Hidden Depths (23 page)

Blake nodded. "Well, that at least explains it."

"Explains it?"

"Yeah. Kelly and I have known that something was
different with you guys for a while, but neither one of you had said anything
to either one of us. We were debating whether or not you guys were still
fighting the attraction, or if you were both too stupid to see the potential.
Kelly was telling me she was surprised at first, but then it made perfect
sense. I was never all that surprised. Actually, I was more surprised it took
you damn near a decade to wise up and see her."

"It didn't."

"No? Then... why?"

Josh sent him a wry grin. "You ever seen something you
wanted, and just known there was no way you could have it? Ever? That was
Gia."

"Why couldn't you have her?"

"At first, it was just bad timing. I had a girlfriend
when I met her. A situation I rectified as quickly as possible. But, by the
time that was over, she was seeing someone. And then, we were friends. She just
never thought of me that way."

"But you thought of her that way?"

"Always. I just learned to ignore it after a
while."

"Until a few months ago. So, what changed?"

"Nothing changed. I guess it had just built up. I had
made sure I was never alone with her. Not in years anyway. In fact, until the
tattoo, the last time I had been alone with Gia was when she went with me in
college to buy my Mustang."

"Damn, that was like five or six years ago. And you
hadn't been alone with her ever... not in that long?"

"Nope. At first it took some effort... I'm not kidding
when I said we were friends. We had actually spent some time just hanging out
before then. But after a while, it got easier. Then I got together with Deb,
and well... the rest is history."

"You know, now that I think about it... I kind of
remember that. Although I had forgotten that you guys used to hang out. Maybe
that's why I always thought you guys might get together."

"Really? I know you said you weren't surprised, but you
thought there was something there?"

"Until you and Deb had been together for almost two
years. After that, I figured you had just settled into the life plan your
family had and had decided to keep that other piece of you buried
forever."

"The other piece of me?"

Blake laughed again, although not a sound that had any real
humor to it. "The piece that you try so hard to keep hidden. The piece
I've been rooting for since the day I met you. Kelly has too, by the way."

"What the hell are you talking about Blake?"

"Josh, you and I both know that you have never really
fit the mold. You try, harder than you really should, but that's why you've
always had the little secrets. The one's everyone knows about and no one talks
about. Like your damn car. The trial law back in college. The kickboxing. The
tattoo. And, apparently Gia. You don't fit the world you were born into."

Josh smiled a little ruefully. "And here I thought I
was doing such a good job of hiding it."

Blake shrugged. "You do for the most part. There's only
a few of us that can see it. Me and Kell, but we've known you forever. Deb,
though I think she was a little surprised by it at first. And Gia... which is
why she has been a thorn in your side for as long as you've known her. She
mentioned as much to Kelly the last time we were at the lake actually. Said she
liked to needle you until you finally relaxed and pulled the stick out of your
ass... or something to that effect."

Josh smiled, remembering that particular trip. Tackling Gia,
getting to see all her delicious curves in a bikini. Watching her nipples
tighten under his gaze.

He looked up at Blake, who had a matching grin... "Lake
trip!" They both said at the same time.

It was absolutely perfect for an absurdly hot day in
October. "It's probably the last time this year it will be this hot. And
it's way too gross to do anything else."

"Yep. And, I'm sure the thought of Gia traipsing around
in that killer bikini played no part in that idea whatsoever."

Josh growled. "If you want to keep those eyes in your
head Blake, you make sure to keep them off of her."

Blake was back to laughter. "And why do I need to do
that, Josh? Isn't Gia single?"

When Josh simply glared at him, Blake laughed again.
"I'll make sure to tell Kelly to keep it quiet."

Josh continued to glare. "And I'll keep my eyes off...
promise."

Easing back in his seat, Josh reached for his cell phone
dialing Gia first. "Well, start by dialing. We've got to see if everyone
else is up for a little end of summer celebration. We can spend the day at the
lake and wrap it up at my place tonight. Pool, spa, pizza... Sound good?"

