by M. S. Parker
If she hadn’t been drunk, I might have even given in, although I had no doubt I’d regret it later on.
So would she. I had no doubt of that, so it was a good thing that she was more than a little wasted.
Still, what would it have been like?
I imagined feeling that wide, mobile mouth against my own and bit back a groan as my cock responded with enthusiasm. Down, boy, I told the bulge in my pants.
Not that my dick was going to listen.
Mila was almost like a drug, getting into my system without me really realizing what she was doing until it was already too late.
Lately, just the scent of her was enough to stir a reaction.
The libido I thought I’d managed to throttle into complete submission was raging out of control and just thinking about an imaginary kiss had things inside me raging to life.
I wanted to touch her, to do what she’d teased me about…kiss her.
Feel her sleek, supple curves against me as I pulled her close.
I wanted to feel her hands on me – not just the way they’d pressed into my chest earlier, but all over me.
Dropping onto the makeshift bed, I stripped off my shirt and let it fall to the floor next to my feet.
Kiss me, Liam…
“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, forcing my rigid limbs to move, laying down on the couch that hadn’t been designed to accommodate a six-foot-tall guy.
I bet that bed is nice and soft, a sly voice whispered inside my head.
Yeah, I bet it was too. And Mila would be even softer, snuggled under the covers and breathing softly.
Stubbornly, I closed my eyes and willed myself to sleep.
“Come swim with us,” Mila said, dropping to her knees in the sand next to me.
I sat on a towel and tipped my glasses down to meet her eyes. She wore a bronze bikini that made her skin glow – and my fingers itched to roam all over those exposed curves.
Dragging my eyes away from her, I looked at the group of people congregating by the waterside. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye out,” I said, shaking my head.
“Oh, come on. You kicked off your shoes, put on some swim trunks…take it a step further,” she teased, reaching out to put a hand on my arm. “Relax a little, Liam. Live a little.”
She flung out her arms and tipped her head back. “Look around…there’s nothing here that’s going to hurt me.”
She’d delivered several variations of that argument throughout the day, insisting I didn’t have to accompany her everywhere.
I told her that my job insisted otherwise.
It was harder to tell her no this time, for some reason.
As if sensing my weakening resolve, she leaned in a little closer. “Come on, Liam. Come swimming with us.”
Don’t even think about it, my common sense warned me.
Not that I was going to get up and walk into the water right now. Mila’s nearness and the way the lotion smelled on her skin had caused my body to react predictably.
I wasn’t about to stand up and walk down to the water while sporting wood.
“No, thank you.” I pushed my sunglasses back up and focused on the horizon instead of her.
After a few more seconds, she rose and huffed out a breath. “You don’t know what you’re missing,” she said lightly.
I was better off not knowing too. I kept that in mind as the group waded out into the surf, then a little deeper.
I kept an eye on them, all the while scanning the beach.
She was probably right.
She was most likely safe here.
I hadn’t seen even one person – other than myself – who didn’t seem to fit in just fine.
Laughter and shouts drifted back on the air to me, and I turned my head, watching as they all fell into a pattern of swimming or just floating in the water.
The sun beat down on my head and sweat trickled down my brow. I swiped it away, eyes drawn once more to the impossibly blue water.
Mila was splashing one of the guys swimming with her in the face.
He responded in kind, and I watched, refusing to allow myself a reaction, as the man moved in closer to her.
But after a few seconds, Mila smiled, then turned away, swimming off and away from the group at a diagonal.
Some of the others had already headed in, and a quick glance at my watch told me that they’d been in the water almost an hour.
I squinted, searching for Mila in the next group of people to arrive on the beach.
A few more lingered in the water, but Mila wasn’t one of them.
I scanned the water, searching for where I’d seen her – there. There she was.
I blew out a breath and told myself that maybe going into the water with her wasn’t such a bad idea.
At least I’d be able to keep up with her.
Shaking my head, I got to my feet and moved closer to the water’s edge.
She was pretty far out. I was just about to call out to her when she went under the water.
I held still at first.
She was playing with me. Again.
But she didn’t emerge.
Finally, after another ten seconds, she did, and she slapped at the water. There was something intrinsically panicked about her motions, and my instincts went on red alert.
Kicking off the flip flops I’d worn down to the beach, I ran through the shallows before diving into the water, my arms cutting through the waves as I swam to her.
Fourteen
Mila
I needed the swim.
Splashing through the water and talking with some of the clients who were staying at the resort was fun and all, but I’d woken up with a headache, and it had only gotten worse as the day went on.
Actually, it had only gotten worse every time I saw Liam and watched as he deliberately averted his gaze.
I was pretty sure I remembered all of last night – had I done something and forgotten about it?
He sure as hell seemed to be determined to ignore me today.
Not that it bothered me, I insisted to myself, rolling onto my back and staring up at the sky.
The water lapped at my body, and I thought that I could just happily stay like this.
