Going Going Gone by Cerian Hebert Read Free Book Online Page A

thoughts of what she should do.
    Instead of replying, she kicked off a sandal and, holding onto one of the solar-powered lampposts, dipped her foot into the water. It was pleasantly cool, as if it held onto some of the heat of the sun, yet affected by the night air.
    “Turn around,” she murmured.
    “Why?” Eli sounded surprised. In the pale light cast by the moon, she saw his dark brows rise as he gave her a crooked smile.
    “Just do it,” she insisted.
    Eli shrugged and turned toward the house, his arms crossed against his chest.
    Nell had never been extremely uninhibited, but the feel of the water against her toes and the freshness of the night emboldened her. With quick fingers, she loosened the buttons on her dress until it slid off her body into a pool of dark fabric at her feet. Deftly she unhooked her bra and let it fall on top of the dress, followed by the satin panties she wore. She fixed her eyes on Eli’s back, but he kept his eyes directed at the house. Some men would sneak a peek, but Eli was honorable. Or just not too curious.
    Nell stepped off the dock and dove smoothly into the dark water.
    As soon as Eli heard the splash he whipped around, not even considering the fact that Nell had asked him not to. But she was no longer standing on the dock. Her clothes were in a pile at the edge, and within moments he could make out her head above the water.
    His first instinct was just to be dumbfounded. She didn’t seem to be the skinny dipping sort, but unless she wore a bathing suit under her bra and underwear, that was exactly what she’d done.
    His next instinct was to join her.
    “Come on in,” she invited, brushing beads of water from her face. “I’ll turn around while you get undressed.”
    Eli froze. What he wanted to do was to rip off his clothes and dive in after her. Even though he could only see her face and neck above the water, his imagination went wild with images of what must be hiding under the surface, like a sexy, supple body with full breasts, rounded hips and a butt that was every man’s fantasy. He wanted to wrap her legs around his waist and . . .
    “Well, you coming in?” Nell broke his concentration and Eli watched in awe as her toes peeked out of the water when she floated on her back. Eli could make out one dark nipple just below the surface of the water. It was the final delicious, tantalizing straw. The strain against his jeans was too much.
    “Okay, turn around,” he requested, his voice rough.
    Nell gave him a playful smile. His view of her breast faded away into the dark water and she turned to face away from the dock.
    “I haven’t done this in years,” Eli confessed, tossing his shirt next to her crumpled dress.
    In response, Nell giggled, making him think her mind wasn’t on skinny-dipping, but something far sweeter. If that was the case, then they were definitely on the same page. His body was ready for her, blood racing fast to his lower regions that demanded satisfaction.
    Down, boy. We’re just swimming here.
    But thinking those words were a hell of a lot easier than convincing his libido of the fact. As soon as he kicked his pants aside he plunged into the water, letting the silky dark water envelop him in its cool clutches. Moving more by instinct than anything, Eli brushed close to Nell’s bare leg, the length of his body gliding against hers. Whatever dampening effect the cold water had to the erection she’d inspired was squashed. The hardness in his groin returned full force and as he surfaced, he stood back from Nell so she wouldn’t know.
    Unless she asked.
    “Now, isn’t this better?” she asked, swimming nearer to him. Her voice was inviting, as smooth as the water, but a great deal hotter.
    His first desire was to pull her to him, but he resisted. Not just yet . After all, they barely knew each other. If he thought about having any kind of serious relationship with her, rushing in wouldn’t be the best idea.
    Would it?
    And what long lasting