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Keep doing that. Don’t stop.
But then I worried I was enjoying it way too much, and my nerves took over when I blurted out, “What did you do last night while I was working? Did you miss me a little?”
“I think you know the answer to that question,” he said. “As for what I did, I was putting the finishing touches on your portrait. I am almost done.”
“How could you do that without me?” I asked.
“It wasn’t difficult at all,” Oliver said. “I have memorized every inch of you.” He guided me back around until I was facing him again.
“And what was your favorite part?” I asked with a flirty smile.
Oliver glanced at my mouth. “That’s easy—your lips. Although, I am thinking I have some new favorite parts.”
I wanted to grab the man and kiss him right there, but I knew it wasn’t the place, especially if Queen Annabella came out. There would be plenty of time for that later. At least, I hoped there would be.
“Let me get your back,” I said, although I wondered if it was such a good idea to have my hands on his body.
I squirted sunscreen into my hand as he turned around, exposing his broad shoulders and back. Starting behind his neck, I moved with deliberate strokes, tracing the firmness of his muscles, enjoying the softness of his skin. The intimacy of the moment made me wonder if he’d mind if I continued this tactile exploration of his body for a few hours. My hands slid over his skin, from the middle of his back to his sides, lingering near the top of his waist-hugging trunks.
“All good,” I managed to say, placing the sunscreen on the table before I self-combusted. “We need to get into the water now. I’m ready to cool off a little bit.”
Oliver chuckled. “I agree.”
We both stepped into the pool and worked our way further out, until the water was just above our waists.
“Do you come out here often?” I asked.
“Not as much as I would like,” he said. “I usually do laps.”
“Me, too,” I said. “And no, I don’t want to race, if you’re thinking of another bet. Judging by the muscles in your legs, I won’t stand a chance.”
“Your mind reading skills are quite impressive,” Oliver said. “It’s a little scary.”
“Be very afraid,” I said. “Now, if you want to see who can hold their breath underwater the longest, I will take that bet. If I win, you’ll share the video of you doing the ‘Macarena’ with the world.”
He shook his head, amused. “Okay, Miss Predictable. I will take that bet. But if you lose, you owe me a ten-minute kiss.”
“Sounds like I win either way,” I smirked, diving underwater.
Seconds later, Oliver plunged under the water in front of me, his eyes wide open.
I wiggled my fingers at him.
He waved back with a closed-mouth grin.
I fixated on his determined gaze, vowing silently to emerge victorious as my competitive spirit kicked in. His features remained resolute, bubbles escaping from his nose as he maintained his submerged stance. I focused on his regal features, his jawline, his eyes, anything to distract myself from the seconds ticking away under water.
It felt like an eternity, and I was losing hope. Luckily, just when the pressure in my chest reached its peak, Oliver jumped up and broke the surface of the water. I prepared to claim my victory, however, before I could make a move to go back up, his powerful hands reached for me, grabbed me by the waist, and pulled me out of the water and against his body. I found myself pressed against him, water droplets trailing down our faces. I was breathless, not just from the challenge, but from the proximity that took me by surprise.
“You win,” he said, his playful eyes flickering with a hint of something more before his lips met mine in a kiss that defied the playfulness of our contest.
His mouth moved against mine with a passion that caught me off guard, igniting a fire within that mirrored the heat of the sun on my back. Our wet bodies slid against each other, with every touch, every movement, every dance of our tongues almost too much for me to handle.
Unfortunately, just like that, the kiss ended.
“There y’all are!” Aunt Honey said, startling us both. “Looks like someone is having way too much fun without me.”
We glanced in her direction, both of us out of breath.