Blake nodded just as Gia picked up her phone.

Chapter 32

The timing couldn't have worked out better. Everyone had been
pretty much free today, Gia included. She had only had one client booked for
the day with a preset appointment, and she had called early this morning to
reschedule. She had said she had a flu bug, but Gia suspected she was merely
chickening out. It was going to be her first tattoo and she had already
admitted to being scared.

Either way, she was able to leave Aaron to man the shop and
head to the lake completely guilt free. This time, they were all meeting over
at Josh's house, leaving most of their cars there and piling into two. The
drivers this time were Dev and Josh.          

Josh, surprisingly enough, had brought the Mustang out of
hiding for the trip. As much as Gia wanted to ride in that car, she figured it
would be best if she rode with Dev. As they all piled in the cars, she was
surprised to see Deb climb into the front seat with Dev, Shannon and Scott
already in the backseat.

Okay, she would ride with Josh. She sighed, mentally
preparing herself to being trapped in a car with him for the next thirty minutes.
When she saw Blake and Kelly in the backseat, she brightened, coming up with a
plan. Surely Kell would help her out.

"Hey Kelly, why don't you climb into the front. I'll
ride in back. I know you weren't feeling well yesterday. I wouldn't want you to
get carsick or anything."

Kelly squinted her eyes at Gia, letting her know she saw
through her weak efforts.

"Are you sick?" Blake asked.

"No... I'm better now. I think I just ate something
that didn't agree with me yesterday." Turning back to Gia, she continued,
"I'm already tucked in back here. If there's a problem I'll let you know.
But I'm sure I'll be fine."

She smiled and batted her eyes at Gia. On another sigh, Gia
climbed into the front. At least she didn't call me out as an outright liar.

They got down to the river, and everyone quickly unloaded,
dropping their stuff on the sand, stripping off clothes and reaching for the
sunscreen.

Gia took a few moments to sneak discreet glances over at
Josh. At the remembered feel of running her tongue down that beautiful chest
last night, she couldn't help but lick her lips. God, he tasted so good.

When he met her eyes, she could see the heat burning in his
gaze. Knowing she'd been caught, and not even a little repentant, she smiled
softly before returning her attention to her sunscreen.

As she finished with her legs, she started on her shoulders.

"Here, let me get your back for you." He was kneeling
directly behind her on the blanket she had laid out.

A quick glance around showed her that while everyone was
still near, they were all sun-screening and chatting. No one was paying
attention to them. With a little shrug, she handed him the lotion.

Within seconds, Gia knew that had been a horrible mistake.
Josh was taking full advantage of the situation. He started at her shoulders,
leaning in and nipping her neck with his teeth, before soothing the little bite
with his tongue.

As he moved down to her upper back, he ran his hands around
to brush the sides of her breasts. Her nipples tightened immediately, pressing
against the damp fabric of her swimsuit. She suppressed the little whimper
trying to escape... barely. She didn't want to make any sounds. Nothing to draw
any attention to them.

After teasing her breasts mercilessly to attention, Josh
moved down past the bathing suit tie. He continued wrapping his hands, around
her sides, tickling her belly with his gliding fingers. When he reached the edge
of her bikini bottoms, he gently pushed them lower, then lower still. As his
dipped his hands inside, massaging the cheeks of her ass, he whispered in her
ear, "I can't wait to spank this ass again Gia. Would you like that?"

Deciding that this was merely a bad idea gone worse, Gia
lunged to her feet and ran back down to the water to join Deb and Kelly who
were cautiously wading into the slightly cool water. Tossing caution to the
wind, Gia dove headfirst into the river, surfacing far enough out to get caught
in the current.

As she worked her way back to shore, she swore she could
hear Josh laughing despite the water in her ears. Damn man!

Everyone seemed to sense that today was for merriment. A
party atmosphere was the mood of the day. They tossed a ball around in the
water for a while, and when everyone got chilly they headed back up to the sand
to play some beach volleyball.   

