Page 84 of Unspoken Promises

He leads me to a table where there’s a package to match the one from earlier. He hands it to me.

“Two presents in one night?” I give him a sly look. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you’re trying to woo me.”

He smooths some hair off my cheek. “The real gift is something money can’t buy.”

I’m confused. He gestures for me to open the box, and inside is a gorgeous emerald-green swimsuit. It isn’t skimpy like the one I wore at the pool party. It’s definitely sexy but it’s a classy and luxurious one-piece.

“Money didn’t buy this? I suppose a guy like you can get afreeswimsuit in San Francisco,” I tease.

He laughs and licks his lips, and I adore the sides of Enzo, but this one I never see.

“I’m going to teach you how to swim. I don’t want you ever feeling there’s anything you can’t do.”

My heart stops.

Falling and being in love is one of those elusive feelings no one can quite explain. I’ve searched time and time again, watched countless rom-coms and read the classics. Love is often explained with pumping lust, jealousy, and something I’ve often interpreted almost as being greedy for another person. But something talked about far less is growth. Enzo has given this runaway girl a place to thrive. Supporting a person’s growth is a subtle, unassuming ray of sunlight at the top of the mountain that changes the temperature enough to cause an avalanche.

I’m falling hard enough for this all to be the same sort of beautiful damage.

He’s offering me the world here. Enzo isn’t just the man I’ve thought he is.

He’s better.

It’s driving me insane waiting any longer. My fingertips and heavy core remind me of our unfinished business. God, I was hot for him on his sofa last night, and he’s so damn sexy right now. Sexier knowing he made this effort. Sexy in that top of his unbuttoned just enough for me to be feral. This all gives me confidence.

I step closer and reach up to take off his glasses. He’s steady, but his nostrils flare. I fold them and place them on a nearby table. I don’t know where my nervous energy has gone but I seem to have left it somewhere along the gravel path, because right now, I want to pick up where we left off.

If we’re going in that water, we’re doing it naked.

“You can teach me to swim. I’d like that.” My gaze darkens. “But…” I slide one of my straps down over my shoulder. “I brought my own suit.”

The world stands still apart from the arch of Enzo’s eyebrow.

He takes one step toward me, and it steals all the oxygen between us.

His voice is husky. “What shouldIwear?”

Your birthday suit.

I tilt my head flirtatiously. “People say you shouldn’t save your best for special occasions.”

I don’t know from where I find the courage but I do. I fiddle with one of his buttons. “It means a lot to me that you want to teach me these life skills.”

All of them.

“You want to do it like that, Scottie?”

“I do.”

He steps back, and hunger fills his gaze. “Strip.”

Now without the heat of his body, I stand more exposed. My heart pounds with excitement, and nerves make their way back but they urge me on.

It doesn’t take much to give him what he wants. I slide one more strap over my shoulder, and the dress slinks to the ground. It was too low-cut for any bra I owned, so I now stand in only the nicest pair of underwear I have.

“Keep going,” he commands.

His gravelly demand sends my nipples to peaks. I was feeling braver moments ago but I want this. I’m down bad for this man so I do as I’m told and hook my thumbs through my panties. I wiggle them down my thighs and step out of them once they reach the tiles below.

---