CHAPTER95
The water feels luxurious, and Jake is an amazingly powerful swimmer who looks as good in the water as he does out of it. Like a boy, he has pushed me under twice now. I swim toward the beach, but I’m too slow and he catches my ankle for the third time, dunking me again. This game isn’t so fun now; he’s too fast and too strong.
“Stop … it,” I splutter, rising to the surface, coughing and choking, wiping the water out of my eyes again as I’m met with his childish grin.
“Only if you ask me nicely, tiny.” He smooths the water from his face, and I can’t help but notice his hair gel must be water-resistant; apart from looking a little ruffled, it’s still pretty much spiked in his trademark ‘do’. Carrero products really are worth the high price tag.
He swims to me and gets dangerously close.
Whoa there, boss. My bikini is virtually underwear, and you’re only half dressed.
This scenario seems a little more inappropriate somehow. To me, it really is like frolicking naked.
“Will you please stop trying to drown me, Mr. Carrero,” I beg, the naughty glint in his eye only making my heart sink knowing he’s in full-blown play mode. This doesn’t bode well for me; it never does.
“Seeing as you ask so sweetly, Miss Anderson.” He pushes me under again; this time though he catches me under the water by the hips, and I’m pulled up against him hard. We’re nose to nose and it doesn’t seem so right anymore; now it’s a little too much like being truly naked. It’s closer than I think even he expects, and he releases me quickly. I’m incredibly aware that my exposed stomach just had an undeniable graze with his bulging groin, and now I can’t shake the feeling from my skin. Maybe this is a bad idea after all. There’s a strange atmosphere between us and I don’t like it.
He quickly swims away from me toward the shore, and all I can do is follow him. The beach isn’t that far, but it’s exhausting, yet I manage the swim behind him in the crystal depths and the reward is worth it.
The beach is gloriously scorching with swaying palms and soft white sands. I can make out the distant hum of music from the yacht behind us, and watching Jake lazily walk across the shoreline is breathtaking. I’m lucky that my boss makes for a gorgeous view in all terrains, which keeps things interesting.
Can’t ever deny a good bit of eye candy.
As I’ve left my sarong on the boat, I’m now walking around in bikini bottoms, showing the full length of my naked legs. It’s nerve-wracking, considering I’m someone who rarely wears short skirts or dresses, and now here I am in skimpy beachwear, in public, in front of Jake with his amazing body. This is enough to give anyone a complex.
My wet hair is heavy in its ponytail, so I pull it free, ringing out the water and leaving it to hang down my back in a bid to cover some skin. It’s gotten way too long lately, and I should look at a new style; it’s time for a change.
Maybe a sleek bob? Maybe not! All that loose hair to twirl will send Jake crazy; he’ll probably shave my head.
He stops to look back at me and pauses, his gaze on me as I close the gap slowly. It’s hard to ignore his eyes doing that same sweep over me he did on deck, male eyeballing, taking in the amount of exposed skin and how my boobs look in a bikini. I squirm under that gaze yet feel nothing of my usual revulsion when men check me out. He takes my hand to drag me with him and thankfully turns away, facing forward.
It’s not long before the sun dries me off, the glistening heat on my shoulders warming me through, making me feel lazy, and I forget all about his smoldering looks. I find so many beautiful shells to take home for Sarah as we walk a fair bit and skim pebbles on the waves in easy, quiet companionship. We pass the time with small talk, about Sophie, about work. I never realized how easily we blend when we’re just chilling out. It’s natural, unforced, and we talk about everything from current events and movies, to what we think is happening on the yacht in our absence. I like it. I think he was right; we needed this. We needed this time to chill and relax with each other again, remove all the pent-up frustration and agitation, rebuild our easy friendship. I needed this to let go of all the Chicago crap.
“Here, Emma.” I turn back and he hands me his shades again, now that the sun has moved higher in the sky. I had been shielding my eyes without even realizing. I smile and put them on. They have a crazy rubber band thing across the back that holds them on when swimming; that’s how he kept them on for the swim over here. I give him a grateful smile as I accept them.
“Thanks,” I say as he throws another pebble into the water, looking at me oddly. I can’t help noticing the expression, but I can’t decipher it.
“What is it?” I tilt my head to watch him.
“You seem a bit more relaxed now we’re over here.” That’s an understatement; being away from over-sexed women with lusty gazes certainly takes the edge off the atmosphere. I am regretting not coming on this trip as just the two of us. I think I would have preferred it.
“I feel more relaxed,” I answer lightly without explanation.
“You look it.” He skims another stone like an expert. I watch him, catch his smile and return it.
“I’m glad you made me come.” Hard to admit, but he was right.
“I’m glad I didn’t have to force you.” His smile turns mocking, and that little eyebrow raises as dimples appear.
“Technically, you gave me no choice,” I frown back at him.
“You always have a choice with me, Emma; you know that.” His voice is gentle, and he’s unintentionally ironic as he has no clue how overbearing he can be sometimes. I just laugh and shake my head in exasperation.
Sure, I do, Carrero.
“We should be getting back; the others will think we don’t like them,” he says, watching me. I can’t help but notice the way the sun glistens on his skin, shadows falling under prominent muscles, making him look all the more chiseled.
Yes, we should.
“Sure, I’m kinda hungry too.” I pull off his eyewear to hand them over, following him to the shore. We wade out until the water lifts our feet from the bottom, and I break into a swim behind him.
We swim back leisurely, and he stays close to me; I think he’s worried I won’t have the stamina to do it, but I prove him wrong. It’s exhausting, but all those gym sessions lately and the early morning jogs have been doing me wonders. I’m glad that I prepared my beach body ahead of time without even knowing I needed it. It makes lounging with Jake in barely any clothes less mortifying."
