Adelaide slipped off her shoes and jumped in wearing only her bikini bottoms. Dempsey surprised her by diving in a moment after her wearing...nothing.
Her breath caught as the low lights reflected off his impressive frame. Strong thighs. Powerful shoulders. A butt that had no business being so appealing. And then a splash engulfed her and she had no more time to admire the man swimming across the pool toward her.
She made a halfhearted effort to get away because, of course, she couldn’t wait to be captured.
When she felt a hand wrap around her ankle and drag her back through the water she welcomed the heat of his touch.
“That’s not skinny-dipping,” he accused, seizing her hips and dragging her bikini bottoms off before she could protest.
He flung them onto the deck with a wet splash, then backed her against a wall in the shallow end. Despite the slight chill of the water, his body was like an inferno against hers. He wrapped her in his arms, warming her, his erection trapped against her belly as he kissed her deeply. Thoroughly.
She got so lost in him she didn’t know how long they stayed there, hands gliding over slick skin, tongues tangling as they moved together. She watched, fascinated with the way their bodies looked beside one another, his muscles so impressive in the moonlight.
“I want you inside me.” She shifted her hips to stroke him with one hand as she circled his waist with her leg. “Please.”
“I don’t have any protection out here,” he said in her ear, nibbling her earlobe and driving her mad with need.
She bit her lip against the hunger, already so close to release. She could just let go and enjoy the sensations he could pull from her so easily with his talented hands. But she wanted to hold out for having him deep inside her.
“Let’s go in,” she pleaded, the hollow ache almost painful.
Dempsey lifted her into his arms and climbed the built-in stairs while water sluiced off them. He must look like Poseidon, rising from the depths, but she was too busy kissing him to see for herself. He paused near a deck box and withdrew two prewarmed towels, laying both of them on her as he carried her against his chest.
“I can walk.” She pulled back as he edged sideways through the open French door. “You can let me down.”
“And risk having you run?” He nipped her ear. “I already caught my prize. I’m not letting go now.”
He bypassed the main staircase for the narrow steps up from a butler’s kitchen, probably because the thick rubber treads provided traction when they were still dripping wet.
“You’re crazy if you think I’d run now.” She delved her fingers into his wet hair and brought his lips to hers. “I keep thinking that I must have been dreaming last night and that sex couldn’t have been as incredible as I remember. I want to see for myself. Again.”
“I like a challenge.” He angled into his bedroom and fell onto the bed with her, taking her weight on him as they rolled. Together. “Why don’t you keep track of how many times I make you scream my name tonight?”
She might have laughed or teased him about that, but his hand was already between her legs, the heel of his palm pressing where she needed him most.
Desire shot through her like a Roman candle, a bright burst that fired again and again. She clung to him, calling out his name just as he’d promised she would. It was only the beginning, she knew. She hadn’t imagined how thoroughly Dempsey would dominate her world, her thoughts, her nights.
She had gladly given him her body. But as tender feelings crowded her chest for this man, Adelaide feared she was giving him much, much more.
Nine
Dempsey awoke to the scent of coffee just how he liked it, thick and strong. Still half-asleep, he reached for Adelaide, only to find her side of the bed cold.
Coming more awake, he realized she must be responsible for making the coffee. He would have to tell her that he would far rather wake up to her in his arms, but he did appreciate the gesture on a game day. It was still dark out, but he needed to get to the stadium for their home opener—a banner moment in a career-making season. He could feel it in his bones.
And damn, but he would have liked to share that good feeling with Adelaide.
Shoving out of bed, he shrugged on a clean T-shirt and boxers, thinking he could coax her back upstairs. Then again, the kitchen table would do just fine. Last night had been so wild. So unexpected. He picked up his pace to find her.