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“Cams are looping,” Ryder confirms.
According to the house’s layout and intel from The Man, there’s an office and library on the first floor, each with a safe. There’s also an office on the second floor and the master bedroom is on the third floor. Endless possibilities.
The emerald could be anywhere.
Tonight, I’m merely playing a distraction. Swimming in a glass bottom pool and charming the guests. But if Addie needs me, if something comes up or changes, I’ll be ready.
Speaking of distractions…
Hunter walks out of the cabana and my gaze drifts down the black robe, pausing on her red-polished toes. Imagining what’s hidden beneath all that fluffy terry cloth, I give her a smile.
“Ready to get wet?” I ask.
Okay, so maybe not the best choice of words.Shit.
“Let’s do it,” she murmurs, and I relax slightly.
There’s a small staircase dripping with pink bougainvillea and we take it up to the second level. As I’m reaching for the belton my robe, Hunter lets hers slide off her shoulders. My mouth waters as she tosses it over a lounge chair.Fuck me.Smooth, lithe limbs, toned abs and tanned skin fill my vision. She’s wearing a tiny red bikini, and all I can do is stare and hope she doesn’t see my drool. She’s absolutely perfect. Beyond gorgeous. And every nerve ending in my body responds to her.
Look away, I warn myself.Before you pop out the side of your swimsuit.
But I can’t. Not for all the emeralds in the world. She’s utterly mesmerizing, and I watch as she pulls the rubberband free and shakes out her long, reddish-brown hair. I’ve never seen it down, free of the ponytail she usually confines it to, and my fingers itch to run through all those russet-colored strands.
She turns to face the water, giving me a new angle to ogle. That ass is beyond tempting, and I want those long legs wrapped around my waist so badly I can taste it. The fantasies start to set my brain and body on fire with hungry desire. Glancing over her shoulder, she must notice me gawking, but she doesn’t comment. Just sends me a wicked little smirk then dives into the crystal blue water.
I swipe a hand through my hair then hurry over to the edge and dive in, too. And even though I know I should stay far away from her and cool the hell off, what do I do?
I swim straight toward the object of my affection, lust burning through my blood.
Chapter Ten: Hunter
The quick glimpse I got of Knox in his little swim shorts makes me grin as I swim underwater. He didn’t exactly look comfortable, but damn he fills them out well. His body is even more amazing than I would’ve guessed. I like how he’s tall and lean, but still powerfully built. Those biceps of his are no stranger to the gym. And don’t even get me started on his flat, ridged abs. Drool-worthy.
The warm water sluices over me as I swim up and break the surface. Of course, the pool is heated, so instead of cooling me off, it’s making me warmer. Slicking my wet hair back, I turn, treading water, but I don’t see Knox anywhere. A moment later, I feel a tug on my ankle and glance down with a squeak. He pops up and shakes his head like a dog, sending water droplets everywhere.
I laugh and slap the water, spraying him. For a moment, we just stare at each other, breathing harder from swimming. I can’t look away from his eyes. They’re like two sapphires the color of deep midnight, rimmed in onyx. He has me pinned in his gaze, which is fine with me. At this moment, there’s nowhere on earth I’d rather be.
“You look good wet,” he murmurs, eyeing me like a hungry dog eyes a steak.
Clearing my throat, trying to break whatever spell Mr. Charmer has cast, I kick my feet and swim over to the side. He follows, placing a hand on the edge. We can’t touch the bottom, but I manage to prop my toes on a small ledge.
“So, we’re just supposed to swim around?” I ask.
“Yep.” His mouth edges up and my attention drops to his angled jaw covered in light stubble.
Damn, the man is far too attractive. Why couldn’t he be an uninteresting, unattractive dud? Someone who wouldn’t make me want dangerous things?
You know what kind of guy he is, Hunter,the logical part of my brain says.
You’ve also been lonely for a very long time,the other part of me intrudes.Why not have a little fun?
The kiss we shared last night replays in my head and I can feel things heating up. Like a million degrees. We almost kissed again downstairs. And the truth is, I’m disappointed we were interrupted. I’m craving his mouth on mine again.
“What’re you thinking about?” he asks, moving closer, voice low and so sexy it has me rubbing my thighs together beneath the water.
“About—” I’m about to say “About that kiss” and take a huge, vulnerable leap, when I look over his shoulder and spot a few guests entering the pool area. Instead, I murmur, “We have company.”
A wave of disappointment floods me. If I’d said what I was thinking, would he have kissed me again? Because why lie? I want his tongue dueling with mine again. I want to press upagainst his wet body and caress his hard muscles. The woman in me needs it. Desperately.