone else and I'm going to see you in your suit in a few minutes. And I've seen you naked. What's the difference?"
God, he was cute. "You're killing me with logic, dude."
He grinned.
Keeping my eyes locked on his, I slowly unzipped my skirt, making sure to turn around and wiggle a little when I slipped it over my butt to reveal the blue swim shorts beneath that hugged my hips.
When I faced him, a delicious thrill went through me a seeing the way his eyes had grown wide and his Adam's apple bobbed.
Leaning close, I spoke in a low voice. "Race you."
And I was off.
Laughing, I ran into the water, then screamed when I got knee-deep. "It's cold!"
Leo caught up with me and kept going, then dove in when the water reached his waist. But I wasn't going to let him be the only brave one, so I followed. Soon, I skimmed through the clear Gulf, shutting my eyes because of my contact lenses. Swimming furiously, I propelled myself forward with mighty strokes. I'd been on the swim team in high school, and I'd even won medals and been called a powerhouse.
I undulated my body like a dolphin, swimming fast. Then my head hit something. Something both soft and hard. Something wonderful.
I promptly surfaced, slicking back my wet hair. Leo was in front of me and laughing as I opened my eyes. My feet floated to the sandy bottom. We were in water up to my shoulders.
