Page 87 of Arrogant Bastard

The bigger, baser act of really taking care of him leaves me a little breathless as I tug my short sundress off and head for my lingerie drawer. The swimsuit is part of the closet of clothes I left here four years ago. My heart tumbles over again at the thought that Killian really has kept everything I left behind.

I select the blue bikini because it reminds me of Killian’s eyes. And also because it’s super-skimpy to the point of indecent. The first time I wore it, he made me promise to only use it for our private, indoor pool.

I secure the strings, slip my feet into six-inch red-soled platform shoes, and catch my hair up in a loose bun. The shoes are impractical as fuck, but what the hell. After a light application of gloss, I leave the room. I smile as I head for the pool, and then I realize…I’m happy.

I stumble to a stop, and slide a shaky hand over the pulse racing at my throat. God.

What kind of person am I? Using sex to cover my sins and daring to be happy about it. We’ll burn for this.

Those were my words to Killian two days ago, but no. My lover is above guilt. Whereas my hands are soaked in guilt and blood.

“Your five minutes are up.”

I jump at the voice transmitted into the room from hidden speakers. I drop my hand, swallow the angst raging inside me, and walk out of the room. Another curved corridor with even more fabulous views takes me to the stairs that lead down one level to the blue-tiled pool.

He’s reclining on a lounger with his arms tucked behind his head. But I’m not fooled by his relaxed stance. I feel his tension from across the room, and when he turns his head a moment later, I’m seared by razor-sharp hunger. His gaze moves lower. And he jerks upright.

“Fucking Christ.” His chest expands and contracts rapidly, and were I not confident of his prowess, I’d fear he was about to have a heart attack.

I walk over to stand before him and let my own gaze drift over the wide expanse of his bare shoulders and torso. “Hi.”

When his gaze falls to my legs and his eyes turn molten, I don’t fight the illicit thrill that worms its way through me.

“What the fuck are you trying to do to me?” he croaks.

I give him a little smile even though I want to smile wide, tell him I love him. I can’t yet, not until he knows everything. “Is one of those for me?” I nod at the two drinks sitting on the table next to his lounger.

His hand shakes as he picks up one cocktail and hands it to me. I provocatively wrap my lips around the straw and suck, reveling in the sharp hiss it draws from him.

After a long swallow, I place the glass on the table and carefully step out of my heels. “I’m going to cool off. Are you coming?”

He swears again as vivid color slashes his cheeks. “Go. I’ll watch.”

I nod and swivel on the balls of my feet. I feel his scrutiny on every inch of my body as I walk to the shallow steps leading into the pool. I swim with my head above water, and my unhurried butterfly strokes take me from one end of the pool to the other. I sigh at the heavenly sensation of the silky, warm water on my body.

Halfway through my second lap, Killian rises and prowls to the edge of the pool. He’s making no effort to hide the huge erection in his shorts, and the ever-pervading hunger between my legs flares to life. By the time I complete the third lap, he’s sitting on the first step, his legs half-submerged in the pool.

“Enough, baby. Come here.”

I swim over to him, dropping into all fours when I reach the bottom step. The water laps against my breasts. His gaze heats up fiercer, and he swallows hard.

“Closer. Please.”

I move higher, until my upper body is out of the water and I’m between his parted knees. “Release your hair,” he commands roughly.

When I comply, he reaches forward and tunnels his fingers through my hair. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. The most precious thing in my life. Tell me you know that?”

My heart shakes with the depth of what I feel for this man. Everything inside me wants to scream it. “Oh, Killian.”

His trembling hand moves over my neck, my collarbone, my breasts. “God, I need you. So much.”

“Tell me what you want,” I offer.

His eyes darken dramatically. “Everything.”

I nod, even though I know he means more than my body, and I know I can’t give him that. Not just yet. I lean closer until I can place my mouth against his. He deepens the kiss immediately, his ingrained need for control threatening to take over. He growls when I pull away but groans when my lips trail over his neck. Then lower down his torso.

Breathing heavily, he watches me as I nip and lick my way down to the edge of his shorts. He leans back on powerful arms and raises his body. I yank at his clothing, and his cock springs free. Hot and thick and heavy, it drives the need to tease from my body. With a moan of desire torn from my soul, I wrap a fist around him and draw him deep into my mouth.

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