“It reminds me of the first summer we went to Lake Carroll,” he said quietly. “Do you remember?”
He watched as her expression softened. “Of course I remember,” she murmured. “You taught me how to swim during that trip.”
Remy smiled reminiscently. “You were so scared to get in the water.”
“And you weren’t very sympathetic,” she reminded him. “You called me names and taunted me mercilessly.”
Remy chuckled. “It was reverse psychology. I knew if I made you mad enough, you’d want to prove me wrong by showing that you could learn how to swim.”
“And you were right,” Zandra grudgingly conceded.
“What?” Remy exclaimed, cupping a hand to his ear with an expression of exaggerated shock. “Did I just hear you say that I was right about something?”
She laughed. “Yeah, and that was over twenty years ago!”
Remy guffawed. “Are you suggesting that was the last time I was right about something?”
Her eyes glimmered. “I’m not suggesting it. I’m stating it as fact.”
Without realizing it, they had drifted closer together, nudged by the gentle waves lapping at their bodies.
Beads of water shimmered on Zandra’s skin, and her hair lay in thick, silken strands upon her shoulders. Unable to resist, Remy reached out and twined a wet lock around his finger, watching as Zandra’s lips parted on a soft intake of breath.
As desire coiled in his groin, he murmured, “I’m pretty sure I’ve been right about other things over the years.”
She bit her lush lower lip, making it glisten. “I don’t think so.”
“No?” Remy stared at her mouth, wanting to kiss her so badly he shook with it. “What about the time I told you to dump that accountant because he seemed shady as hell? Did he, or did he not, get busted for tax evasion and money laundering four months later?”
Zandra heaved a breath. “Fine. You were right that time. But only because you ran a background check on him without my knowledge or consent,” she added, uncrossing her arms to jab a finger into his chest. “And I’m still convinced you were the one who reported him to the feds.”
Remy chuckled. “I’ll never tell,” he drawled, his gaze dipping to her voluptuous breasts. Her nipples were still hard, thrusting brazenly against the thin cover-up. It was all he could do not to lower his head and suck one into his mouth like a ripe cherry.
Seeing the naked hunger in his eyes, Zandra shivered, goose bumps rising on her skin. Her nipples tightened even more.
Licking his lips, Remy lifted his gaze slowly to hers.
They stared at each other, the air between them seething with the kind of raw heat that led to hard, grinding, primal sex.
Pulse pounding, Remy took a step toward her. “Zandra—”
Something like panic flared in her eyes before she blurted, “Let’s race.”
He stopped, brows furrowing. “Race?”
“Yeah. You know, like we used to when we were kids.” She pointed to a distant white buoy bobbing in the water. “That’ll be our finish line.”
Remy chuckled softly. “I don’t think racing is a good idea.”
“Why not?”
Because I don’t want to swim anymore. I want to carry you back to your hotel room, strip you naked, lick every inch of your beautiful body and bury myself deep inside your wet heat until you scream and beg for mercy.
Aloud he drawled, “As I recall, you used to throw temper tantrums and sulk for hours after I beat you at anything.”
Zandra sniffed. “That was then. I’m thirty-two years old now. I think I can handle losing a friendly little race—especially to a former SEAL. So are you game or not, sailor?”
“Sure.” A lazy smile curved Remy’s mouth. “I’ll even give you a head start.”
“Oh, please. I’m not a helpless little girl. I don’t need any charity from you.”
Remy eyed her knowingly. “Then why are you— What the hell?” he called as she took off suddenly with a bewitching peal of laughter.