Texas shot him a sharp look and his lower lip stuck out. Unable to help myself, I crossed the room towards him, sliding my arms around his shoulders as I leaned down and pressed a kiss to his lips. He lifted his head willingly, his mouth opening under mine. One hand came up and cupped the back of my head as he held me to him, his tongue seeking entrance that I gave up willingly. Sparks danced between us, and the longer we kissed, the more firmly his hold became.
When I managed to turn my cheek—needing oxygen—I found myself panting. “Go,” I heard Texas say. “Lord knows I can’t get shit done with you here, looking like that.”
I frowned as he released me and I backed away, looking down at my shorts and tank top. “Looking like what?” I asked.
“Edible,” he said, his eyes hot.
My blush took on a whole new meaning, but I nodded anyway and when Bellamy moved to take my hand, I let him. Texas turned back to his computers as Bellamy urged me into the bathroom to change and we headed down to the pool with towels in hand. Surprisingly, there wasn’t a soul around as we climbed into the outdoor swimming pool, adjoined by a small circular jacuzzi hot tub.
“Do you think we’ll be able to find Clarissa’s niece?” I asked after several minutes wading and floating in the crystal clear water. My voice echoed up in the empty space between the two wings of the hotel.
Something slithered by me and I tipped my head up, realizing that Bellamy had come nearer. His arms closed around me, lifting me against his naked torso. I looked up into his face. He considered the question with a peculiar expression, one that was unsure, but enigmatic at the same time.
“We will do the best we can, Sweetheart,” he settled on saying.
I smiled, slipping my arms around his broad shoulders and linking my fingers behind his neck. Above us, twilight settled in an oversaturation of oranges, yellows, and reds. “It’s only five o’clock,” I said absently. “Why is the sun going down?”
“It’s winter here,” he reminded me. “It goes down earlier.”
“It’s weird to think of it as winter,” I replied as he carried me through the water towards the steps leading out of the pool and into the hot tub. “It’s still in the seventies.”
He flashed me an amused grin. “One man’s heat is another man’s cold.”
I pressed my lips together and lifted a brow. “You made that up,” I accused.
His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Does it make it any less true?” he asked.
Having no reply, I merely rolled my eyes and clenched my limbs as we finally lifted out of the water and my body settled against him—gravity pulling me down as the buoyancy of the water was left behind. I needn’t have bothered though. Bellamy’s hands on me were rock solid as he carried me the short two foot distance up the steps and into the jacuzzi. A breath hissed through my teeth as my skin met with the too-warm water and we sank down. I sighed and snuggled closer and together, we stared up and watched as the sun slowly sank down over the horizon.
I turned when the outside lights came on and started when I realized Bellamy’s eyes were on me. Darkness had fallen over us and the only thing illuminating his face were the blurry yellowed lights in the corners of the outdoor area and the dim underwater bulbs beneath us. They reflected a strangeness in his features that made my breath catch as he lifted one hand out of the water. A finger stroked at the edge of my chest, just over my collarbone and under the string of my bikini.
“Bellamy?” I couldn’t say why I thought it was necessary to whisper when there was no one nearby, but I felt even that was too loud.
“Do you know how precious you are to me?” he asked. Mute, I shook my head. A smile lifted the corners of his mouth as he leaned forward. A shiver stole up my spine as he pressed a chaste kiss to my temple before tilting his head to the side so that his lips rested right before my ear. “Should I show you?”
“What do you want to show me?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
His hand moved up to cup my chin as he pulled his head back. Dark brown eyes glittered with intent. “I want to show you the world,” he said. “I want to lay dragons at your feet.”
“There are no dragons,” I replied.
White teeth flashed in a dark-skinned face. The olive tone of it was shadowed in the lack of light. He leaned forward and nipped my lower lip. I gasped, the sensation so abrupt that it made the entirety of my body arch upward in an automatic movement. “I think there are,” he said, “and I think I’m one of them.”
I mumbled something—though only God knew what it was. I meant for it to be encouragement though, and that intention obviously got through because he squeezed me closer. All I knew was that I had to kiss him. I turned fully, sliding one leg over his lap and anchoring myself up until I was pressed to him—his chest against my breasts. He bared his teeth as I settled on his lap, feeling how hard he was beneath me.
“Harlow…” My name on his lips was a plea, a demand. One I happily wanted to comply with. I let my eyes slide closed as my arms encircled his neck. My fingers sank into the long dark strands gathered together in a hair tie at the base of his neck.
When his lips met mine, they did so gently at first, rubbing with restraint. I didn’t like that. I didn’t want restraint. I wanted him unbound. I fisted the hair tie and tugged it down, tossing it away as I sank my other hand into his hair and held his skull roughly, slanting my mouth over his.
It must have sparked whatever vein of aggression some men had because, in the next instant, Bellamy stood up and slid me across the hot tub until I was seated and he was leaning over me, blocking out everything else. His lips captured mine with intent, his tongue sinking past any perceived resistance andtaking.
Wide hands, rough from hard work, slid over my sides, beneath the triangles of fabric of my top. My nipples stiffened despite the heat of the water and beneath my bottoms, I knew the wetness gathering was due to more than just the hot tub. I moaned when strong fingers stroked against the tips of my breasts, and then when a thumb and forefinger latched onto one and pinched down lightly, I jerked. Water sloshed over the side of the small enclosure and my eyes shot open as a gasp left me.
“Harlow…” Bellamy’s voice was gruff, a mere rasp in the darkness. I reached up and yanked him back down to my mouth as my chest arched forward, seeking more of that feeling. My legs scissored beneath the water. My tongue invaded his mouth, tasting him, loving him.
He continued to cup my breast in his palm, toying with my nipple in lazy simple movements that only served to heat my blood even more. I squirmed beneath him. It wasn’t enough. I could have wept with relief when I felt his other hand start to trace a path up my thigh. My legs spread so swiftly that it left him breaking off the kiss and chuckling in amusement.
“Don’t worry, Sweetheart,” he said, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll take care of you.”