Page 69 of Don't Call Me Daddy
“Cocky much? Why don’t you focus on racing and save your victory speech forifyou actually win?” She props herself on the rocks. “Are you ready?”
I nod.
“We go in three, two, one!”
I push my feet off the cliff as hard as I can, and I pump my arms through the water, propelling myself forward in a practiced movement. The cool water glides across my burning muscles as I move closer and closer to the falls with every stroke.
What I didn’t tell her was that I swam competitively for most of my life and into college. Swimming is my favorite form of exercise, and I try to do it at least three times a week. It’s how I keep all my demons at bay. Admittedly, my workouts have been on the back burner since this deviant woman walked into my life, and it feels so good to exert myself.
I can’t wait to see the look on her face when I beat her. A flood of ideas crash through my mind, of the things I could make her do, and it only fuels me further. In one final stroke, I dive below the surface, feeling the heavy pounding of water crash against me, and I swim until I’m on the other side in the hollow space between the cliff and the falls.
I push my hair back from my face as I come to the surface, where I find Ivy sitting cross-legged on the rock’s ledge, grinning like she just stole something.
“How … how did you …” I look around the hollow space for some type of explanation.
“I never said we had toswim.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ivy
“Cheater!”
He climbs out of the water, winded from the exertion, and I take the moment to admire the ridges of corded muscle he keeps hidden underneath those dress shirts.
Leo Kingsley has the most incredible body I’ve ever laid my eyes on. His abs flex with definition and his bulging biceps practically beg to be touched. He’s all muscle and testosterone, and when he glares at me like that, with that fire burning behind his eyes, I want to melt in a puddle at his feet. I like to give him a hard time about being older than me, but truth be told, that’s part of his appeal. He’s a nurturer through and through … even when he’s looking at me like he wants to bend me over his knee … maybeespeciallythen.
I hold up my hands. “It’s not cheating if it wasn’t stated in the rules.”
“It might not’ve been stated, but it was certainly implied, and you know it,” he growls out, and I pop my arms behind me,stretching myself as if his protesting doesn’t bother me in the least bit.
Of course, my apathy only annoys him more … which is exactly what I was going for.
His dark eyes scan my body, his gaze lingering on the thin, wet fabric of my bra. It’s hot and heavy and almost uncomfortable, but I don’t flinch despite the kaleidoscope of butterflies swarming to life in my belly. My nipples are hard and puckered beneath the wet fabric, begging for him to touch me, begging for him to give me even an ounce of relief.
“How did you beat me here anyway?” He looks around again, and I laugh, pointing to a small opening behind him.
“There’s a tunnel behind the rock where we started that leads straight to the waterfall. I found it when I was exploring before you showed up. I’m surprised you didn’t know about it, considering you used to come here all the time.”
“Oh,Iknew about it. I just didn’t realizeyoudid.” He huffs under his breath and rubs a hand behind his tense neck. “You played me …”
“Like a fiddle,” I say with a smile.
“Well, I only make honest deals, so the bet’s off. You can forget it. Whatever you’re thinking, I’m not doing it.”
I look him up and down, my eyes lingering on the massive bulge of his erection. “I guess we’ll have to see about that, now won’t we?”
He glances at his watch. “Come on. It’s getting late. We should head back to camp. I don’t want everyone to find us out here … like this.”
“You mean, soaked from swimming in nothing but our skivvies? The horror.” I feign shock.
He shakes his head as he helps me up. “Why don’t you lead the way since, apparently, you know all the shortcuts around here?”
I shrug. “Are you sure it isn’t so you can stare at my ass?”
“Fine. You’ve got me there. I’m going to stare at that perky little ass the whole hike back, all while picturing all the things I’d love to do to you. Happy?”
His admission makes my jaw fall open, but before I can press him on it, his massive palm envelops my neck in a firm hold, and I go completely still.
