She gasped and tried to scramble off Patrick. “I’m so sorry.”
He tightened his hold on her. “Easy. I pulled you on top of me, baby.”
“But that can’t be comfortable,” she declared.
“I love having you close more than anything. I wish I could carry you around in my pocket.”
She giggled, relaxed, and laid her head back on his chest.
“Let’s get changed, and then I want to start teaching you to swim. We’ll go really slow.”
She glanced up at him. “I trust you. I’ll do whatever you think is best.”
He cupped one of her cheeks. “You have no idea what that means to me, baby.”
They stared at each other for a long moment before Patrick pulled her closer. He observed her expressions as he pressed his lips against hers.
They both groaned as an ember that had smoldered between them since they met sparked and grew.
Patrick tilted her head to the side and deepened the kiss. His heart beat heavily in his chest as she clutched at his arms and tried to get closer. He knew he had to slow down when the little mewling sounds she made pushed him steadily toward the point of no return.
He lifted his head.
Both breathed heavily as they stared at one another.
Eve’s tongue slipped over her lips.
He closed his eyes and prayed for strength.
“I like it when you kiss me,” Eve whispered.
He grinned. “I like it, too.”
“Can we do it more?”
“Baby, you can kiss me whenever you want.”
She smiled and leaned down to press her mouth against his. It was a quick kiss, but all they had to do was touch to get an over-the-top reaction from them both.
“Let’s go get dressed. I’d like to spend time in the pool before dinner.”
She took the hand he held out and let him lead her into his bedroom.
He walked into his closet and came out with a black t-shirt. “Since you don’t have a bathing suit yet, you’ll wear one of my shirts. It will keep you covered until you feel comfortable with me.”
“But I already am,” she exclaimed.
He cupped his hand over her shoulder joint. “Enough to go naked with me?”
Eve’s eyes widened. “But … what if Agnes or someone sees me?”
“Eventually, you’ll get used to being naked around me and whoever I want.”
“You’d really let other people see me…”
“Only ones I trust. I’ve had my hands all over you, so I already know you’ve got a beautiful body and one I’d be honored to show off to my friends. But first, you have to get comfortable with me.”
He hoped he wasn’t scaring her away, but he wasn’t going to be dishonest with her about his expectations. He watched her expressions as he slowly lifted her long dress up and over her head. He dropped the cloth on the floor beside them and then gripped her hips.