Jared's Counterfeit Fiancee - Brenda Jackson [51]
“I don’t do so bad.”
Dana thought that if he could swim with the same degree of expertise that he made love then he was definitely an ace. “I can swim,” she said, deciding to come clean. “My parents made sure I knew how before my fourth birthday. Living on the East Coast and so close to the ocean meant that I had to learn.”
She tipped her head back and looked at him. “But there is one slight problem.”
“What?”
“I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”
“That’s no problem. I’m sure there’s an extra one around here that should fit you.”
He watched her face and saw the exact moment her eyes darkened with disappointment. “Don’t bother.”
He quickly realized what had bothered her. Reaching out he gently squeezed her shoulders and said, “It’s a bathing suit that Delaney left behind, Dana. She used to keep several of them here in case she ever wanted to visit and go swimming.” He pulled her to him, needing to hold her. “I’ve never gone swimming with a woman in this house before,” he whispered. He never felt the need to explain his personal life to any woman, but for some reason he wanted to explain things to her.
Dana pulled back, ticked at herself for caring. Besides, he didn’t owe her an explanation about anything. It wasn’t as if they were really engaged. “Sorry, I don’t have a right to come across like that, Jared. What you do is none of my business.”
He studied her face for a long time then said, “There’s no need to apologize.” His breath was warm against her face when he leaned toward her and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. He deepened it then pulled back slowly, not ready to languish her lips yet as he placed tiny kisses around it. “I can say the hell with a bathing suit and let’s go skinny-dipping.”
Breathless, she smiled against his lips. “Yes, you can say that but then that poses another problem.”
He watched as she moistened her lips with a stroke of her tongue, and was tempted to lean down and take that tongue into his mouth and feast on it some more. “What other problem?” he asked, barely able to get the words out.
“I’ve never swum in the nude.”
The thought of her swimming naked ran fluidly through his mind, forming images that made him want to strip her bare, then and there. “You know what they say, Miss Rollins. There’s a first time for everything.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Come on, let’s go for a swim.”
When they began walking, Jared slung an arm around her shoulders as he led her to the area where the pool was located. Dana tried not to let the seductive sensations that Jared generated within her, take possession of her mind.
The potent smell of chlorine teased Dana’s nostrils as they entered a passageway. He reached out and flipped a switch, bringing light into a huge area filled with lush greenery. To say the pool was impressive would be an understatement. Secured in the privacy of brick walls and a vaulted ceiling made of solid glass, this private place was definitely a swimmer’s haven. Dana smiled when they stopped walking and she looked up and saw how the moonlight and the stars reflected through, slanting light against the pool’s blue-tinted waters.
“So, do you want a bathing suit or do you prefer going without?” Jared asked as he placed his hands on her hips.
She grinned. “I think I’d feel more comfortable with a bathing suit.”
He watched her thoughtfully, wondering if this was the same woman who had played a very enticing game of hide-and-seek with him that weekend. It had been one passionate pursuit and now it seemed that she was trying to go all shy on him. However he was sure a few sizzling kisses would rid her of any degree of bashfulness.
“I may as well warn you that I plan to take the suit off of you the first chance I get,” he whispered, leaning down and capturing her earlobe in his mouth and sucking gently.
A breathless sigh escaped Dana’s lips and she closed her eyes. It was a good thing he was still holding her by the waist or she would have melted and slid right into the pool. “I kind of figured you’d be trying something like that.”