“Hello,” I said, pushing myself into a sitting position on the lounger. My cover-up was on my shoulders, but it was open, revealing the swimsuit he obviously admired. “Finished for the day?”
“Maybe,” he said, sitting on the chair next to mine. “I was craving a dip in the pool. Or something.”
I smiled, almost, but not quite sure of his meaning. “I’m surprised they let you in the way they guard this place. Did you bribe one of the clinicians?”
“Yes,” he said, pulling off his shirt. “A cool fifty, and the doors flew open.”
The sight of his perfect chest and lined stomach caught my breath. Less than twenty-four hours ago, I’d been wrapped around him, and I was growing slick at the memory. I blinked down to the shimmering pool water, my whole body flushed.
“How did you find me?” I managed to say.
“I’m a detective, after all.”
I returned his grin at that. “Oh, really?”
He chuckled. “Last night you told me your room number. I called and they said you were here.”
I wasn’t pleased with them giving out my location to unknown gentlemen callers, but in this case, I’d let it slide. My eyes drifted to the round tattoo near his shoulder. It was an anchor design blended with a skull over an SF.
“And that’s for…?”
He seemed confused then glanced down. “Oh. Marines.” He shook his head. “Rite of passage, I guess.”
“It’s cool. Unique.”
“I really enjoyed dinner on the patio last night,” he continued, leaning back. “When Patrick said he was blowing off the day, I considered doing the same.”
I slanted my eyes at him, confident enough to flirt. “Why didn’t you?”
“Had a workshop at ten. But it was hard to concentrate.”
One of the slim, tanned pool boys who just moments ago I’d conceded was “sexy” walked up. Now he looked like a child to me. “Drink, sir?”
Derek glanced over at the table beside me. “Two of whatever the lady’s having.”
The boy nodded and quickly left.
“It’s just a wine spritzer, I should warn you.”
That grin was back on his lips, making me want to kiss them. “What’s with you and ordering drinks?”
I bit my lip unsure of how much to reveal. Then I shrugged. “It’s been a while since I’ve done it for myself.”
His blue eyes flickered to my face behind his glasses. I could tell his interest was piqued, and he wanted me to say more. “Sounds like a story.”
I lifted the glass from the table beside me and finished the rest of my drink just as the server returned with two new ones.
“Maybe I’ll tell it to you sometime.” I was relaxed from the alcohol, and wanting to stay in this place of bliss with him. “But not now. It’s too depressing.”
He nodded. Then he sat up. “I’m taking a dip. It’s warmer than I expected.”
I watched as he stood and walked to the pool. He was literally perfect, and I noticed many eyes following him into the water. He submerged beneath the crystal blue surface and shot to the other side of the long pool.
Up until now, he’d been the initiator of all our encounters. Elaine was gone for the day, our room was empty. Would I invite him up? Did I want to get that close? As I pondered the question, he surfaced on the other side of the pool. Wiping his eyes he turned, then went under and shot back in my direction. In moments, he was back, surfacing in front of me, and when our blue eyes met, a loud Yes! echoed in my head.
Standing, I let my cover-up slide off my shoulders, and I tossed it on the lounge chair. My hair was still in a high ponytail, and as I walked to meet him in the pool, his eyes tracked my progress. He leaned back against the side, stretching his arms out, and his focused attention set my pulse humming under my skin. With every step, desire throbbed stronger in my core, and by the time I lowered myself into the pool, it was all I could do to keep my hands to myself. I pictured drifting one under the water to his waist, running my fingers down the front of his swim trunks, coaxing him to an erection. His face said it wouldn’t take much. But I kept my expression neutral.
“The water’s nice,” I said, leaning against the wall beside him.