A couple of the people I’d met up with earlier shouted my name.
Shifting to tread water, I cocked my head, listening.
“We’re ready for lunch. You?”
“No, but you go on,” I called back.
A few more lingered in the water, closer to shore – and Liam – than I was.
Liam.
He was driving me nuts.
I stopped treading water and started to swim, lazy strokes at first, then faster. Harder.
I was out of breath when I stopped, and I looked back toward the shore, a little dismayed by how far I’d swam. I started back, well aware that I needed to be more careful.
I didn’t know how far I went before the muscle cramp all but seized my entire body, emanating from my left leg.
I went under, choking on water. Scrambling and clawing, I fought my way back to the surface. I opened my mouth to shout for help, but I was still half-choking on the water, and nothing came out.
I went under again.
I was a good swimmer, a strong one. But I’d never had this happen, and panic swept through me, eradicating any rational thought.
I clawed my way to the surface once more – or I tried.
My left leg felt all but useless, and the muscle cramp all but had me ready to sob, it hurt so bad.
My lungs screamed for air.
I beat ineffectively at the water, but the surface seemed to be getting farther away…and darker.
Vaguely, I saw a dark shape come between me and the surface.
Helplessly, I lifted a hand toward it as the darkness swam in closer, closer, closer…
A strong arm around my middle caught me, pulling me back against an equally strong body. The pressure on my belly had me gagging, but I fought it back.
Reality started to set in, and I began to shiver, even as Liam swam us both back to the shore – and safety.
Several people were gathered around, and he barked for them to get out of the way as he hauled me up into his arms.
I shivered again, wishing I could sink into that warmth.
A coughing fit overcame me, and Liam lowered me to the sand where I emptied myself of the salt water I’d choked on. The second he put my weight down on my feet, though, the muscle in my leg knotted up on me and I gasped in agony.
“What in the hell were you thinking, swimming out so far?” he demanded, grabbing my shoulders and hauling me closer.
Water sparkled off his eyelids and drops clung to his lashes.
“I…” I started to tell him, but my leg knotted up again, and I whimpered, sinking to the sand with my affected leg curling up underneath me.
Some of the pain I was feeling must have shown on my face because his features thawed a little, and he reached for my ankle, slowly drawing my leg out. I whimpered again.
“You cramped up,” he said softly.
I nodded, blinking back tears. My head was spinning from the adrenaline, and my heart raced inside my chest.
“Come on.” Liam picked me up, settling me once more against his chest. “Let’s get you out of here.”
I turned my face into his chest as he walked, more than willing to get away from the prying eyes of those who’d been watching.
I felt stupid, silly. I knew better than to swim so far from the shore alone, but I’d done it anyway.
Part of me had wanted to be reckless, to challenge Liam in the face of his unbreakable calm.
Well, I’d gotten through his wall.
He was pissed.
I could still feel the anger burning in him when we reached my bungalow, and I waited for him to put me down, but he managed to brace my weight against his body, keeping me off my feet as he swiped the keycard.
I nudged the door open.
The air-conditioned, chilly air made me shiver even harder, and Liam carried me over to the couch, dumping me onto the top of it with little ceremony. But then he picked up a blanket and wrapped it around my shoulders.
I clung to it.
“Let me see your leg.” He sat next to me on the couch, closer than he’d ever gotten to me.
He stretched my leg out once more, then cupped the back of my thigh where the muscle continued to cramp and knot up.
He dug his fingers into the knot.
I groaned. “That hurts,” I complained.
“It will keep hurting until you work the cramp out too,” he replied. And he set about doing just that, rubbing, stroking, at times digging into my muscle. Bit by bit, the cramp eased.
And my head got clearer.
Slumped back against the couch, I closed my eyes.
“You saved my life,” I said.
His hands slowed in their task slightly, then he resumed. “Doing my job, ma’am.”
I lapsed into silence, staring at his averted face as he worked on my leg.
“I think it’s gone now,” I said softly after a few more minutes.
It had actually started feeling better a while back, but I’d enjoyed the feel of his hands on me a little too much to make him stop just yet.
He eased my leg off his lap and turned to face me. “Are you alright? You weren’t under for long, but you obviously swallowed some salt water. How are you feeling?”
“Foolish,” I admitted. “I know better than to swim so far out. I wasn’t paying attention. Thank you.” He went to shrug, but I put my hand on his shoulder. “Seriously, Liam…thank you.”
He looked at me then, mouth parted as if he was going to say something.
But no words came out.
This time, I didn’t ask him to kiss me.
I kissed him.
It was a quick, easy kiss…or it should have been. He tensed and broke away.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He shook his head and got up. “I’m glad I was there to help, Mila,” he said, his voice stilted. Formal, even.
I’d rather he yell at me like he had on the beach.
“Are you mad I kissed you?” I asked him as he turned his back on me.
