My eyes shot open from the sensation. Part of my long hair was trapped under Ryan’s head. The sun was bright so I assumed it was sometime after eight o’clock.

A shot of pain hit my ribs when I started to crawl out of bed; my stomach muscles were sore from throwing up so many times.

I went out to the living room and grabbed my bag so I could get freshened up. I desperately needed a shower; my hair was a mess and I looked like I spent the night vomiting.

The hot water felt good, and I noticed that I was feeling much better. I brushed my teeth to rid my mouth of the nasty taste and washed my body twice to rid my pores of illness. I couldn’t get clean enough.

I put my jeans and a shirt on so I could go out to the living room again; my hairbrush was stuffed in my purse. Ryan came to the bedroom door and stopped to lean on the doorframe.

“Are you finished in there?” he asked as a big yawn broke from his lips.

As he spoke, my eyes took in the sight of him. Sometime throughout the night he took his jeans off. He was standing there in a white Tee and gray boxer briefs, and oh my, there it was, extreme morning wood.

HELLO! My brain shouted as my eyes traced the large bulge pushing out in his shorts.

He tilted his head and smirked at me when he realized that my eyes and thoughts were completely distracted. I think he actually meant for me to see that because he didn’t even attempt to move or hide it.

“Um, yeah, all yours,” I muttered, slightly embarrassed from being busted ogling his underwear. I turned and hurried out of his way, ignoring him when he chuckled.

While my brain was still tracing the outline of his morning friend, I grabbed my pack of birth control pills out of my purse and popped Monday’s pill in my mouth. Even though it was only a placebo today, I still wanted to keep up with my daily routine. I couldn’t have had sex this weekend even if I wanted to; that was probably another reason why I was feeling drained.

I had been on the pill since my first year of college, and the erotic vision that was in my mind right now was the exact reason why. Better to be safe than sorry, for I didn’t want to have children without first being married, but I certainly wasn’t going to keep my virginity intact until that happened.

“Taryn? Do you have an extra towel?” Ryan yelled from the bathroom.

“Yeah, hang on a sec.” I pulled a fresh, white towel out from one of my bags.

He was partially hidden behind the bathroom door, although I could see that his shirt was now off. I tried not to look at him at all when I handed him the bath towel. I already had one huge image of him that was repeating in my mind.

I walked back to the living room wondering how many women have gotten an up close and personal look at his package. I knew how many men I had sex with – I was still in the single digits for my total – high single digits, but nine is still under ten.

I figured with a body and a package like his, combined with endless opportunities from women throwing themselves at him, he probably took that thing out of his pants and showed it to as many women as possible. It was a frightening thought and I secretly wished my assumption was wrong.

I was putting the dishes away when he came out into the great room with nothing on except the towel wrapped around his waist. His left hand was gripping the two ends of the towel together; his other hand combed his wet hair back off his forehead.

“I need my bag,” he muttered.

Holy Shit! My brain shrieked again from the new sight of him. My eyes quickly took in the visions of his bare chest and arms, how they still glistened slightly from the water droplets that remained on his skin.

I gasped in a quick breath of air and turned away for the safer view of the kitchen sink. Clean the sink - just clean the sink. Don’t look.

I could see his reflection in the kitchen window; he had his back turned to me as he opened the towel and re-wrapped it around his waist. He stood there for a few moments using both of his hands to comb through his wet hair.

Effin-A he is HOT! Marie was right in her assessment. I was thankful that the metal sink was strong enough to endure my grip and hold me in place as I squeezed my legs together at the knees.

It had been far too long since I saw a mostly naked man and this one was killing me with visions left and right. I think he realized that I was turned and not facing him anymore because he sort of huffed, grabbed his bag, and headed back to the bedroom.

I had the kitchen all cleaned up when he came back to the island counter that separated the kitchen from the rest of the main room. He leaned on the island with his elbows right next to where I had my purse.

Shit! When I went to get him a towel, I forgot to shove my pill pack back into my purse. Just as I turned to correct my mistake his fingers picked it up. His look of curiosity was instantly replaced with a smirk when he realized what it was.

“You weren’t supposed to see that,” I murmured. I snatched the pack from his hand and shoved it back in my purse.

“What’s the big deal?” he asked casually. “So you’re on the pill. That’s good to know.” He smirked.

This was a conversation that I didn’t want to have with him. “Are you finished in the bathroom? ‘Cause if you are I’d like to dry my hair quick.”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Speaking of which, how are you feeling this morning?”

“I’m feeling better. My stomach muscles hurt though. I feel like I did two hundred sit-ups. And you?”

“I’m feeling pretty good actually.” He stood straight and stretched. “Must have been the lobster. Are you up to taking the boat out again?” I could tell in his voice he was hoping.

“Yeah, sure. Just let me finish getting ready.”

Ryan steered the boat back out on the lake and I was comfortable just lounging under a blanket. The bright sun warmed my face. I was feeling better, but still not one hundred percent yet. Being sick made me overly tired.

Ryan was quiet as he repeatedly cast his line out in the water. A few times it appeared that he was going to say something to me, but then he’d turn away to shake his head ever so slightly.

“Aren’t you going to fish today?” he asked finally.

“Maybe in a little while; I’m really comfortable just resting here.”

Ryan stared at me for a moment. “Are you sure you’re feeling up to being out here?” he asked, truly sounding concerned.

“Yes! I’m actually quite content. I’m in a boat, out on a lake on a beautiful, sunny day. I don’t have to be anywhere doing anything. No one is barking orders at me. I am thoroughly enjoying the simple pleasures in life.” I smiled at him.