by Cynthia Eden
“I’m sure there are plenty of men who would want to date you.”
“That’s kind of you to say, but to be honest, I tend to scare off a lot of men.”
“You?”
“Yes. Remember when you first met me?” Of course, he’d remember. Their acquaintance was still new. “You couldn’t wait to get away, either.”
More water trickled down his chest. “That’s not true. I thought you might have a death wish, but getting away wasn’t what I wanted.” He moved even closer to her. “Why aren’t you dating anyone, Chloe?”
“Does whiskey make you ask personal questions?”
His gaze searched hers. “How do you know I had whiskey?”
“Because my brother called me. Told me you’d helped him to empty a bottle. He sounded rather drunk.”
“Oh, I assure you, he is quite drunk.”
“He swore you helped him empty the bottle, so when I heard splashing, I thought perhaps you’d fallen in as you staggered back to your place. Instead, I found you appearing all fit.”
His right hand inched closer to her leg. “I didn’t drink as much as your brother.”
“So I’m realizing.”
“Your brother talks a lot when he drinks.”
“Does he now?” Tell me something I don’t know.
“We had a deal. Each time I answered a question for him, he’d answer a question for me. Except once he got into the expensive whiskey…” One bare shoulder moved in a casual roll. More water dripped down his body.
“Let me guess.” She knew how this story would end. “He stopped asking questions and just answered them for you?”
She caught the flash of Joel’s smile and was reminded, once more, of a shark.
“Drinking makes Reese chatty.”
“I’ve warned him about that trait in the past.” Her heart was beating a little faster. She kept her voice steady, though, as she said, “You were getting my brother drunk so that you could ask him questions about me?”
“I was.”
She tut-tutted. “That doesn’t seem like a nice thing to do.”
His fingers brushed against her thigh. “I don’t remember saying I was a nice man.”
His touch seemed to burn her. Her breath came a little faster. “Did you learn anything interesting?”
“I learned lots of interesting things.”
“Like what?”
“Like when your brother drinks too much, he loses his accent.”
She shoved away from the wall and sank into the pool. Chloe let her body slide into the water right in front of him. He backed up, just a bit, just enough to make room for her.
“Chloe!”
She was shorter than him, so the five feet of water came much higher on her. His hands closed around her hips and he lifted her up. Held her in the water so that her feet could kick slowly under the surface.
“What are you doing?” Joel demanded.
“You made the water look good. I thought I’d join you.” Lie.
“You’re wearing a dress.”
The dress was currently floating around her. Or, at least, the bottom of the dress was. “Noted. I am wearing a dress, and I don’t think you’re wearing anything.”
“Didn’t have swim trunks. Figured it was only me out here. Why not ditch the clothes and jump in?”
Why not indeed? “You don’t have to hold me. I’m a very good swimmer.”
“Maybe I like holding you.”
Her hands rose and curled around his broad shoulders. She knew what he was doing. Part of her was even impressed. “You think you’re learning all my secrets.”
“No, tonight, I think I was learning your brother’s secrets. Though I have doubts about him actually being related to you.”
Their wet bodies brushed. “What else did you learn?”
He didn’t answer her.
She became aware of just how close they were. And when their bodies had brushed a moment before… “Oh.” He was aroused. The thick, long length of his cock was unmistakable.
“You’re the one who jumped in with me. Can’t help the response I have. I happen to think you’re sexy as hell.”
Why was her breath coming so fast?
“What did I learn? Let’s see…” His voice was deep. Rumbling. Sexy. “I learned that you were in a bad relationship. Reese said you’ve been avoiding any serious ties since then. He said that was the reason you weren’t dating.”
Bad didn’t begin to come close to describing her last relationship.
“Scared, Chloe?” Joel breathed against her mouth. “Did you get burned before?”
“I did.” He seemed to surround her. “But I’m not afraid of you.”
“No, I don’t think you are.”
With every breath that she took, Chloe could swear that she tasted him. “What are you waiting for?”
“Chloe?”
“You don’t want a relationship.” With his past, she knew that was the last thing he wanted. Chloe rushed to explain, “I don’t, either. But you can still kiss me. I’m not asking you to fall in love with me or anything like that. I’m merely asking—”
“You want my mouth?”
“Yes.” Hadn’t she just said as—
Joel pressed his lips to hers. Her mouth was open and when he kissed her, when he thrust his tongue past her lips and tasted her…
Heat. Intensity. Desire.
Her hands tightened on his shoulders. Her lips parted even more. Her tongue met his.
He kissed her harder. Deeper. A growl built in his throat.
Her legs rose and locked around his hips. The skirt of her dress caught between them, but she could still feel the hard length of his cock thrusting against her.
He wanted her. No lies. No tricks. Just need.
When she’d originally jumped in the pool, her intent had been to distract him. He’d been far too observant regarding Reese. A problem. So she’d been trying to stop his line of inquiry. But then…
Then desire had pulsed through her blood. They’d kissed. She’d wanted him. Far more than she’d expected.
Far more than I’ve wanted anyone else?
