“I remember. I used to be so nervous my father would catch us.”
He turned, reached for her, and she nestled into his embrace. Her skin was cool. He rubbed her arms. “I never noticed you were nervous. I thought the possibility of getting caught added to the excitement.”
She looked up, her eyes dark and shadowed, but the smile on her face was wide and welcoming.
“Oh, it did. Didn’t mean I wasn’t nervous though.”
“Pool’s heated.” He cocked his head.
She bit on her lip as if considering. “I guess there’s no one to catch us here.”
“No reason to be nervous, maybe.” He cupped her chin with his hands. “But I intend to give you plenty of reasons to be excited.”
“And what about your foot, your ribs?”
He snorted. “Doctor said I was doing okay, and I’m feeling real good, all mended. Speaking of which, Lonnie’s coming down probably early tomorrow to crash for a day or two. He’s got a rodeo coming up this weekend, nearby in Utah.”
“You wouldn’t go though, would you? Not yet. The doctor said it would still be another two weeks or so.”
“I’m falling in the standings. I’ve got to get back in before the drop becomes irreversible.”
She took a long breath before she nodded in agreement, as if resigned to the fact there was nothing she could do about it. And there wasn’t.
“Now about that skinny dip,” he continued, eyeing the pool of water that glistened under the lights. It had been a while since he’d done something just for the hell of it.
She giggled, a sweet feminine sound. He realized he hadn’t heard her laugh or giggle since she’d arrived. They used to laugh all the time with eyes only for each other.
They shucked their clothes like the kids they once were, pulling and tossing until they both stood naked as the day they were born. Well, maybe not quite like the day they were born.
Light spilled over her bared body, highlighting the parts that hadn’t been kissed by the sun—her cream-colored breasts, the curve of her hips, the flat plane of her belly. Only to fade into a thin line of darkness at the apex of her legs. Desire pulled strong and deep.
He scooped her up in his arms. She giggled again, that sweet tinkling sound that jingled through his body. The air touched and teased his skin. It felt cooler without the barrier of clothes.
She cocked her head. “Be careful. You’ll hurt your ribs. And put too much pressure on your foot.”
“Hush now. Too much worrying, Libby. Tonight, let’s just have fun. Nothing else.”
When he bent and pressed a kiss to her warm lips, she relaxed against his chest, her hands wrapping around his neck. He leaned back and sent her a smile promising mischief, for he had no intention of keeping her in his arms. He stepped toward the edge of the pool, ignoring the sharp twinge in his foot.
“Chance—”
She didn’t get to finish. He threw her in. The water plumed, swallowing her. Her head bobbed up. With a jerk, she whipped the hair off her face.
“Come in here. I dare you. I’ll get you back, Chance Cochran.”
How many times had she goaded him like that when they used to do this? She knew he couldn’t refuse a dare. She knew he didn’t want to.
“Look out, honey. Here I come.”
The water felt warm and sensuous as it enveloped his body in welcoming waves. She’d already taken off toward the far end of the pool. He could hear the splash of her hands, see the kick of her feet as she fled from him.
He dove under the water. He could swim faster that way. The bulbs around the sides of the pool didn’t cast much light, but he could hear her. He surfaced just long enough to get her in his sight and then dove under again. This time he lunged far enough to land beside her. She shrieked.
Rising up, he grabbed for her ankle. She shrieked again before she went under. Her arms beat the water as he pulled her to him. She came up, yelling and laughing and never looking more beautiful. Rivulets of water trickled over and between the pearly skin of her breasts. Droplets clung to her lashes and her long, dampened hair. He wanted to kiss and lick every bit of water from her as he grabbed her waist and pulled her close, wet skin to wet skin. The smell of chlorine mingled with her rose scent, but it couldn’t hide it.
“You’re beautiful, Libby,” he said and meant it with every fiber of his being. He ran his hands down her slick flesh, enjoying the cool, smooth feel of her skin before he bent and tasted her. Her lips opened for him like a flower opens for the sun, and his tongue slipped inside, exploring. He sipped from her lips the sweet taste of wine they’d had at dinner, covering her mouth, deepening the kiss. With satisfaction, he felt the weight of her arms around his neck, the press of her hips against his arousal.
When she wrapped her legs around his hips, he hardened.
God, how he wanted her. Now.