Being away from them and in the water instantly lightened his mood. Her being here seemed to make her forget about being self-conscious or his naked torso, which made him happier.
She smiled and relaxed as they swam, and before long, he started playfully splashing and pulling her with him. She tried to dunk him under, but he was faster and got her first every time.
She seemed a competent swimmer, so Jake decided to have a little fun with her before swimming ashore. He had pulled her under with him a few times, enjoying that he could touch her freely in the water without feeling like he was doing something wrong.
âStop ⦠it,â she spluttered to the surface, pleading with him and pushing back her wet hair from her eyes. She looked too cute like this to listen.
âOnly if you ask me nicely, tiny tots,â he wiped the water from his face, pleased to feel his hair wax was withstanding the sea test. The new lab improvements he had requested were working, and Carrero hair wax was now waterproof.
He swam to her to close the gap, aware of just how naked she was when he was inches away from molding to her. âWill you please stop trying to drown me, Mr. Carrero?â she begged. It only made him feel more playful.
That adorable little soft voice asking so delicatelyâshe had no chance. âSeeing as you ask so sweetly, Miss Anderson.â He pushed her under again, catching her under the water and pulling her back against him hard. Nose to nose, and it didnât seem so right anymore.
It was closer than he intended, her body skimming against him in ways that got an immediate hard reaction, and he released her quickly. He wasnât sure which part of her body had just rubbed up against his groin, but it didnât matter.
He was battling down an erection with the efforts of a sumo wrestler. He hated that despite all his sexual prowess and years of being a man whore, he couldnât control this shit around her. It was fucking embarrassing.
He swam away from her to get this under control and put distance between them. He hoped to God she could manage the half-mile swim, as holding onto her in any way right now would end in impalement he didnât want to explain.
The beach wasnât that far, but it would be exhausting for someone as tiny as her. Jake slowed his pace to ensure he stayed close in case she struggled.
He would never let her drown, even if he did have to ram a hard-on against her back while rescuing her. He was glad to find that by the time they hit the beach, he had it back under control and mentally chastised himself about getting that close to her again while she was wearing practically nothing.
He wandered ahead to let the water drip off and the sun warm and dry his skin in hopes her bikini wasnât showing more than he could handle right now. ~God, he needed sex badly.~
They wandered around on the beach for a while; the hot sand felt amazing, and Jake couldnât help but watch her and those legs strolling around as she picked up shells. She was so lost in her own head about something and completely oblivious to him watching her intensely.
She was breathtaking in every way now that her nervousness about being in that pretty, mind-blowing bikini seemed to be calming down. He just wanted to stand this way all day and see that little content look on her face. She made him feel all kinds of things right at that moment.
Protective, warm, and happyâmaybe even a little tug in his heart if he was being honest. He felt horny but not in an overwhelming way like in the water; a more laid-back, gentle attraction.
He could handle it this way; if only it would stay this constant. She stopped and glanced his way. He could feel her eyes before he saw them as he had taken a moment to wander the shore and breathe in some of the surroundings to get his head straight.
This was one of his favorite places to kick back, after all. Jake loved anything to do with the ocean and being in the great outdoors. He caught sight of her making her way toward him and turned to watch her walk.
The way she moved had always captivated himâgraceful, even, and swan-like. At first, she had seemed more stiffly in control over her motions months ago, but over time she had relaxed.
Especially with the ice queen postures, and now she was just elegant. Her little nervous habits bugged him, though. He hated thinking she ever felt that uneasy around him, and whenever he saw her twirling her hair, he wanted to cut her hands off.
As soon as he saw those fidgeting fingers, he could never stop the impulsive need to still them. As soon as she was close enough, he laced her tiny hand in his and tugged her with him.
So many times, he had told himself to stop with the touching and hand-holding he had started, but he couldnât. It was essential, like breathing, and came so naturally with her now that it would be futile.
He had started it to get her used to him long ago when he had first taken her to meet Hunter. He hadnât liked the flinch at his touch or the fear in those big baby blues.
He had made a conscious decision to get her used to his touch if only to relax her, and somehow, it grew to this. Holding hands was something he constantly didâpulling her along, hell, even taking her to business meetings.
So many times had he caught strange looks from other receptionists that he was pulling his PA along and would glare back at them. He knew it wasnât normal, but Emma just assumed he was this way with everyone. Margo, maybe, not so much hands-on but definitely not everyone.
Just people he cared aboutâand always her. Holding her hand now felt right, a perfect fit in the palm of his hand, the familiar soft touch that made him want more from her.
âHere, Emma.â He could see her shielding her eyes as the noon sun lifted higher in the sky, so he handed his shades back to her. With her eye color, she needed them more than he did. He practically spent half his life in the sun and had never really felt any effects from sun glare.
Letting her go, he moved along to pick up some pebbles, the sun warming his already brown skin. âThanks,â she smiled his way as he bent down and expertly skimmed his pebbles across the soft, lapping waves.
Looking her way for a moment to gaze at how much more relaxed she seemed away from the others on the boat. Once again, he wished they had come here alone. He wanted nothing more right now. âWhat is it?â She tilted her head questioningly at him.
âYou seem a bit more relaxed now weâre over here.â He could definitely see it. âI feel more relaxed,â she sighed and began looking around her feet, pushing the sand with her tiny toes and looking a bit too squeezable.
He took a slow breath and continued skimming stones to distract himself. âYou look it.â He skimmed another stone like an expert and could not stop the goofy smile hitting his face at watching her. âIâm glad you made me come.â
She watched him more closely now, giving nothing away in that face, like always. âIâm glad I didnât have to force you,â he grinned, knowing that forcing Emma was never that easy.
She had a stubborn streak and was one of the few women he had ever met who stood up to him defiantlyâeven when he was being an arsey dickhead. He loved that about her. âTechnically, you gave me no choice,â she pouted sassily at him, that tiny little spark always beneath the surface.
He would love to see her fully let go of it and turn into a tornado like Leila could. He sensed she was more than capable, but her reserved nature kept it locked down. He wanted to see her release that passion a little.
Okay, maybe not to Leilaâs extent, but some of it, anyway. He often wondered if she did it deliberatelyâkept herself calmâand even so, she would never lose control.
âYou always have a choice with me, Emma. You know that.â He looked her way again, feeling relaxed too, wanting to memorize her standing that wayâhands on hips and a body to die for.
He shook that mental thought away, knowing that if he stuck with it, his mind would find the shortest route to the gutter again. Being around herâminus a whole lot of clothingâwas trying to say the least, and his libido was starting to fight back.
âWe should be getting back; the others will think we donât like them.â He tensed and flexed his body, catching a glance at her eyes as he did so, and it immediately caught his attention.
Definitely no fear that time or any sense of discomfort. That had most definitely been an eye wander of the appreciative female varietyâmaybe she wasnât as immune as he thought?
He would love to explore that possibility. About time his assets were winning her over. He knew he was built and had enough sex appeal.
Hell, he knew he was a good-looking bastard. Women had made that obvious his whole life. âSure, Iâm kinda hungry too.â
She pulled off the shades, seemingly shaking it off, and handed them back to him. He tried to do the same, but that tiny flicker of hope in his chest wouldnât recede to where it came from.
He felt like a girl with all the mushy crap going on inside him and had to chastise himself.
He led the way back into the sea, staying close and making sure the swim back wasnât an ordeal for her.
He would have carried her the whole way had she seemed tired, but she handled it well.
No hint of fatigue, just long, graceful strokes that matched hisâand he felt proud of her. She never ceased to impress him.
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