“Now swan dive; touch the ground.”

Mara bent over slowly, angling her back so she pressed against Trent from hip to thigh.

“Oh crap …” Trent muttered.

*   *   *   *   *

Trent gulped. He had no doubt Mara now realized exactly how much he wanted her. The evidence of that was currently trying to poke its way through her yoga shorts. He'd never thought of exercise as sensual before but he wasn't sure if he would survive this yoga session.

He looked at where her bottom snuggled up against his groin. Her ass was full and heart-shaped, more than enough to fill his hands just the way he liked. His fingers flexed at her waist and she made a soft sound.

“Are you okay? Do you need any help getting up?” He hoped he hadn't gripped her too hard in the midst of his fantasizing. He was supposed to help her with her stretches, not imagine her stretched out on top of him.

“I’m fine. I just have a leg cramp.” She sat down on the floor abruptly.

“Well at least that's something I have some experience with. I used to get them when I played football. Let me see.” Trent kneeled beside her and helped her stretch her leg out. “Lie back and let me massage it out.”

As soon as she stretched out on her back, Trent realized this was an incredibly stupid idea. He was supposed to look at her on her back while he massaged her thigh without being visibly turned on?

Right.

Well, if he did this carefully maybe she wouldn’t know. He could hold her leg and stretch it out without her getting a glimpse of the Olympic-sized pole vault in his pants.

Mara startled slightly when Trent lifted her right leg and placed it on his shoulder. She looked up, and their gazes caught and held. For a long moment, Trent wondered if they were imagining the same thing : Him holding her leg up with both stark naked.

“I’m just going to apply a little pressure and you can press back against me.” He leaned forward, forcing her thigh to press into her chest. “That's it. That's not too much pressure, is it? How does that feel?”

How does that feel? You like that baby?

“Shit.” Trent closed his eyes as the erotic images played out in his mind. He opened them to see Mara watching him. She raised a hand and ran it gently over his hair.

A loud ding came from the kitchen and Mara jumped. Trent released her leg and moved back, appalled at what he'd almost done. Another second and he'd have hooked a finger in the waistband of those little shorts and tugged them to the side. Another second after that, he'd have been massaging her from the inside out right in the middle of her living room.

“You should go get the food, Mara.” He moved away from her and ran a hand over his face. She looked hurt for a second before sitting up straight.

“Sorry. I'm just in a bad mood today. I don’t mean to take it out on you, princess.” He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the forehead before sitting on the couch.

“No problem. Thanks for taking care of my leg.” She rose in a graceful motion and walked over to the DVD player. The screen went black for a few moments before the words An Affair to Remember rolled across the screen.

“You're going to torture me with a chick flick now? Isn’t that something girls only do to their boyfriends?”

Mara looked over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out. “You're practically my boyfriend anyway. You take me out to dinner, you fix stuff when it breaks and you're the one I call when I see a bug. The only thing you don’t do is…” She quickly looked away. Her cheeks flushed pink.

“I’ll just go get the food now.” She rushed into the kitchen.

The only thing you don't do is make love to me.

The thought hung in the air as palpably as if she'd spoken it aloud. Trent dropped his head into his hands and sighed. He really hoped Mara wasn't in a chatty mood. Because if their conversation went back to boyfriend duties, he feared he'd give her a demonstration of exactly what he could do for her.

CHAPTER THREE

Mara pulled the bread from the oven and placed it carefully on top of the stove. She looked over at the uncorked wine and the lasagna she’d already arranged on her best plates. Everything was ready to go — except her confidence.

Get it together girl. It’s time to go after what you want.

“You need any help?” Trent’s voice floated in from the living room.

Sure thing big boy. Just strip your clothes off for me. It’ll save time later.

“No thanks. I’ve got it.” Mara chuckled and blew out a breath, rolling her head from side to side. She'd already gotten a leg cramp and put her foot in her mouth by calling him her boyfriend. Being a seductress was hard work. Especially when she wasn't even sure if it was working.

Whatever the outcome, I have to see this through.

The unresolved sexual tension between them had gone on for too long. Ever since freshman year in college when she'd walked into Matt’s dorm room and come face to face with a shirtless Trent, she'd known.

He was The One.

He’d tutored her in chemistry, cheered her on at volleyball games and helped Matt intimidate her ex-boyfriends. He’d been right there with her twin brother as her biggest supporter or shoulder to cry on, whichever she needed most.

All the while not knowing she was in love with him.

Mara picked up the two plates of lasagna and carried them out to the coffee table. Trent sat up straight when she approached, moving to allow her room to maneuver. He wouldn’t meet her eyes but his gaze lingered on the swells of her breasts when she bent over to place the food on the table.