Now I stared at him as hard as he stared at me.
Piece by piece, his clothes came off until he dropped his underwear.
There it was, hard as usual.
He walked to the steps and made his way down until everything but his chest was submerged. Then he came closer to me, his eyes intense but his mouth playful. “You need to stop with the cigars.”
“No. You need to stop with the cigars.”
His hands groped me under the water, bringing my naked body up against him. My legs circled his hips, and I latched on, my arms hooked around his neck.
He moved into deeper water, submerging our bodies until only his shoulders poked out of the water. His hands held on to my bare ass, his big fingers spanning each cheek. “You’re lucky people think you’re cute when you do that.”
“Not trying to be cute. I told you to stop smoking.”
“You don’t tell me what to do.”
My eyes shifted back and forth between his. “Yes, I do.”
His hard face took in my appearance, those dark eyes armored walls that kept out everyone, including me. His thoughts were a mystery, a hand of cards held close to his chest.
“I’m the woman of the house, aren’t I? I’m your woman.”
“Like every dictator who ever lived, you’re letting the title go to your head.”
“Dictator, huh? That’s rich coming from you.”
A glimmer of a smile moved on to his lips.
It was infectious, reaching my own mouth because it was so boyish and handsome.
“I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll stop smoking if you do something for me.”
“Do something for you? I don’t have any disgusting habits.”
The grin remained. “Never said it was. It’s just something I want.”
“You want to make a trade? Fine. What do you want?”
“To make a video of us.”
“A video of us doing what?”
He grinned.
“Why would you want that?”
“That’s my business.”
“Why would you watch a video when you can just—”
“We have a deal or not?”
I stilled at the way he cut me off. “Are you going to show it to anyone?”
“Is this really the first time anyone’s asked you to make a video?”
“Yes.”
“Really?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“That’s surprising,” he said. “I’ll stop smoking if we make a video. Deal?”
“I’m just looking out for your health…and you’re being a pervert.”
That grin was back. “I love cigars, so the abstinence is going to cost you.”
“Fine.”
He continued to smile. “It’s a deal.”
“You know, you’re really handsome when you smile.”
My words immediately chased it away. The corners of his lips dropped, and he was back to his usual demeanor—brooding and moody.
“I wish you would do it more often.”
“Happy people smile. I’m not a happy person.”
“You’re a billionaire in paradise, and you’re still miserable?”
“Miserable is a strong word and not the one I would use.”
“Then what word would you use?”
His fingers kneaded my ass under the water, and his eyes dropped down to my lips like he was bored with the conversation.
“What word would you use?” I pressed, finding myself more concerned about his happiness than I realized.
He drew close, his lips coming for mine.
“Tell me,” I whispered, tilting away from his mouth.
He started to glide us across the water, the cool water hitting my back as he moved forward. With his eyes on mine, he guided me to the edge of the pool where my back gently came to rest against the wall. “Empty.”
It was just a word, not a fist to the face or a knife in the back, but it hurt like hell.
My face must have been contorted in a painful expression because he didn’t kiss me again. He held my stare, those dark eyes hard like his closed knuckles. His fingers didn’t dig deep into me anymore.
“I—I wish you didn’t feel like that.” I said it with emotion I didn’t feel until the words were out of my mouth. I’d snuck on to his boat, and he hadn’t hesitated to try to shoot me, and here I was, wrapped up in his emotional well-being. When did that happen?
“I don’t always feel empty.”
My tits were right against his chest. My heartbeat thumped against his body and reverberated against mine. It felt strong enough to make ripples in the pool.
“At least not when I’m with you.”
I steadied my breath as best I could. Otherwise, he would feel it, feel the way I nearly gasped in response. It took everything I had to hold his stare and bottle my reaction, to hide the wings that sprouted from my heart.
He leaned in and took my mouth. The kiss was slow but full of his dominance, the way he always took the reins every time we were physical together. His body pushed mine against the wall, and his heat made the surrounding water boil. Breaths. Tongue. Ass-grabs. He made me feel like he was the only man I’d ever had.