He glanced over his shoulder. He didn’t look at me. It was more like he was giving the appearance of that consideration, because his gaze stayed far, far from mine.
“I’m not mad,” he said calmly.
“Then why are you so tense now? What’s with the wall you keep shoving between us?”
He rose from the couch and paced a few feet away before turning to look at me. There was a faint flush to his cheeks as he met my eyes. “There is no wall. I work for you – for your father, at least. And as for your kiss…you should save it for somebody who appreciates you the right way.”
He went to turn.
“I think you could appreciate me just fine,” I said softly.
He looked back at me then, and for a few seconds, there was no wall. It was just…him. A bleak look crossed his face. “I doubt that.”
Fifteen
Liam
I’d hoped she’d let it go at that.
But what was I thinking?
Mila apparently didn’t understand letting go.
She came after me, putting her hand on my shoulder. I froze where I stood, torn between the need to shrug her touch away and just…feel it. No. I wanted more than just her hand on my shoulder, but I sucked at this.
That had been made more than clear during my one and only attempt.
“What makes you think you can’t appreciate me the right way?”
She’d circled around to stand in front of me and now met my gaze with her chin up and her eyes solemn.
I wanted to cup that chin in my hand, press my mouth back to hers. That kiss had been so fleeting, I had no idea how she tasted, and I suddenly wanted to know. Badly.
But…
“Because I’m no good at…this,” I told her, forcing the words out of a tight throat.
She blinked, shaking her head. “This?”
“Sex,” I finally growled.
Hoping she’d leave it alone now that I’d completely humiliated myself, I cut around her.
But Mila wasn’t done.
“What makes you think you’re no good at sex?”
Frustrated and pissed, I spun around and faced her. “Because the one time I ever had sex, the woman made damn sure to tell me I sucked at it, okay?”
Mila’s mouth parted.
I waited for the laughter.
It didn’t come. Her eyes narrowed after a few more seconds, then she smoothed her hair back with her hand. A slow smile bowed her lips up, and she said, “I need a shower and to get out of this wet bathing suit.” Her eyes dipped to linger on my chest, where the t-shirt I’d never bothered to strip off still clung to me. “And I think you should join me.”
“Uh…”
I gaped at her as she walked by, and she stopped in the doorway to turn and look at me. “It takes two to make great sex, and it takes two to make lousy sex. Whatever went wrong last time wasn’t entirely your fault. And I can prove it.” She held out a hand. “Come on.” She winked. “I’m an expert at this, remember. I know what I’m talking about.” When I didn’t move, she added, “This is both our jobs, remember? You’re protecting me while I provide you sexual freedom.” She licked her lips. “You did your job. Let me do mine.”
I told myself to turn away. To leave. I didn’t need the kind of trouble this would bring me. But instead of turning away, I reached out and folded my fingers around hers. She backed the rest of the way into the bathroom, her eyes on mine.
Without batting an eyelash, she stripped the top of her bikini off and let it fall to the floor. I could no more have stopped myself from looking at her than I’d be able to stop myself from breathing.
Mila didn’t cover herself or act like it bothered her to have me look either. Instead, she arched her back and smiled at me, moving
in closer. She reached for the hem of my wet t-shirt.
I told myself one more time that this wasn’t smart.
But I was past the point of caring.
After she stripped my shirt off, she reached for her bikini bottoms, shucking them off in a quick, neat motion. She moved over to the shower and sent me a coy look. “I’ll leave you to handle your shorts, and I won’t look…for now.”
My heart thundered in my ears as she gave me a view of her long, slender back. Her waist dipped in before flaring out, and the curve of her hips, the lines of her ass had me clenching my fingers in want.
My hands felt like clumsy sticks on the end of my arms as I went to work my wet shorts off.
Mila kept her word, keeping her back to me as she adjusted the water, then moved over to the sink. She rummaged around in the drawer and pulled something out. My face heated as I saw what it was.
Condoms.
I hadn’t even thought that far ahead.
For a few seconds, I thought just maybe I should get out while I was still ahead. But Mila slid into the shower in the next moment and called out, “Come on, Liam…I’m waiting. Don’t be nervous. I won’t bite…much.”
And damn if that didn’t make my cock throb.
I liked the idea of her biting me a little more than I would have expected.
Slowly, I moved toward the shower, leaning forward to look around the edge. She stood under the spray, her back still facing me.
I took another step, then another.
She turned and reached out, catching my hand. Then, with that same cat’s smile on her face, she pulled me the rest of the way into the open-front shower.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her body to mine.
Heat exploded through me.
“You can touch me, you know,” she said, rising up on her toes to press a kiss to my jawline. “I won’t break.”
Slowly, I settled my hands on her waist.
She moved her mouth to my ear, and I closed my eyes as she bit me lightly. “Is that the only place you want to touch me?”
I shook my head, but when she drew back, putting space between us, I had to fight the urge, again, to back away. She caught my right hand and guided it to her breast. “How about we start here?”