Page 61 of Wild Desire

I moved her only long enough to tie off the condom and throw it aside. I'd clean it up later. She was the only thing that mattered. I pulled her into my lap, cradling her with her legs draped over my thighs, her breasts occasionally dipping above the water, giving me a nice tease. "I know you don't want to talk about that kiss."

She stiffened in my arms.

"But we should have talked about it before we were intimate, and that's my fault. Back then, I didn't think of you as someone I could be interested in. You were a teammate."

She tried to ease out of my arms, but I wouldn't let her go.

"When you kissed me, I was shocked. I wasn't expecting that. But before I could react or say anything, you were gone. I wasn't sure how to approach you after that. I knew you were embarrassed, and I didn't want to make the situation worse."

Her face was pinched. "We don't have to talk about it."

I brushed a wet strand off her cheek. "I want to. That kiss woke something up in me. It made me see you. But as much as I wanted to make things right, we were supposed to be leaving for college. I didn't think it made sense to start something."

"I was stupid for thinking you saw me when you had any girl you wanted in school."

I chuckled without any humor. "Those girls wanted me for the status it brought them to date a star athlete. They didn't want me. That pattern continued in college and when I was competing professionally. The women I've been photographed with didn't see me. They didn't know me. Not the way you do."

Finally, her gaze lifted to meet mine. I saw hope. I hadn't lost my chance with her.

15

NOELLE

They didn't see me. Not the way you do.

"What are you saying?" Emotions shot through me in a confusing mix of hope, desire, and excitement.

"I like you, Noelle. I may not have realized it when I was a teenager, but I get it now. I see you."

I rested my palm on his chest, his heart beating a steady rhythm under my touch. "I like you too."

"So what do you say? Will you give me a second chance?" His expression was so earnest; I couldn't say no. Not when he was saying what I'd always wanted to hear.

"Yes."

He kissed me, soft and sweet, then rested his forehead against mine. "I'm sorry I acted like an idiot when I was a kid."

I couldn't help the smile that spread over my face. "I probably shouldn't have run off like I did. I panicked when you didn't kiss me back."

His hand covered mine. "We were kids then, but now we're adults. Things have to be different."

"No more running away?" I teased.

"Definitely not. I like having you in my arms."

I didn't have the strength to ask for how long. Our relationship had an end date, which I usually preferred. But this time, I found myself hoping for more. I always wanted more when it came to Killian.

"I don't know about you, but my skin is starting to wrinkle." He lifted his hand out of the water, showing me his fingers.

"You want to head downstairs?" I made a move to get off his lap, but he tugged me back. I liked how possessive he was, always pulling me closer.

"I want to lay you out on the bed and feast on you."

My entire body heated at the image that created in my head. "Only if it's okay on your knee. I don't want to set you back."

Killian lifted me off his lap and surged out of the water, his gorgeous, naked body on full display. His muscles were clearly defined, and I didn't have to pretend not to look this time. He was all mine for the night. "If it does, it will be worth it."

I raised a brow as he gave me his hand to help me to stand on the pool deck. "You'll explain to your agent that you exacerbated your injury during sex?"

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