His muscles contracted.
Ellie looked just like she did the first time he saw her at the beach, lying in the sun—gorgeous long legs, smooth tanned skin, a mane of brown hair streaked with golden highlights. And those intoxicating light-brown eyes, the color of warm whisky.
He’d seen a lot of beautiful women on El Dorado’s beaches, and had sampled his fair share by the age of nineteen. As a lifeguard, he had the best views on the island and sex appeal to spare. But nothing compared to the moment Ellie had looked at him—really saw him—over the sea of people. Their gazes had locked. She’d smiled softly. His insides had melted like the sun had cranked the heat up fifty degrees.
Their interaction had gotten a lot more personal that day. If he hadn’t been obsessed with watching her, he might not have seen her disappear under the waves. Or notice that she hadn’t resurfaced. He’d blown his whistle, had leaped from the platform and dove into the surf. He retrieved her just as the tide was turning, right before she would’ve been swept out to sea. From there, they spent two years secretly exploring all the ways to perform mouth-to-mouth.
The memory of the silken glide of her tongue, the sounds of pleasure she’d made and the sweet breath she’d exhaled, suddenly caused him to shiver as the pool water grew chill around him. His chest tightened and his desire magnified. There had always been something about her.
“Carter!”
His head snapped up. “Huh?”
“What are you doing?” Ellie grabbed her towel and clutched it in front of her. As if that would shield her from his intimate sexual knowledge of every inch of her body.
“Swimming. That’s what you do in a pool.”
“I didn’t even see you.”
“I’ve seen a whole lot of you.” He grinned.
“Stop it.”
“What? I’m standing here minding my own business.”
“Well, just...look somewhere else.”
“Why?” He smiled indulgently. “It’s a great view. Always was.”
She snorted. “I doubt that.”
If you knew how much I want you naked and under me right now, you’d have no doubt whatsoever . He shrugged innocently. “I can erase those doubts for you.”
She scoffed. But he saw a spark of pleasure in her eyes at his flirtatious comments. The expectation of being in the cool water with her warm body nearby sent his pulse soaring.
He spread his arms. “There’s plenty of water here for the both of us.”
“It’s a two-lap-lane pool.”
“And?”
She approached warily, as if nearing a wolf’s lair.
“I don’t bite. Much,” he added softly.
She stamped her foot on the concrete. “Can you leave me alone to swim a few laps in peace?”
As if he owed her some huge favor. “I thought you hated water.”
“Yes, if I can’t see the bottom of it. Pools are fine. It’s the ocean that terrifies me.” Her expression revealed shock that she’d admitted her fear to him.
“So that’s why you refuse to leave the island?”
To counter the connection he’d made, she dropped her towel and dove into the deep end.
When she surfaced, Carter waded toward her and pressed her further. “Is it because of the day you almost drowned, when I rescued you?”
She squared her shoulders. “I know how to swim,” she said, treading water. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Ellie, the strength of the tide would’ve sucked you out to sea.”
“You always had to be the hero. Do you believe you saved me?”
Yes, damn it. Admit you needed me then—and you still need me now .
The clarity of that desire startled him. “We can try it again just to see. I’ll hang out on the beach while the tide washes you away.”
Terror blazed in her eyes. “I knew this was a bad idea.”
Swimming toward the steel ladder in the shallow end, she lifted herself onto the first rung. He was there in seconds, catching her waist in his hands.
“You can’t out-swim a lifeguard.” He turned her to face him as water sheeted off her body. Even on the first rung, she was still an inch shorter than him. “You never answered my question last night. What will you do when the hotel sells?”
“I’m staying.”
“What if the new owner doesn’t want you here?”
Drops of water clung to her lashes. “I’ll convince him it’s better to keep me on.”
Her plan was absurd. “How?”
“I’m resourceful.” She went to climb the next rung.
He pulled her back, held her in his arms while her feet dangled in the water. He stared at her lips. “How much do you want it?”