Cowboy Take Me Away(29)
“Goin’ swimmin’.” Thud, thud went his boots.
When he yanked off his socks and dropped his pants, she got an eyeful of his erection. And she couldn’t quite force her eyes away from it. She asked, “Do you have swimming trunks?” hoping he said no and that he swam naked.
“Don’t need ’em.” He grinned. “My boxers will do.” He whooped and took off.
She watched him run straight for the water, splashing until he disappeared beneath the surface. And she caught herself counting the seconds until his head bobbed up again.
“Damn, this feels nice.” He dove back under, then resurfaced, playing around like a kid.
Her friend Beverly had described Carson as gruff and quiet. A little cocky. Belligerent and prone to fighting if he’d been drinking. Beverly claimed the only time he smiled and turned on the cowboy charm was when he wanted sex.
That wasn’t the man Carolyn saw at all. Not that they’d been with other people, so she could see if he was reserved in mixed company, but the man she knew was full of mischief and surprises, with a sweet intensity and blatant sexual confidence that drew her in like nothing she’d ever experienced.
“Sugar, you oughta come in. The water is beautiful.”
“I don’t swim, remember?”
He stood. “It’s only up to my waist right here.”
“A person can drown in an inch of bathwater.”
“I’d never let you drown. No horsin’ around or dunking you either. You wouldn’t even have to get your hair wet.”
“I don’t have a swimsuit.”
“The bra and panties you’re wearin’ would be just fine.”
Strip? Right here? With him watching?
She wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m fine on shore.”
“If I come back to shore and walk you in, step by step, will you consider it?”
“No.”
“Oh. I see.”
“What?”
“It’s not the water you’re afraid of as much as takin’ your clothes off in front of me.”
Her mouth dropped open. “That is not it.”
“Prove it. Even if you don’t get in the water. Show me that body you’re hidin’, because I’ll bet it’s amazing.”
“Did you hit your head on a rock when you dove in?”
Carson laughed. “Remember when I said if you took off my shirt, I’d expect the same from you? I’m thinkin’ now’s about as good as time as any. So take it off.”
“Now?”
“Right now. Maybe do a little strip tease.”
“If I could swim I’d run in there and dunk you.”
“Try it.” He flashed his teeth. “Show me whatcha got, ’cause sugar, you know I want it.”
Would she really give in to his goading?
Looked like it.
As she popped the first snap, then the second, she realized he’d moved closer, but he hadn’t taken his eyes off her. A tiny feminine thrill heated her blood. She wanted him to like her body, but she’d never been half naked in front of any man before.
“Keep goin’.”
Once she had the buttons undone all the way down, she was surprised he couldn’t hear the booming of her heart. Another moment of uncertainty had her facing the picnic table when she took the shirt off.
“Turn around.”
She did but she couldn’t meet his eyes.
“Huh-uh. No way am I lettin’ you be ashamed of a body like that. Holy hell, woman. It’s something.”
That bolstered her confidence enough that she lowered the zipper on her skirt. She kicked off her shoes and shoved the clingy fabric down to her ankles. When she stepped out of it, she was tempted to hold it in front of her body as a shield.
“Caro, look at me…and don’t you dare hide yourself behind that skirt.”
How had he known? She lifted her head and heard Beverly’s voice. Throw your shoulders back. Be proud. If I had a bosom like that I’d be flaunting it. So she did just that.
Carson had sunk so low into the water all she could see were his eyes and his nose. But his eyes were enormous and glittered in the darkness. Like an alligator. With the way he stared she felt like prey.
Finally he stood; the water rolled down his impressive chest. His arms were clenched at his sides.
“Do you care if you get wet?”
“What?”
He stalked toward her, the water no longer hiding his lower half. Didn’t look like his dunk in the lake had cooled him off at all.
“Do you care if you get wet?” he repeated.
“No, as long as you’re not hauling me into the lake.”
“Good.”
Then he was on her. Every hard, wet inch of his body plastered to hers. One hand held the back of her neck while he seized her mouth in a scorching kiss. His other hand clamped onto her butt.