She believed him. Still the idea of swimming naked in a public pool intimidated her. While she wasn’t uncomfortable with her body, she cringed every time she had to change in a locker room. “Skinny-dipping wasn’t on my naughty list.”
“Ever do it?” His hands massaged her bottom, pressing her against the rigidness of his erection. Heat spiked in her core as he firmly kneaded the flesh of her ass, causing her resistance to ebb.
“No,” she answered breathlessly.
“Was it on your bucket list?” he asked in a strangled tone.
Before tonight, sex with the lights on was as kinky as she’d experienced. Her naughty list encompassed her fantasies, but she never really believed she’d find someone who would not only want to take the lead in the bedroom, but whom she could trust. Drake had impressed her this week with his intelligence, wit, and take-charge attitude. He’d seduced her without trying. Just by being him. The way he smiled as if he knew something she didn’t. The adorable way his wavy hair, in desperate need of a cut, flopped over one eye. The way his jeans molded to his perfect ass and pulled taut over his thighs.
Throughout the years, Taryn had spent a considerable amount of time talking about her big brother. So much Allie had started to develop a crush on a man she’d never met.
In the real world, Allie and Drake wouldn’t make sense. He was constantly in motion, living out of a suitcase as he led severe-weather-chasing tours and gathered data on tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards. Until six months ago, she’d lived a few miles away from her childhood home. He was outgoing. Friendly. Although she was pleasant to everyone, she preferred to spend Saturday nights at home drinking wine in front of a fireplace to hanging out at a bar. While he was obviously sexually adventurous, something as mundane as skinny-dipping unnerved her.
She shook her head. “It wasn’t on either of my lists.”
“What a shame.” He stroked his fingers along her collarbone. “It should’ve been. I guess we’ll have to add it on later.” In one swift move, he stripped off his shirt, giving her the first glimpse of his incredible chest. “Come on. I’ll go first.”
She itched to touch him. Smooth, golden skin over chiseled abs, defined delts, and a small thatch of light hair on his chest, the guy was perfect. How could she resist?
He winked at her as he unbuttoned his shorts and stripped down to his red boxer-briefs, giving her a more accurate assessment of his impressive arousal. She might have not made up her mind about skinny-dipping, but her body had already made its decision, her nipples tightening uncomfortably against the lace of her bra as if they couldn’t wait to be free.
With his feet at the edge of the pool, he looked over his shoulder at her and smiled. Then he leaped into the air and cannonballed like a carefree child. He shot up from beneath the surface and slicked back his hair, beads of water dripping off him.
Lucky water.
“Feels great.” He swam over to her and hung off the edge. With a mischievous smile, he plunked his underwear onto the concrete. “Now it’s your turn.”
All the moisture from her mouth slid south. If he took one little step back from the wall, she’d get a clear money shot, and the infuriating man knew it.
“Allie.” He didn’t say anything more, but she heard his demand in his voice. He was taking the choice away from her. Freeing her to do what she was too afraid to.
She bit her lip and nervously glanced into the windows of the hotel lobby. Empty. It was now or never.
With no time to waste, she quickly drew her tank over her head and slipped out of her skirt. Drake stared up at her with lust. She’d never get used to the feeling it gave her.
The feeling of being alive.
“One…Two…” On three, she jumped in. Goose bumps broke out on her body. “Oh my God. It’s cold!” She swam to him and hooked her legs around his waist to steal his body heat. Apparently Drake didn’t have a problem with shrinkage. “Why didn’t you warn me?”
“If I’d warned you, you might’ve not come in, and we couldn’t have that.” He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her neck. “Take off your clothes.”
She burrowed closer. “No way. It’s too cold.”
“I’ll warm you up.”
“I bet you will.”
“I promise no funny stuff.” He ran his hands up and down the backs of her arms and added, “Unless you ask for it.” His lips found hers, and he kissed her as if they had all the time in the world.
Her body melted from its warmth, and within moments she grew impervious to the cold. She leaned back and unclasped the bra. Sliding it down her arms, she watched Drake lick drops of water from his lips, his own gaze riveted to her chest. When she’d successfully removed the bra, he finally looked up and released her. Her heart thudded as she slipped off her panties and then dropped both garments next to his on the concrete.