Page 46 of Summer Fling
"It was nice," I said quietly, wishing he wouldn't remind me that this was an arrangement. That none of it was real.
At home, he invited me to the deck situated off the primary bedroom. Here, we had a better view of the water. He'd lit a few candles in the lanterns scattered along the railing. The candlelight flickered in the night air, giving the deck the perfect ambiance.
He hadn't invited me on a walk on the beach, and I felt the anticipation for a first date kiss.
The last time we were alone like this, we danced. I wasn't sure he'd ask me to do the same tonight, but there was still an air of expectation as if something important would happen tonight.
I breathed in the salt air, wondering if I'd ever experienced a more perfect night. My belly was full of good food, and I couldn't get enough of the salty air or the sound of the waves. The only thing that would make this evening more perfect was if he kissed me.
It must have been the leftover buzz of the alcohol that had me paying extra attention to the way he reached over me to grab the wine glass, pouring, then handing it to me. I couldn't look away from his lips when he tipped his glass back and drank freely.
I wanted to kiss him to see if he tasted like wine. But he was my boss. I shouldn't be thinking about what his lips would feel like on mine. How strong his hands would grip me when he moved over me.
My face flushed, and I looked away.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
I set the glass aside, figuring I shouldn't have any more alcohol. "It's hot out here, isn't it?"
"I can turn on the fan." He moved to the side of the deck where he had a fan tucked away. He pulled it out and turned it on. The feel of the air on my skin made everything more heightened, and he was only sitting a few inches away from me. It wouldn't take much for me to straddle his lap. But that would be inappropriate.
Dalton tipped his head to the side, considering me, "Is that better?"
I wanted to pull my dress over my head and take a dip in the pool. Maybe that would erase this desire for him. "Would you mind if I cooled off in the pool?"
"I'll grab some towels and bring the wine down."
I didn't bother to grab my glass; I just made my way downstairs to the patio where the pool was surrounded by a childproof fence. I opened the gate and stepped inside the enclosure. I should have gone to my room and grabbed a suit, but it was too late now. I'd slip into the water, and he'd never notice that I was wearing a bra and panties.
I wanted to cool off before the heat incinerated me. I looked around, confirming he wasn't back, and lifted the dress over my head, unbuckled my sandals, and set them aside. Then I dove into the water in one motion.
The water sluiced over my skin, cooling the heat but doing nothing to quench my desire. If anything, the feel of the water against my body only made me want more.
Dalton appeared at the side of the pool with towels, wearing trunks with no shirt. His gorgeous chest was on full display with defined pecks, a trim waist, and ridged abs. His skin was tan from a life on the island. I was vaguely aware that he set the glasses on the pool deck before dropping into the water next to me.
Even though the pool was large enough to swim laps, he stood close to me. Too close.
He raised a brow. "Are you still hot?"
"Yes, I mean, not really," I said, licking my lips. Suddenly, I was nervous. Had he noticed that I was only wearing a bra and panties? The alcohol had broken down some of my inhibitions, but I felt sober, which was more concerning. The water hadn't done anything to deaden my attraction to him; it only made me want him more.
I was careful to stay below the water where he couldn't see my hard nipples or anything else.
His hands glided over the top of the water, making me imagine what they'd feel like on my oversensitive skin. "Tonight feels surreal, doesn't it?"
I looked up at him. "How so?"
He glanced down at me, his lips twitching. "It's a date, but it's not a date, if you know what I mean. My brain knows this isn't real, but my body is telling me a different story."
"What is your body telling you?" I felt bolder tonight, as if I could do anything I wanted and there wouldn't be any repercussions.
Dalton set his glass down without drinking and turned to face me, his hand braced on the edge of the pool. "That I want you."
"You do?" I asked, feeling a little light-headed.
He moved closer, his hand touching my hair. "Do you feel it too?"
I nodded, my throat feeling unbearably tight. I straightened, which raised my chest out of the water. His gazed drifted downward, but he didn't look surprised by the sight of my lace bra which had to be completely transparent in the water.
