"I'm serious," he said, turning toward her, his face open, vulnerable in a way she rarely saw. "I don't know how he lives like that. I don't know how women take it. It's not... it's not normal."

She gave a low whistle, shaking her head, feigning disbelief. "You're exaggerating."

"I'm not. I'm a big guy. You've told me that. But next to that? I felt like a... sample size."

Shannon laughed again, but it came a beat too late. Her heart fluttered unexpectedly. Her skin prickled. "Maybe the steam got to your head."

"No," he said. "No, this was--God. It was just there. Hanging. Like it had gravity."

She straddled...