He lets out what sounds like a strangled groan. “Don’t do this.”
“Come on. I’m a grown woman. Almost nineteen years old and out of high school now. What are you afraid of?” I let the top fall away, my nipples going hard the second the air hits them. Before I can lose my nerve, I tug at the ties on my hips and let the bottom fall off, too.
He can’t pretend he’s not interested—otherwise, why are his eyes glued to my chest? He might be the most difficult, unreadable man I’ve ever met, but at the end of the day, he’s still a man. He knows a good body when he sees one. Just because I’ve never been with anybody doesn’t mean I don’t know what I have working for me.
“Well?” I challenge. “Are you ready to get wet?”
His mouth falls open, eyes wide. This is it; this is happening. He wants me the way I want him. I can feel it. Finally, after all this waiting and wanting, it’s going to happen. Everything I’ve been fantasizing about. I’m close enough to him now that I can almost feel his breath on me. It would take no effort to reach for him, to take his hand and put it on my body.
“Get your clothes on.” He stands, his hands tightening into fists. “And have a little respect for yourself.”
My insides go icy while a sick feeling washes over me. “What are you talking about?” Only the confidence is gone from my voice now. It’s barely a whisper and a shaky one at that.
“You know what I’m talking about. Pull this little slut act with one of those shithead boys who were here earlier. Not with me.” He waves a hand, indicating my clothes. “Now, before I tell your father.”
Bile rises in my throat as I see the disgust in his eyes. I can’t believe it. I want to die. I want to jump in the pool and go straight to the bottom and never surface. How could I have been so wrong? I thought he wanted me. I thought—
It doesn’t matter what I thought. Now he’s looking at me like I’m a piece of filth—like I disgust him. I barely have time to pull the cover-up over my head before grabbing my bathing suit and running full out for the house with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.
How could I have been so stupid?
How am I supposed to face him again?