I merely need to be me.
Against my better judgment, I caved and agreed to let Mackenzi use the pool this afternoon. It’s a bad idea; one I can feel in my gut. It’s not reckless enough to qualify as negligence, not much different from the walks she is permitted with my presence.
The pool sits inside the secured inner courtyard, far from the property line, well covered by surveillance cameras, and there is enough tactical coverage on the property to start a war with a small country. Still… it’s outside. It leaves her open and exposed. And with reports of cartel chatter escalating by the hour,exposedis not a word I am particularly fond of.
Even with walks providing her with a bit of freedom, she’s still confined to this compound, and I know this is hard on her. A blind man could see she needs this to relieve some of the tension wound so tightly beneath her skin. So, when she looked at me over lunch and quietly asked, “Can I please go for a swim? Just for a little bit,” I agreed.Like a fucking love-drunk idiot.
My logic at the time seemed sound enough, but standing in the foyer reviewing perimeter reports through my earpiece while I wait, I’m beginning to suspect my decision-making abilities have been severely compromised where Mackenzi Bradenburg is concerned.
“North wall clear.” Gunnar’s voice crackles softly through comms.
“Copy.”
I glance toward the staircase just as soft footsteps sound above me, suddenly losing my ability to breathe.Jesus fucking Christ.Mackenzi descends the staircase slowly, one hand trailing lightly along the polished railing, while I practically bite through my fist at the sight of her. She’s wearing an emerald-green bikini, the tiny fucking thing stunning against her naturally bronzed skin. The silky fabric barely contains the soft curves spilling from it, every gorgeous inch of her suddenly—devastatingly—on display beneath warm afternoon light pouring through the foyer windows. Her full thighs jiggle slightly with each step she takes, and her breasts sway, threatening the limits of the delicate emerald fabric.
My jaw nearly hits the floor at the absolutely fucking perfection walking toward me. She’s halfway down the stairs when she notices I’m staring, and she blushes immediately. Her reaction only makes it worse, because now she looks shy on top of beautiful, and I’m a heartbeat away from agreeing to anything this goddess wants.
“You okay?” she asks cautiously.
No… not even remotely.
I drag my gaze up her body with visible effort until our eyes meet again, and her eyes light up at whatever she sees on my face.Good… because she should know what she does to me.By the time she reaches the bottom of the stairs, I’m certain my racing heartbeat and climbing blood pressure might be approaching the levels of medical concern.
She reaches the landing, and the scent of her sunscreen and vanilla curls around me. “You look fucking gorgeous,” I whisper roughly as she brushes by me.
She ducks her head slightly, fighting a smile and barely mustering, “Thank you.”
I step closer before I can stop myself, lowering my voice as my hand glides over the swell of her hip. “You keep looking at me like that, and I’m going to forget how to behave.”
Her breath catches visibly in her throat, and heat blooms instantly across her cheeks as I put distance between us while we make our way outside.
The pool courtyard sits empty beneath overcast skies, rain from brief storms earlier still glistens across white stone pathways, while the humid summer air hangs heavy over the embassy grounds. Security rotates near the outer perimeter beyond the gardens; Marines are stationed at intervals along the walls; and surveillance cameras track overhead in steady sweeps. It’s safe—as safe as anywhere can be right now.
Mackenzi doesn’t hesitate once she reaches the edge. She practically sighs with relief before slipping into the pool with one graceful movement, the emerald fabric disappearing beneath clear water, ripples shimmering outward across the marble edges.
I exhale slowly, immediately regretting permitting this excursion when she surfaces. Her hair is slicked back, and her wet skin glistens beneath the afternoon light, her soft curves half-submerged. Staring down at her, I become profoundly aware that I am, in fact, just a man. A very fucked man struggling to adjust the cock threatening to grow in my cargo pants.
“You keep doing that,” she says quietly, a faint smile lifting the corners of her lips.
My eyes drag over her once more before returning to the perimeter. “Doing what?”
“Looking at me like that.”
I force my attention toward the security rotation near the north side of the grounds. “I’m keeping an eye on you.”
She drifts through the water slowly on her back, sunlight dancing across the surface around her. “Mmhmm,” she murmurs. “Seemsveryofficial.”
I ignore her and scan the perimeter again—north wall, south gate, roofline, and movement near the west tower, where two Marines rotate positions—finding everything appearing normal.
Mackenzi swims another slow lap before resting her arms along the edge nearest me, chin propped atop folded wrists.
“You know,” she says casually, “normal people would probably take their shirt off by the pool.”
“I’m armed… and working.”
“You could at least sit down,” she calls lightly, treadingwater near the edge of the pool. “You’re making me nervous, standing there, looking all intimidating.”
“Intimidating?” The little brat grins wider. “Go. Enjoy your swim.”
