AllFreeNovel
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‘How do you know I can swim?’
If he didn’t touch her she’d die—or she’d kill him for doing this to her.
‘Can you?’
‘Not as well as you. Is it cold?’
‘Fed by a mountain spring is the clue.’
Anna took a deep breath and, very aware that he was watching her, she loosened the tie around the silk kaftan that had come in one of her packages along with two swimsuits and a bikini. She had finally opted for the plain black swimsuit. Cut high on the leg revealing what felt now like acres of bottom, it had a deceptively modest V-neckline at the front but the back was cut almost to her waist. The stark simplicity was relieved by a thin chain belt.
She draped the kaftan across one of the chairs set around a table, walked to the edge of the pool and performed a creditable dive.
The cold hit her heated skin and made her gasp. She kicked hard and with a sinuous little wriggle came up for air a few feet away from Soren.
‘You’re a water baby. Race?’
She shook her head. ‘I’m not in your class,’ she shouted back.
Soren had clearly adjusted his pace because there was no way she could have kept up otherwise as they swam several lengths side by side in silence.
It was Anna who stopped, breathless, and flipped onto her back, arms spread, using the occasional kick to keep herself afloat as her hair hovered around her like fronds of seaweed and she turned her face to the last rays of sun hitting the water. The rest of the pool was already in shade. ‘I’m out of condition.’
‘You look like a mermaid,’ he said, coming up beside her. ‘And your eyes are the same green as the water.’
She gave a lazy kick and flipped over onto her stomach. ‘Race you back!’ she yelled, already several feet ahead as she struck out.
‘You cheated.’
‘You won.’
Grinning, he heaved himself in one lithe motion onto the side and, bending down, held out his hand. After a moment she took it and allowed him to haul her out.
She landed lightly but almost overbalanced and fell into him. She stood there and stared at him through her wet eyelashes, sleek and so perfect it made her ache just to look at him. ‘Sorry.’
He experienced a bolt of pure blinding lust that literally immobilised him. ‘You all right?’
She shook her head. She hadn’t come here looking for love, but it had found her. ‘I stubbed my toe.’
‘You’re shivering.’
‘I forgot to bring a towel.’
‘Share mine,’ he offered, bending to pick up his discarded towel from the floor. ‘Come sit over there in the sun. You’ll soon warm up.’
Wrapped in his towel, she followed him across the paved area to the carved oak chairs with cream cushions set around a table. The parasol was down and the table was in full sunlight.
‘I could get some drinks sent down if you like.’
‘No, thanks.’ She handed back the towel and their fingers touched, not accidentally, on her part at least, and stayed that way...
‘No!’ she snapped suddenly pulling her hand away. ‘I don’t want to hold your hand. I want to—’ She stopped and bit her lip. When she looked up he was watching her with eyes that had darkened to navy.
‘What do you want to do to me, Anna?’
She shook her head, sending a shower of icy droplets around the immediate area. They sizzled and died in seconds on his hot skin as he leaned in close so their faces were touching, his nose against hers.
‘So whisper if you can’t say it out loud.’
