Teague (The Family Simon 4)

Sabrina slowly slid into the water and he eyed her hungrily. She would taste amazing. He knew this.

She stood before him, arms crossed over her chest, shivering slightly, and something about the way she looked tore at a place inside him—a place that he thought was long dead.

Teague reached for her and she didn’t resist when he drew her into his arms. He had no idea how long he held her like that, but he sure as hell loved the feel of her against him. If not for the thin cotton between them, they’d be skin on skin. That thought fired him up and Teague clamped his jaw together tightly, concentrating on keeping things relatively innocent.

At least for now.

“You ready?” he murmured into her hair.

She tensed in his arms, eyes big when she looked up at him.

“For your swimming lesson,” he said watching her carefully. Sabrina glanced to the side, eyes skimming over the water and he felt her fear. He wondered about it but didn’t press for details.

“We’ll just stay right here where it’s shallow, all right?”

She nodded but didn’t speak and he bent low, his lips close to her ear. “I won’t let you go.”

“Okay,” Sabrina said quietly.

He led her away from the dock making sure the water didn’t get any deeper, but looking for more room to maneuver.

“Okay,” he said. “Lie back.”

She glanced down at the water. “Won’t I sink?”

“No. We need to get you used to floating on your back.”

“Oh, okay.” She still sounded unsure and he slipped in behind her.

“I won’t let you go under, but you gotta trust me.” Teague put a hand on her shoulder and felt just how tense she was. “Relax,” he breathed into her ear, pulling her back toward him. “I won’t let you go.”

Carefully he eased her onto her back, moving to the side so that he could slip an arm underneath her waist. Stiff as a board, she looked like a soldier. “Relax,” he coaxed once more. “You’ll float.”

He held her and kept her from going under until she eventually relaxed. “Move your arms,” he commanded, leading her in a circle. “There, you’re getting the hang of it.”

Her clothes (which he realized must be her pajamas) were wet and he had no trouble seeing her breasts or the junction between her legs.

Keep your eyes on her face.

But it was hard to do. She was perfect for him, with pert breasts that were no more than a handful, a tight little body that would fit him like a glove, and eyes that were…

“You’re so damn beautiful.”

She froze at his words and her hands stilled. If not for Teague’s quick reflexes, she would have went under.

“Hey,” he began slowly, helping her to stand. “I don’t want…” Jesus, he was screwing this up. His body was hot and tight and all he could think about was how she would taste and feel. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d wanted to put his hands on a woman this badly.

“I don’t want to scare you,” he said softly.

Her chest rose and fell. “You’re not,” she replied, her voice so low he could barely hear her.

The water lapped at her ribcage and his hand slid to her cheek. He needed to be clear about things. He looked into her eyes so that there wouldn’t be any misunderstandings. “Sabrina, unless you say no, I’m going to kiss you.”

Her lips parted and she blew out a long, shuddering breath. But she didn’t move away and she didn’t say a word. His thumb caressed the corner of her mouth and damn but his heart thudded inside his chest so loudly he was surprised she couldn’t hear it.

“Sabrina?” he asked once more.

But there was no need. Her hands crept up his chest as she moved closer and Teague took the opportunity to move his hands lower. He didn’t stop until he cupped her butt and then he pulled her up so that her legs were wrapped around his waist.