half of the property.”
“So no one close?”
Why the fuck was she asking this? “Just me. But there’s no reason to worry—we’ll know about any threat long before it gets close enough to actually be a problem.”
“Sure.” She hung up, leaving him staring out his window and wondering what the fuck just happened. He was in the process of dialing her back when movement below caught his eye. Sara stepped out into the lit pool area and pulled her dress off in a smooth move. Z’s mouth went dry as she stretched her arms over her head, leaving the long line of her body bare for him. She ran her hands through her hair and tied it back into a tail, each movement seductive in its normalcy.
As normal as she could be, standing naked in the middle of a lit fucking pool area at nighttime where anyone could see her.
She dove into the pool, disappearing beneath the surface. Z stood there and stared as she cut through the water in sure strokes, working her way to the edge and turning to swim back the other way. He shook his head, the spell she’d created broken. He should stay where he was. She was as safe as she could possibly be on the property, so there was no reason for him to go down to the pool, except for wanting a closer look. That was inexcusable.
But it didn’t stop him from tucking his phone into his pocket and making his way down the back staircase to the door leading into the pool. She was already on another go-round by the time he stepped into the humid space, appearing to take no notice of his presence. It shouldn’t annoy him…but it did.
He sat on one of the lounge chairs near the steps out of the shallow end and waited. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, the soothing sound of each stroke lulling him despite himself. Time seemed to stand still as she swam lap after lap, jarring back into motion when Sara stopped on the other side of the pool, watching him with eyes the same color as the water. “You take this protection detail awful seriously.”
“You’re Garrett’s sister.” He said that to remind himself as much as her.
“I am.” She moved closer, the water shielding her body from him and yet offering tantalizing peeks at the same time. “But I was his sister in the back of that town car, and that didn’t stop you.”
“It was a mistake.” He leaned forward, clasping his hands between his knees.
She reached a shallow enough depth to stand, stopping when the upper curve of her breasts showed. One small movement and he’d be able to see her nipples. He should look away. Should go back up to his room and lie on top of the bed and remember all the reasons why losing control risked ruining his life a second time.
But he didn’t.
“What are you so afraid of? Garrett might be overprotective to the point of idiocy, but he knows better than to poke into my sex life.”
“He’s my friend.”
“And?”
And Z had lost it all once before, hit rock bottom hard enough to drive away everyone and everything he cared about. He’d clawed his way out of the pit, one inch at a time, and carved out a life that he could be proud of. He’d be a fool of the worst sort to go through it all again, even for a woman like Sara. “I won’t betray that.”
“I’m not asking for you to put a ring on it and make an honest woman of me.” As she spoke, she moved slowly toward him, coming out of the water like a modern day Aphrodite, revealing her breasts, her stomach, and finally the sweet spot between her thighs. “I just want you to relieve my boredom.” She held up three fingers, as if he could focus on any point but where the water lapped at her pussy. “Just three little times.”
“I thought you didn’t want me to touch you.”
“I was pissed.” She shrugged. “I don’t like rejection any more than the next person.” She reached the steps and walked out of the water. “Please, Z. Play with me.” She went to her knees. “Command me.” And then to all fours. “Fuck me.”
All the
John Steinbeck, Richard Astro