His fingers slid along her waist. Dropped lower and touched her thigh as he slid his hand under the fabric of her skirt. His touch was careful and rough at the same time. A combination that made no sense but was turning her on like mad.
She pushed closer to him as a moan built in her throat. He was kissing her with a raw, desperate hunger. Distant alarm bells rang in her head. With every touch of his lips and tongue, the desire she felt for him grew stronger. Didn’t count on this. Didn’t plan for this.
But she certainly wanted this. Wanted him.
Her hips arched against him. The water made it so easy to move. To rub against the length of his cock. To push her sex against him. To ride over his cock when she shifted her body just the slightest bit and—
Joel tore his mouth from hers.
No, don’t stop. I like this too much.
But he wasn’t stopping. He was moving his mouth. Putting his lips on her throat. Licking. Kissing. Lightly biting.
And his fingers…
His fingers had slid between their bodies. His fingers pressed over her panties. Pressed, then pulled, and the wet fabric tore for him.
“Joel?” Chloe gasped out his name.
His head lifted. He stared into her eyes. His face had turned savage, almost primal, with passion. “Do you want me to stop?”
She shook her head.
“Good.” His fingers slid over her sex.
She bit her lip to hold back a moan. He pushed one long finger into her, working it in deep, then thrusting a second into her.
She stopped biting her lip. Her head turned—
His thumb rubbed over her clit. He rubbed and thrust his fingers into her. Worked her into a hungry frenzy.
This time, she didn’t bite her lip. She bit him. Her teeth sank into his shoulder.
“Fuck, yes, you are sexy as hell.�
�� His fingers moved faster. Stroked all of her. Explored every inch of her sex as if he had a right to her.
Her heart beat faster and faster. She arched into his touch. Rode his hand. Loved the way he seemed to know exactly how to touch her. How hard. How fast. How—
“Chloe?”
Oh, God. Pleasure was erupting. Blasting through every cell of her body.
“Not fucking now, Reece,” Joel growled.
His fingers are still inside me.
Her sex was squeezing him tightly as she came.
“Is…is my sister in the pool with you?” Reese’s voice slurred on the question.
“Yes, she slipped and I caught her.” Joel’s voice was guttural. “Go back inside.”
“But…Chloe—”
“You’re drunk.” Now Joel’s voice was even rougher.
His fingers are still moving in me.
“Go inside,” Joel ordered again. “You don’t want to slip and fall like Chloe did. I’ve got her.”
“Night,” Reese mumbled. He shuffled away.
Chloe had squeezed her eyes shut when the orgasm hit her. Her mouth was still pressed to Joel’s shoulder. She lifted her head. Opened her eyes.
The blue light from the pool sent shadows dancing over his face. He looked so rough. Dangerous.
And his fingers were inside her.
“His timing was shit,” Joel rumbled. His fingers began to withdraw.
An aftershock of pleasure rushed through her and her sex squeezed around him.
“Fucking hell.” He heaved out a rough breath. “You need to get out of this pool and get away from me.”
His fingers were gone. Her legs were wrapped around his waist. She lowered them. Let go of him and grabbed the pool wall.
Joel turned and dove for the opposite end of the pool. He swam hard. Fast.
Angrily.
Chloe pulled herself out of the pool. She heaved up and stood and realized that her knees felt shaky. The fabric of her dress had billowed in the pool, but now it clung to her far too tightly. The panties he’d torn fell onto the stone patio. She stood there, dripping, quivering, and wondering what would be happening right now if Reese hadn’t appeared.
Joel was swimming laps again. Rough, fast laps. His arms slammed into the water. His legs kicked with fury. She waited until he came back to her side of the pool and asked, “Does this mean you don’t want to talk about it?”
He threw out one hand and grabbed the edge of the pool wall. His head angled back. “Talk?” he gritted. “No, can’t say I want to talk.”
“Then what—”
“Fuck. I’d like to fuck, but I think that’s off the table, isn’t it?”
Why would you think that?
“Go to bed, Chloe.”
She stood there. Kept dripping. A shiver swept over her.
“Or is fucking part of the job description?” His voice was even rougher.
Now her chin lifted. “That was mean.”
“Yes, well, I can be a mean bastard.” He shoved away from the wall. Headed for the other side of the pool.
She waited.
Dripped.
When he came back, Chloe crisply informed him, “It’s not part of the job description.”
He looked up at her.
“What happens between us—personally—has nothing to do with the job. I wanted you tonight. I thought you wanted me.” The signs had been pretty unmistakable. “I apologize if I was wrong.” With that, she scooped up her heels and her torn panties and strode for the main house.
“Chloe!”
She didn’t stop even though she heard the sound of water sloshing behind her.
“Chloe, dammit, wait!”
She didn’t want to wait. Her chest felt funny. An ache. Hurt? Joel wasn’t supposed to hurt her. Nothing about this situation was supposed to hurt her.
And yet…
His hand locked around her shoulder. “Stop.”
They were almost at the main house.
“You’re naked,” she said without looking back. “Reese is probably still up. Marie might be, too. You should go back to your place and get dressed. Or maybe just turn in for the night.”
