One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

“Artistic sexy.” Lips touched higher, behind my ear. “I should’ve guessed.”

“How about you?” I turned in the water so we faced each other again, nose to nose, lips a breath apart.

“I think it was... Nine and a Half Weeks?”

“You like playing with your food.” He smiled, and I leaned forward to kiss him lightly on the mouth.

“I like playing with you.”

A thrill surged straight to my core. “Do you bring many women here, Mr. Knight?”

I was teasing, but his expression changed. “I’ve never brought anyone here.”

“Why not?”

His shoulders lifted me with his shrug. “It’s always been my place.”

Under the warm, mineral spring, my nipples lightly grazed his chest. Whatever it was doing for him, it was sending all kinds of sensations through me.

“Now it’s ours?”

That brought him up short. “No.”

He took my arms from around his neck, but when he turned, I felt something hard and stiff brush against my hip. His erection made me giggle.

“I felt that.”

He didn’t respond. He was back to being broody and distant, and it was pissing me off. “What’s the matter with you?” I pushed against him, and he flashed.

“Dammit, Mariska.” We were both angry now, our voices raised, but I wasn’t afraid anymore. I knew he wanted me.

“Do you remember that day in the barn?” he said. “After we rode back from the lake?”

“The day you kissed me?”

He was undeterred. “I told you I would leave. It hasn’t changed. I’m going to leave.”

Nodding, I traced my finger through the water. “It seems I remember suggesting you take me with you.”

“When I go, I go alone.”

Blinking up at him, I tried to understand this. Here we were, granted it was only Day 2 of our getaway. Still, we had this connection. We talked about everything. We could barely keep our hands off each other. It was hypnotic and passionate, and it had all the makings of something real and lasting... And this is what he did.

“What’s so great about being alone?”

His eyes narrowed, but he took the question as seriously as I put it. “No one gets hurt except me. I have no weaknesses.”

“You’re thinking like a soldier.”

“A Marine.”

My mind filtered through everything I knew. “Derek’s a Marine. He’s also a daddy and soon to be a husband.”

“Derek’s always been different from me.”

“So I’m a weakness.” Pressing my lips together, I wouldn’t argue with him any more. I was mad.

I swam back to the shore and climbed out of the water. It was warm and delicious running down my legs, but I scooped up my bikini bottoms and stepped into them, quickly pulling them over my hips. Next was the loose-knit top I’d worn. It was over my head in a quick swipe.