When Bishop stood up in the water, I followed his lead. His serious expression caused my stomach to twist anxiously. I expected at any moment for him to stalk out of the water and take me back to the roadhouse. But just as he always did, Bishop surprised me.

“Look, Sam, there’s no denying the kind of man I am—a man whore, a slut, a womanizer.” He drew in a deep breath. “But maybe I’m looking to not always be considered that. Just like I have professional dreams, I have personal ones, too.”

My chest tightened, and I fought to breathe. “You do?”

He nodded. “I’ve never wanted to be like some of the older men in this club who are fifty and sixty years old and still fucking every piece of ass that moves. I want a home . . . a family. I want what my old man had with my mom before he threw it all away, only to regret it until the day he died. I want what Deacon and Rev have.”

I didn’t know what to say. At that point, I wasn’t sure I could’ve said anything even if I wanted to. I just stared at him in utter awe. What must’ve been my bewildered look caused Bishop to laugh. “Guess I shocked you, huh?”

After bobbing my head, I licked my lips. “It’s a good shock, though.”

“Really?”

I smiled. “Yeah, it is. I would have to be a bitter shrew not to be affected by what you just said.” I brought my hands out of the water to cup his cheeks. “You deserve for all your dreams to come true, especially the one for a family.”

“Thank you,” Bishop murmured. He pulled me into his arms. Our wet skin fused us together, chest to chest and heart to heart. After staring into my eyes for a few seconds, Bishop brought his warm lips to mine. I moaned into his mouth. Damn, the man could kiss. It was like a lightning bolt of tingling electricity from the top of my head down to my toes. As his tongue thrust into my mouth, I ran my hands up his broad back, my fingertips trailing over the corded muscles.

In that moment, I abandoned all thoughts of Gavin and the case that had preoccupied me for so long. On a physical level, I wanted to be with Bishop for what he could give my body, not what I could do to him or to advance my career. But then I also wanted to be with him for who he was on the inside—the kindness, the tenderness, and the good heart he consistently revealed to me. The lines were once again blurring, but it felt too good being with him to give a shit about the consequences.

When Bishop’s hand slid up my waist to cup my breast, I broke the kiss. “I thought we came out here to swim,” I panted.

“Nah, that was just a ruse so I could get you out here to fuck again,” Bishop replied as he started kissing down my neck and onto my chest.

With a laugh, I said, “At least you’re honest.”

Bishop grinned up at me. “I take fucking very seriously.”

“Mmm, lucky me,” I said as Bishop’s mouth closed over my nipple. As his tongue swirled around and around the hardened tip, my head fell back. When he kissed and licked a trail over to the other nipple, I opened my eyes to take in the blackened sky scattered with shimmering stars. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect setting to be with someone—it was beautiful and illicit and romantic all at once.

“I think it’s time we took this to the shore,” he said.

“But it feels so good in the water,” I protested.

With a chuckle, Bishop replied, “Yeah, it does feel pretty fucking amazing, but I’m never going to hold any wood in this cold water.”

I snorted at his honesty. “Then by all means get us out of here.”

Bishop cupped my buttocks and hoisted me up to wrap my legs around his waist. He then started walking us out of the water. The cool night air rushed over my wet skin, raising goose bumps along my arms and legs. When we got to the edge of the bank, he started easing me down onto the blanket of grass. The long blades pricked the skin along my back.

“Have you ever fucked under the stars?” he asked as he loomed above me.

“No. I think it’s safe to say you’re taking my rustic sex virginity tonight with all the outdoor sex.”

Bishop laughed. “I’m honored.” When I reached to pull him down beside me, he gave a shake of his head. “One sec.”

I moaned in protest when he rose off me. He went over to our pile of clothes and dug another condom out of his wallet. Rising onto my elbows, I cocked my head at him. “I’m glad to see you carry so much protection on you at all times.”

He at least had the presence of mind to give me somewhat of a sheepish look. “Yeah, well, it never hurts to be prepared,” he mumbled as he tore into the wrapper.

“I’m just glad I get to benefit from your preparation,” I teased.

He sank down beside me on the grass before rising onto his knees. With both hands he shoved my legs wide apart. “Speaking of preparation, I think it’s time I got you ready to take me.”

With a giggle, I said, “What you meant to say was ready to take that giant cock of yours, right?”

A wicked grin flashed on his face. “Damn straight.”

I winked at him. “Then do what you have to do.”

Before I knew it, Bishop had buried his face between my legs, causing a loud shriek of pleasure to escape my lips. I pinched my eyes shut and let the feelings overtake me as he licked and sucked my clit. Not only could the man kiss, but he was a god when it came to going down on a woman. He didn’t even need to add his fingers to have me writhing on the grass, cursing repeatedly and calling out his name. His mouth, and especially his tongue, was all he needed. Over and over, it lapped at my soaked center, darting in and out of me, sliding along my clit.