“Why aren’t you looking at me?”
She pulled in a breath. Schooled her expression. And glanced back at him.
The faint glow from the nearby gas lantern provided illumination, but not, she hoped, enough light for him to see her eyes too clearly. “I’m looking at you now.”
“What happened in the pool?”
You gave me a fantastic orgasm. “I think you know what happened.”
“I know I felt you come against my hand. Are you going to deny that?”
Chloe shook her head.
“You think it was a mistake? You want to forget—”
She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck. Yanked him down toward her and pressed a kiss to his lips. Her mouth was open, so was his, and her tongue dipped inside. She loved the way he tasted.
And the way he made her feel?
Completely unexpected. “I don’t want to forget anything,” she whispered. “You’re the one who told me fucking was off the table.”
He flinched. “Chloe…”
“Figure out what you want. Sex has nothing to do with our partnership. It only has to do with pleasure. I don’t want strings. I’m not looking for some kind of forever.” She didn’t believe in that. “Figure it out,” she said again. “You know where I am.”
With that, she let him go and moved toward the door. “And don’t forget that you’re naked,” Chloe called over her shoulder.
She went into the main house.
Shut the door behind her.
Chloe dripped her way up the stairs.
***
Fucking hell.
Joel watched her until she vanished. Stood there freaking naked as she left him. With a hard-on that ached for her.
I could feel it when she came around my fingers.
She’d been incredible. And if her brother hadn’t interrupted them…
I’d have her now.
He’d been a total ass when he threw out that bit about fucking being a part of the job description. He hadn’t meant it.
He just…He hadn’t intended to want her so much. To need her.
He tried to turn the doorknob, but it was locked. His hand lifted to pound—
The door opened.
“Here’s a towel.” Reese tossed it at him. Appeared and sounded decidedly less drunk. “No need for you to come in here tonight and fetch one.”
Joel looped the towel over his hips. “Chloe.”
“She’s gone to bed. I suggest you do the same.” His words only slurred a little.
“I want to talk to her.”
“I don’t think that’s what you want. I believe you have another four-letter word in mind. Good night.” Reese slammed the door shut.
The guy had been right. Talking wasn’t what Joel wanted. Joel swung around. He took a step forward even as he wished that he’d kept his fool mouth shut in the pool.
Joel stopped. More like froze.
The light from the nearby lantern was falling directly on him. He noticed the marks on his arms. His chest. The scars. When he’d been in the pool with Chloe, he’d forgotten all about them.
The pool had been lit with lights that shined from under the water. All of his scars would have been visible. Every single horrible one.
But…
She hadn’t looked at them. She’d held onto him fiercely. She’d locked her legs around him. She’d kissed him. She’d let him touch her, finger fuck her…
And she hadn’t been repulsed. Hadn’t shuddered at the sight of him.
She hadn’t cared.
Slowly now, considering, he made his way to the guest house.
Chloe doesn’t care how I look.
And…
I will have her.
Chapter Fourteen
“Don’t you look dashing?” Reese lifted his br
ows as he made that…question? Statement? “I dare say, that suit fits you far better than it ever fit me.”
With an effort, Joel kept his body relaxed as he stood in the foyer. He’d just entered the house and found Reese waiting for him. “Chloe is supposed to meet me.” He’d gotten a text earlier that day with meeting—and dress—instructions from Chloe. He hadn’t seen her since the previous night, and here it was…eight p.m. Sharp.
What had she done that day?
And why the hell had he felt as if he…missed her? Ridiculous.
“Ah, yes. I believe you have your big date at the Serpent tonight, yes?” Reese rocked forward. “She’ll be down in a moment.” He stared expectantly at Joel.
Joel stared back.
“Had the strangest dream last night,” Reese finally announced.
“Did you now.” Not a question. More of a…I don’t want to hear about it.
“You were in the pool. So was my sister. She’d fallen in.” His eyes went all wide. Fake innocence. “Only instead of helping her out of the pool, you were taking advantage of her.”
Taking advantage, huh? “I had a weird dream, too,” Joel drawled.
“Do tell.”
“I was drinking with this British guy only…after the third, no, fourth glass of whiskey, I swear, the man started sounding as American as, well…I am.”
Reese swallowed. “Funny dream.”
“Wasn’t it?”
“I—”
“Joel, you’re right on time.” Chloe’s voice sounded pleased.
His head automatically turned at her words and—
Fuck me.
He found himself hurrying toward her. She stood at the top of the staircase, and she was gorgeous. She wore a black dress that clung to every curve on her body. High heels made her arched feet look both incredibly dainty and sexy. Screw me shoes. He’d heard the term a time or ten before but never, ever had he wanted to screw so very—
“Is everything all right?” Her fingers trailed over the wooden bannister. “You have quite a perplexed look on your face.”
Perplexed was the last thing he felt.
Her heels tapped gently down the steps. He should say something. Compliment her. Joel’s mouth opened—
“You look gorgeous, love,” Reese declared. “Absolutely exquisite.”
“Yeah.” Joel cleared his throat. “Killer.”