The afternoon had been amazing. Josh had taken every
possible opportunity to tease her, sneaking in little touches every chance he
got. When they played volleyball and she tackled him in her efforts to reach
the ball, he took an extra second to squeeze her tush before setting her away.
He brushed her nipples at every opportunity. He even slipped his hand between
her legs once when they were out in the water. All tiny, quick little touches
designed to inflame.

They worked.

By the time they all got back to Josh's house, it was all
she could do not to jump him, people be damned.

All this pent up desire was making her testy.

Everyone sort of split up, grabbing sweatshirts and such out
of their car. Gia headed into the kitchen to grab a soda from the fridge. When
Josh followed her in, she scowled at him.

"So, do I need a credit card or does Papa John's have
yours on file for delivery orders?"

"So, we've decided on Papa John's for pizza?" Josh
asked, smirking a little at her tone.

"Yes, I did."

Now he laughed, reaching into his pocket to grab his wallet
before handing her the card. As she reached forward to grab it, he pulled her
in and kissed her hard.

Despite her ire, her body responded to his as if they'd been
together forever. She melted... every bone in her body bending to wrap around
his muscled frame.

He backed her up, one slow step at a time, never taking his
mouth from hers. Their tongues fought a battle for control, even as her arms
wrapped around his neck pulling him closer.

When she felt the counter hit her hips, she remembered not
only where they were, but just how many people were in this house with them.

She shoved at his shoulders, pushing hard enough to let him
know she meant business. "Stop... someone might see, Josh."

He leaned back in, pinning her in with his arms again.
"And so what if they do, Gia?"

"Josh..."

At the sound of the bathroom door opening down the hall, she
panicked. He was going to keep her like this. Then everyone would know...

He moved away at the last second, dropping the credit card
on the counter. "Make sure to order at least two Supremes." He spun
on his heel leaving Gia struggling to catch her breath.

Kelly walked in just as Josh walked back to the living room.

"So, what kind of pizzas are we getting? Gia, are you
okay? You look a little... off."

Looking at the concerned expression on Kelly's face, Gia
couldn't help but laugh. "I'm fine, Kell. Let's order, 'k?"

Chapter 33

He was losing his mind. Josh had determined that Gia's need
for secrecy was solely for the purpose of slowly driving him insane. And, it
was working.

They had all gotten in the spa, leaving instructions for the
pizza delivery guy to come around back. Josh waited until everyone else was in
first, then followed suit and settled in next to Gia. He knew she'd never sit
by him and there was no way he was going to pass up a little skin on skin
contact, regardless of just how achingly hard his cock had been all fucking
day.

Wine flowed as freely as the water. The pizza kid came and
went, setting the food and some paper plates on the table. Everyone grabbed a
few slices before climbing back into the warm water.

As he slipped in next to her, he was very glad that he'd
ordered the custom spa. It was a fiberglass spa, sunken into a frame so it
looked like it was part of the pool. In reality it was a stand alone, sat as
many as twelve people comfortably and had over two hundred adjustable jets.    

This resulted in the water churning and bubbling enough that
no one could possibly see what he was doing with his hands.

So, he sent them wandering. Up and down Gia's legs. Across
the silky soft skin of her belly. Bending up at the elbow to twist and tug her
nipples. Finally, he settled those fingers right between her thighs.

He brushed them gently against the fabric of the suit,
keeping his touch featherlight. Up and down, side to side. Never increasing the
pressure, never slowing his movements.

When he felt her hips lift, bumping against his hand,
seeking a firmer touch, he smiled. Then he gave her what she silently asked
for. He pressed two fingers firmly against her little clit. He could feel her
piercing pushing through the fabric telling him just how aroused his Gia really
was. Slowly, he began firm, tight circles around that needy little nub.

Just as Josh felt her start to give in to her need,
thrusting against his hands in a rhythm guaranteed to send her over the edge,
she froze. Looking around the spa, she moved to an open seat between Dev and
Blake.